Imperfect Subjunctive in Spanish | The Language Tutor *Lesson 59*

[@leorenier1]

I am 79 years old and decided to study Spanish to keep my brain active. With a background in Latin and French, it is somehow manageable. Your way of explaining systematically the grammar has been very helpful. Gracias.

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Thanks for sharing Mr. Leo, so glad can help you!!

[@denniskettinger9900]

RIP

[@Tyronius_Maximus]

Respect

[@jim2376]

👍👍

[@na-chan163]

google: Spanish is easy. subjunctive tense: *hold my beer*

[@magnusvir117]

Sosten mi cerveza

[@knightfurioso4803]

@@magnusvir117 agarra mi cerveza. Who uses sostén

[@magnusvir117]

@@knightfurioso4803 Yo jwjsja

[@knightfurioso4803]

@@magnusvir117 smco lmao

[@gaMEXDavid]

@@knightfurioso4803 Estoy tratando de entender el subjuntivo pero en inglés hahaha, soy de México y también es difícil :(

[@N.TaraQueen]

I'm a current, advanced, Spanish speaker who is finishing up a professional Spanish business certificate with about 9-10 years of learning experience. The imperfecto del subjuntivo was one of the tenses I couldn't really master. However, this video was honestly the first resource that significantly helped me better understand it. All of a sudden, everything just clicked! As a language learner, I'm pretty sure you're aware of that amazing feeling you encounter when you're finally able to fully understand a specific grammar topic.

[@emanuelcloud-sv7jj]

puedo hablar con tigo por algun medio de comunicacion para poder perfecionar tu español

[@BettyofOOO]

Same for me, my Spanish speaking brain is so happy to finally have this cleared up.

[@jasoninto1136]

I watched a lot of Spanish lessons but i only believe in you.gracias sir

[@TheLanguageTutor]

You are so nice. I'm just glad I can help you amigo.

[@winsadventures650]

You make the subject seem easy prof... Thanks so much

[@shebby3728]

I owe every good grade I have made in spanish to you Dr. Danny Evans, never stop doing what you do!!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

You did all the hard work Shebby. We're just here to help a little.

[@twhite7900]

I don't think I've taken the time to comment on any of your videos, but I've been watching them for about a year now. I would like to say thanks a lot for what you do, and from another native English speaker's perspective (Canada), you are by far the most helpful to me out of any of the other KZbin channels in regards to Spanish language learning. Thanks again.

[@iliftsometimes]

Been watching since aib Spanish! Love the vidoes

[@TheLanguageTutor]

That’s great! I’m so glad you found my new channel and I hope that you continue to follow along!

[@robertsimon8344]

Thanks!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Thanks Robert!!

[@WSmith2024]

I've been using the word "quisiera" for "I would like" for a while now and didn't realize I was using the subjunctive. Now I know where the ending comes from. Thanks.

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Yes! It works well in that context.

[@naishalubega3756]

Same..from Duolingo 🤣

[@jossynda]

@@naishalubega3756that’s because Duolingo doesn’t always give the explanations with the lessons. It’s confusing for sure

[@Meeaaaa1672]

You can also use the phrase “me gustaría”

[@naishalubega3756]

How can i like this 100000000 times please..Bendiciones a ti profe...te quiero muchísimo y tus lecciones...es mejor...saludos desde Uganda

[@TheLanguageTutor]

😊

[@teamtdm4life704]

Excellent approach to explaining this Big Bad Wulf of Spanish gramma as imperfect subjunctive!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, so clear, I’m running with it now!!!!❤🎉😊

[@andrewedwards9580]

What a great teacher, when I find Spanish really hard I turn to you!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

That is so kind! Thank you!

[@franceskemp8397]

Thank you Danny the penny is beginning to drop😊

[@SJ_Killy]

This one is very difficult but practice makes perfect guys, make your weaknesses your strengths

[@zabava3248]

You’re right. it’s challenging but not impossible🎉🎉

[@believeinpeace]

You are amazing! ¡ Muchas Gracias!

[@tiffanyhyman5227]

Video asombroso! Muchas gracias mi profesor favorito!

[@sneakersunday6307]

you are better than my Spanish teacher. took him 6 classes to teach us this and I still didn't get it. now I do because of you.....

[@kwamegarciasr.5874]

Very good. I would recommend that you also definitively mention that the stem changes are the same for all three verb groups, AR, ER, and IR verbs.

[@nedesp61]

Great way of explaining the use of Imperfect Subjunctive! I have seen so many of these, and they all make it very confusing. Yours doesn't because you stick to the matter and don't dwell on other things. Also the examples you use are very much to the point.

[@leecrotty658]

I took notes of everything in the last lesson and until now but I burnt out when you began introducing the imperfect conjugation charts. You’re a good teacher. I’ll be back. Te agradezco profesor

[@贏了贏了晚飯吃雞]

謝謝！

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Thank you!!

[@exelatete]

Thank you for uploading this video. It was really inspiring to be informed that the stem of imperfect subjunctive is that of the 3rd plural preterite. I'd never thought of that. So if I wanted to conjugate "estar", probably I'm gonna conjugate it to "estuvieron" and take the ending "-ron" to make the stem "estuvie", and finally "-ra, ras, ramos", "rais", "ran". Wow! Your explaination is very easy to understand.

[@TheTigerlili207]

So I found your previous shorter series(AIB) before I found YOUR newer much more complete and luxurious channel lol ...... I'm dying to leave breadcrumbs all over that place to lead everyone here when they are finished there!! I've left a few comments trying to ensure everyone new that there was more, but wondering if that was ok!?! Just exciting about finding a new and effective resource. YOU ROCK!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Im so glad that you found my new channel!! Being that I'm no longer partnered with AIB, I've tried not to intentionally funnel subscribers over to The Language Tutor. Just to remain ethical and hope that in good faith you guys will stumble across the new content sooner than later. I really appreciate your support and I hope that I can continue to help you grow and lean the Spanish language.

[@raed945]

I watched the AIB series first and then wondered if there a personal channel for Dr danny and l am so happy that i found this.

[@mansitiwari5217]

Muy bien el video, muchas gracias ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏

[@tajrianhoque7958]

Hi! I recently came across your channel and watched the imperfect subjunctive video, which definitely cleared some things up. However, I was wondering if you have made a video on pluperfect subjunctive. I am currently taking a Spanish class, and I keep messing up between imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive. Like when to use them and how to differentiate when to use them in a sentence. If you would be able to make a video on it or give an explanation, that would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your videos!! 💕

[@minosxf]

Me gusta mucho tu forma de enseñar, soy español, y he visto otras plataformas, incluso de pago, en las que no enseña tan bien como aquí.

[@accent77]

I love how the audio freaked out right at the precise moment when things got really weird. LOL

[@TheLanguageTutor]

I just noticed that. Weird! Not sure what happened there.

[@naishalubega3756]

🤣

[@morrism3250]

It was the conjugation twilight zone 😵‍💫🫥🤣

[@kieranmacmanus717]

Fantastic video sir! Imperfect subjunctive was previously tricky..but you explained it brilliantly! Great job!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Glad it helped!

[@learnspanish-qg1kl]

Sir I am confused with the last sentence..I would like a lot of money . How it can b past imperfect. It is a future tense . Then why we have used it here

[@Jamesatbtinternet]

¡Muchas gracias Danny por grabar esto!

[@amethyst4444]

PERFECT LESSON!!! Best video on YT to teach this!😍🙏

[@TheLanguageTutor]

¡Muchas gracias!

[@mrtodoo]

Esto me confunde mucho pero no voy a dejar de aprenderlo. Muchas gracias a ti maestro por enseñarnos otra tema muy importante.

[@danielbuzi7742]

Terrific, clear explanation with lots of good examples. I don’t remember if you mentioned it, but I heard that those “-iese” endings were primarily used in written Spanish only

[@abigaildye3872]

I’m so glad I found your channel! Now I’m binge watching this because it really helps clarify things. Muchísimas gracias profesor!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Welcome to the family!!

[@flydopekidd11]

Loving the channel. Thanks!!

[@juanitapepita4597]

always thank u professor

[@TheLanguageTutor]

My pleasure!

[@titangarg44]

Thanks a lot. 'Cause of you. I've learnt Spanish a lot.

[@josiewalker1133]

Thank you this is so helpful!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Glad we could help!

[@emc7405]

Gracias por un video tan útil 😊

[@lees87]

Thanks for posting!

[@kalawatieroop2616]

Gracias,gracias sir

[@Lobmiry]

Danny, your lesson plans are amazing and you really put the student at ease. Thank you so much, I have learned so much from your lessons.

