Imperfect Subjunctive - Irregular ER Verbs
Spanish: AQA GCSE (2025 Exam), topic 8.6.4
Irregular ER Verbs
ER verbs that are irregular in the 'ellos/ellas' form of the preterite tense are irregular in the imperfect subjunctive. Here are some examples:
'Caer'
- Cayera/cayese (I fell).
- Cayeras/cayeses (you fell).
- Cayera/cayese (he/she fell).
- Cayéramos/cayésemos (we fell).
- Cayerais/cayeseis (you fell).
- Cayeran/cayesen (they fell).
'Leer'
- Leyera/leyese (I read).
- Leyeras/leyeses (you read).
- Leyera/leyese (he/she read).
- Leyéramos/leyésemos (we read).
- Leyerais/leyeseis (you read).
- Leyeran/leyesen (they read).
Strong Preterites
All strong preterites are irregular in the imperfect subjunctive. Their imperfect stem is formed from their irregular 'ellos/ellas' form in the preterite. You just remove the 'ron' and add the imperfect endings.
'Poder'
- Pudiera/pudiese - I could.
- Pudieras/pudieses - you could.
- Pudiera/pudiese - he/she could.
- Pudiéramos/pudiésemos - we could.
- Pudierais/pudieseis - you could.
- Pudieran/pudiesen - they could.
'Ser'
- Fuera/fuese - I was.
- Fueras/fueses - you were.
- Fuera/fuese - he/she was.
- Fuéramos/fuésemos - we were.
- Fuerais/fueseis - you were.
- Fueran/fuesen - they were.
'Hacer'
- Hiciera/hiciese - I made/did.
- Hicieras/hicieses - you made/did.
- Hiciera/hiciese - he/she made/did.
- Hiciéramos/hiciésemos - we made/did..
- Hicierais/hicieseis - you made/did.
- Hicieran/hiciesen - they made/did.
'Tener'
- Tuviera/tuviese - I had.
- Tuvieras/tuvieses - you had.
- Tuviera/tuviese - he/she had.
- Tuviéramos/tuviésemos - we had.
- Tuvierais/tuvieseis - you had.
- Tuvieran/tuviesen - they had.
Test yourself on Imperfect Subjunctive - Irregular ER Verbs
How do you say 'we fell' in the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish?
How do you say 'we had' in the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish?