Portuguese grammar · Intermediate (B1)
The imperfect subjunctive
Forms like tivesse, fosse and pudesse, and their uses: unreal se clauses, the sequence of tenses, como se, quem dera and e se…?
Forms
Take the form of the preterite, drop -ram and add -sse, -sses, -sse, -ssemos, -ssem. This works for every verb, regular or irregular: → , → , → . The form has a written accent: , , , .
Other common verbs: → , → , → , → , → , → , → , → , → , → , → , → .
| Person | / | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| / / | ||||
| / / |
Unreal se clauses
For situations that are imaginary or unlikely now, use + imperfect subjunctive, and the conditional in the other half: (If I had more time, I'd travel more). In speech the imperfect often replaces the conditional: . Both are correct.
- Se eu fosse você, aceitava a proposta.If I were you, I'd accept the offer.
- Se a gente morasse perto da praia, ia todo dia.If we lived near the beach, we'd go every day.
- O que você faria se ganhasse na loteria?What would you do if you won the lottery?
- Se não estivesse chovendo, a gente podia sair.If it weren't raining, we could go out.
Sequence of tenses
After expressions that need the subjunctive, the tense follows the main verb. When the main verb is in the present, use the present subjunctive; when it is in a past tense or the conditional, use the imperfect subjunctive: → (I wanted you to come / I'd like you to come).
| Main verb | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| present: | I hope he comes. | |
| imperfect: | I was hoping he would come. | |
| preterite: | She asked me to wait. | |
| conditional: | I'd like you to help me. | |
| past, impersonal: | Everyone had to sign. | |
| past, contrast: | Although he was tired, he went to the party. |
Como se, quem dera, e se…?
(as if) is always followed by the imperfect subjunctive, or by + participle for something earlier: (He talks as if he knew everything). (if only) expresses a wish that probably won't come true. + imperfect subjunctive makes a gentle suggestion: (What if we closed earlier today?).
- Ele fala como se soubesse tudo.He talks as if he knew everything.
- Ela me tratou como se eu fosse criança.She treated me as if I were a child.
- Quem dera eu tivesse férias agora.If only I had a holiday now.
- E se a gente pedisse uma pizza?What if we ordered a pizza?