[@tahiti1]

The best tip I learnt for remembering future tense endings, is that they evolved from historic use of aux verb haber following infinitive, so "hablar he" became hablaré, etc,

[@walterwheeler1035]

These are great, I wish more people saw them

[@sonny.v925]

Like most things Spanish, the rules are predictable and consistent. That said, it'll be a long time before I can use this tense without having to stop and think. I think a nice shortcut in some cases is to leverage hubiera and hubiese. I came to this channel because I knew you'd break it down perfectly. Thank you. :)

[@Haunted_haven-b6f]

Thank you so much sir ❤

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Thank You For Watching!

[@miguelac6872]

@@TheLanguageTutor I always think of the following, what comes to your mind when I say for instance: " If I didn't have a lincence I wouldn't be able to drive" I mean why does English use the same simple past to express the subjuntive? Would you not confuse it with the simple past in certaim cases? I think that the best answer to this question is that English is a contextul language but I still dont assimilate it. When you hear these kind of sentences do you think of the subjetive or simple past? this is a question that I have always wanted to ask an american

[@petrosps9650]

Amazing lesson like always! Thank you so much. I have a question, for “I would like” when do we use quisiera (subjunctive) and when querría (conditional). Are they used interchangeably?

[@codyholmes7660]

I don't think they are always interchangeable. Like in the case of "I would like a lot of money," I gather that it's more wishful thinking. But if you were talking to your employer and wanted to say "I'd like my paycheck," you'd just use conditional. That's why I'm also on the side of probably not using imperfect subjunctive when ordering food, just seems like it would be over the top. I would use "me gustaria..." I'm no expert by any means, these are just my thoughts. And speaking of thoughts: vid was great!

[@josemiguelcarrizo7373]

Spaniard here. They both sound good to me but kind of old-fashioned. Me gustaría sounds much more natural to me.

[@josephgrzywa9254]

Thank you Danny! That video was really good. You really helped me understand where imperfect subjunctive comes from.

[@rachel-iu4dc]

Another great video, as always. Thank you

[@hamidrezaseilabadi839]

This tutorial is great.

[@oralkerr5790]

Brilliant lesson

[@brit7627]

Love you sooo much

[@shannoncassidy9665]

You have helped me so so much! Thank you

[@liamsiggins5569]

Great job teaching, far better than my teacher, the only thing I recommend is mentioning irregulars.

[@howellomaha]

Spanish learners watching: the sound gets a little wonky, but only from 9:11 - 11:40.

[@tessposada1295]

Yeh

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Hmmm..... I'm not sure what happened there.

[@mikaelfarro]

Not that bad, it was just unexpected. Wonderful lesson though :D

[@qudusiyyahgaffoor3280]

thank you!

[@TheLanguageTutor]

¡De nada!

[@jm5181]

Spanish master! I love you

[@TheLanguageTutor]

You too amigo!

[@deydey1970]

Hello I am just having an issue when to use the QUE and when not too. Your lesson is Awesome!!

[@alejandrojoselizano]

16:45 we don´t use that termination very often

[@Spanish_Club]

you are right it’s written on my Aula book

[@ellier8494]

This video succeeded where over a month of spanish classes on the topic have failed. Maybe now I won't fail my spanish final!

[@onurozturk1277]

Rules are starting at 07:00. Gain time chicos.

[@kezwanmusic]

Muy bien información

[@Gutterball]

This was very helpful as always. The last example doesnt seem to cooincide with the imperfect in my tiny mind. 'Iwould like alot of money" It seems to be the indicative to me.

[@akosibryan4496]

Hello can you make a video about spanish slang words and sentences. But thanks for this video anyway ❣️ i've been a fan since you're still a part of AIB.

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Interesting idea Bryan. I appreciate you supporting me all this time.

[@jonomichi2262]

When did this come out ... just wonderful

[@TheLanguageTutor]

Thank you!

[@angeliepenahova924]

Mucho gracias! But can you do more vocab videos please?

[@nomadfoodandtravel9179]

Subjuctive form 여전히 헷갈리고 어렵지만, 조금 감이 잡혔어요. 감사합니다!

[@NoName-zo9zk]

Lessons on comparatives and superlatives pleaseeeeee

[@ElenSheff]

The rules are very similar to French. So, first I have to put a verb into the form of the third person plural and then add those endings. I guess it will take me some time to build a sentence and I suppose my interlocutor won't wait for me to finish)))). To pity but I will never memorize that. Anyway thank you for the video.

[@kenswindle4860]

Super Lesson,again! In Lesson 44, we learned that the first person singular past tense for querer is quise. But here, you used quería. Why would it not be: “QUISE que ella veniese a mi casa.”?

[@isha3702]

In this sentences which verb will go with imprcft tense and which one with the imprfct subjuctive?

[@danwentzel7247]

I am so grateful I discovered your videos. Is it really personal preference which version we use? Is there a regional/national/situational preference or it is totally our call which imperfect subjective ending to use?

[@gerlautamr.656]

Hi, my native language is Spanish, and I can tell you that the first one is a little more common.But both of them are interchangeable.

[@davidlogsdon8708]

Which one of the conjugation sets is more common and are they really the exact same?

[@Uranuss100]

Life changing

[@jtaboxing]

Hi Danny, I have followed your channel for a while now and it’s brilliant, I am now stuck at this video and have been for a while! I can grasp the main concept and I understand most of the WEIRDO uses. But the example ‘I was going to send her a check so she could pay her rent…’ I know it changes subject but which of the WEIRDO categories would this fit into? I’m struggling to use this naturally in conversation! Thanks 👍🏼 Jake

[@j.s.1270]

It would fall under the W, as I understand it, since it is describing an intention as you wanted to help her pay the rent (which is a wish or desire from your side). :)

[@arizonahuntermcbride5857]

"Para que" is a common adverbial conjunction of interdependence that always requires the subjunctive.

[@qbenjafield7593]

hi, just a quick question. for the example "its good that he started college" wouldn't the verb in the dependent clause not be in the imperfect subjunctive because the verb in the main clause is in the present indicative rather than the preterite or imperfect? that example confused me.

[@patrickboyle1463]

You used the imperfect conjugation for verbs at the beginning of the sentences (ex: Quería que ella viniese a mi casa). Can the preterite be used in the position that the “Quería” is in or is it always imperfect?

[@rickricarditoreiter9796]

Yes,

[@rickricarditoreiter9796]

The profe makes it sound like you can only use imperfect, but that is not correct. Yes, you can use preterite.

[@Gregorio2298]

starting subjunctive tomorrow with my tutor... wish me luck...

[@TheLanguageTutor]

You can do it!

[@liveedgedwoodcraft9680]

Dr. Evans. Where can i find a list of all your You tube video lessons? Bill Major, Ontario, Canada

[@sofiaduran4241]

So both endings ra and se are correct, but it's more of a comfortable thing? Like if you are more comfortable using the ra than the se as endings or vice versa?

[@pleb2330]

ra is in Latin America, se is in spain

[@jdlngwll]

@@pleb2330 Thanks! I had the same question.

[@gerlautamr.656]

@@jdlngwll "ra" is more common, but "se" is also used in Latin America.

[@hanaemori4885]

Both forms are equally used in Spain. I use both of them in my speech. The first one that comes to my mind is the one I will use in that moment. But I wouldn’t worry about it. If you’re comfortable with only one form, just use that one.

[@deringthomas5363]

In Costa Rica the "ese" form is more predominant. The "ese" ending is more cult and makes you sound educated. "Era" is more common. I always use "ese".

[@blehitgamer]

May I ask what the difference is between the imperfect and perfect subjunctive? I'm kinda stumped on this as some sentences kinda sound similar to me. For example: Ojalá que no haya hecho eso en la fiesta. Ojalá que no hiciera eso en la fiesta. Dudo que haya viajado a Estados Unidos. Dudo que viajara a Estados Unidos. Are there any rules to tell when to use one over the other?

[@miguelac6872]

I can definately explain that

[@sifugurusensei]

The most difficult tense to conjugate by far.

[@nkosinayenkonyane2482]

Is there a video explaining the impossible if (sí) conditional clause using The imperfect subjunctive. 😢

[@siestabeaant]

Could you recommend some of those websites where I can find many examples, Please! Thank you very much. Way better than Cervantes... Greetings from Turkey.

[@beckybryant1675]

Thank you! I have two questions. In the "If...then.." sentence there are not two different subjects. And also in the last example, "I would like a lot of money." Can you help explain why these then are still subjunctive tense? Would we use subjunctive for something like "I hope that I finish my homework"?

[@davegraham7550]

In the sentence "Si fuera rico ayudaría a los pobres" I think "ayudaría" is in the conditional tense yes? Some confussion here in the example as the English word "would" can mean a few different things. "Quisiera mucho dinero." I would like a lot of money is subjunctive but "I would help her" is conditional.....I think

[@TheLanguageTutor]

I can see what you're saying. "Could" and "would" are both used for the conditional and this just shows that there are several ways to say some things in most languages.

[@davegraham7550]

@@TheLanguageTutor It's taken me over a year to know that conditional is a different mode to subjunctive. Now that I know that subjunctive occurs in the two verb sentence model that is straight forward.

[@hanaemori4885]

Yes, ‘ayudaría’ is in the conditional tense. All the sentences you mentioned are conditional sentences: ‘Quisiera mucho dinero’ ‘I would like a lot of money’ ‘I would help her’ So why is ‘quisiera’ used then? Why is the subjunctive mood used in a conditional sentence? It’s just because its use is spread and accepted. The correct way of saying it would be ‘querría mucho dinero’ (the real conditional) Both ways are used and accepted though. But NOT ‘quisiese’! Only ‘quisiera’. This exception only applies to the verb querer (as far as I know) so the rest of the verbs should be in the conditional tense: ‘Tendría una casa más grande’ ‘Vendería los libros que no uso’ Hope it helps. Edited for typos.

[@juanluisgarcia2350]

The widespread use of "quisiera" (but NOT "quisiese") with a conditional meaning survives from older Spanish of the 16th and 17th centuries. If you read Don Quijote, there are many conditional sentences where the -ra verb endings are used in both the if and the then portions of conditions. Today, that use is literary or poetic for most other verbs. However, you still hear people say and write "valiera", "pareciera", "debiera" and "pudiera" in place of "valdría" (would be worth), "parecería" (would seem), "debería" (should or would owe) and "podría" (could or would be able to). The -ra forms of these verbs and querer sound warmer, more polite in making suggestions. The -ria conditional for these verbs sounds a bit colder and more direct. Also, it is very common to use "hubiera" in place of "habría" for the past conditional.

[@Learn-bq1sf]

hi , anyone explain pls, SE forms , it was not clear in the video Se endings , why and when we use those. for example ''empezase'' etc... what is the difference between RA and Se endings. thank you .

[@gerlautamr.656]

Hi, my native language is Spanish, so I can tell you that both of them are interchangeable, however, the first one is a bit more common and less "formal".

[@mangos2071]

Gracias ahora es más fácil porque de ti

[@rowdymypal4950]

I wondered if "me gustaría" was the same as "quisiera", but I think I was confusing the conditional with the imperfect subjunctive. Am I right about that?

[@calcpost3641]

Sir , what would "i wish ther was " be in spanish, ojala.....?

[@kenswindle4860]

Have we learned about “iba”? If so, what lesson was that?

[@stevenmartz9919]

Is the subjunctive a “tense” in Spanish when it is a “mode” in French and English?

[@yothatscharlie8726]

which is more common?? ra or se

[@Spanish_Club]

ra is more common

[@heaintloveu]

11th grade was a long time ago, but I don’t remember learning it this way

[@unbornfetus2131]

I heard in a song, "se que saliste pa..." how come its salute instead of saliera?

[@hilalyasar6021]

is this version of your example correct ? '''El estaba asustado de que ella no estuviera en la reunion.''

[@karinaab175]

Sí, es correcto, funciona muy bien 👍🏻

[@hilalyasar6021]

@@karinaab175 Muchas graciass

[@deringthomas5363]

I would say it is not correct, partially. "Asustado" is the feeling after being scared or after a scary event. "Tengo miedo" means "I'm scared". Also, "él" the pronoun always has an accent to differentiate from the article. The correct form would be: "Él tenía miedo de que ella no estuviera/estuviese en la reunión".

[@madsunnytv4149]

I'm bit confused with when to use Ra and Se forms.

[@brendandoherty1283]

Could the last one also be “me gustaría mucho dinero” ?

[@hanaemori4885]

I think your videos are excellent but I’d like to point something out. ‘I would like a lot of money’ is also a conditional sentence in Spanish and should be ‘querría (tener) mucho dinero’. However, it’s true that the use of ‘quisiera’ in conditional sentences is very spread and I think considered as correct. ‘Quisiese’ is NOT used in conditional sentences, though. Also, this exception of using the subjunctive in conditional sentences only applies to the verb ‘querer’.

[@leecrotty658]

I asked around about that word querría and was told it isn’t used because it sounds too much like something else

[@JeffC-fq1be]

14:30: I would think that "were we going" would automatically be imperfect. No?

[@Bloop2124]

great lesson! i didn't understood why you changed the Tener to Tenia,Queria,iba ones , ia is not the conditional tense?