Past (Imperfect) subjunctive with noun clauses

This is fancy grammar talk for a sentence with at least 2 clauses; the verb in the first (or main) clause determines whether or not the verb in the second (or dependent, subordinate etc.) clause is subjunctive.

If the verb in the first clause fits into any of several categories such as doubt, emotion, will/wish/want/desire, judgment/opinion, negation and several more (just deal with it), then the verb in the second clause is subjunctive.◦ Ejemplo:

I wanted you to learn. Yo quería que aprendieras.

The second clause is called the noun clause because it functions like a noun; it is the object of the first verb (what you hope, wish, doubt etc.)

If the verb in the second clause has the same subject (yo, tú, ellos, Juan) as the verb in the first clause, you don’t use que and you don’t conjugate the second verb.◦ Ejemplo:

Juan wanted to learn Juan quería aprender.

Again, whenever you want to say that someone or something wanted or wished or hoped or doubted or didn’t believe or didn’t think or it was not possible or it was possible or etc. that someone or something else did or was something.

If the verb in the main clause falls into one these categories the second verb is subjunctive:

Necessity Judgment WishesUncertainty Emotion EmotionDesire Desire DesireEmotion Influence Doubt

Impersonal expressions (“es necesario que…”)

NegationGod grant (“ojalá…”)

“Ojalá vinieras a la fiesta.” “Yo quería que Marcos me llamara.” “Yo dudaba que salieras tan temprano.” “Era posible que no me gustaran.”

Aprendiste = You learned Aprendieras = You learned

◦ Say what? Then how is it different?◦ Answer: it just feels different to a native speaker.

Put the verb in the ellos form of the preterit

Take off the –ron Add these endings:

-ar / -er / -ir-ra -ramos

-ras

-ra -ran

-se -semos

-ses

-se -sen

Ejemplo:

Le gustó que tocáramos bien.

*As long as you know all the preterit verb forms, you’ll do great

Leer Sentir Dormir Reírse Zambullir Estar Ser Decir

THESE WORDS ALWAYS INTRODUCE THE SUBJUNCTIVE aconsejar que -to advise that

alegrarse de que -to be happy thatdejar que -to let/allow that desear que -to wish thatdudar que -to doubt that(me) emociona que -(I’m) excited that (me) encanta que – (I) love that(me) enfada que - (I’m) angry that (me) enoja que – (I’m) angry thatesperar que - to hope thatestar orgulloso de que – to be proud thatexigir que -to demand that (me) extraña que – It seems strange that(me) gusta que – (I) like that

impedir (i) que -to impede insistir en que -to insist on (me) irrita que – (I’m) irritated thatlamentar que - to lament thatmandar que -to order that (me) molesta que – (I’m) bothered thatnecesitar que -to need negar que - to deny thatojalá que -hopefullyoponerse a que -to opposepedir (i) que -to ask thatpermitir que -to permit thatpreferir (ie) que -to prefer thatprohibir que - to prohibit querer (ie) que -to wantrecomendar (ie) que -to recommend thatrogar (ue) que -to beg thatsentir (ie) que – to regret that(me) sorprende que – (I’m) surprised thatsugerir (ie) que -to suggest thatsuplicar que -to beg thattemer que – to fear that

tener miedo de que – to be scared that

THESE IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS ALWAYS INTRODUCE THE SUBJUNCITVE es absurdo que - it’s absurd thates agradable que - it’s agreeable thates bueno que - it’s good thates dudoso que - it’s doubtful thates escandaloso que - it’s scandalous thates importante que - it’s important thates imposible que - it’s impossible thates improbable que - it’s improbable thates indispensable que - it’s indispensable thates inútil que - it’s useless thates justo que - it’s right / just thates malo que - it’s bad thates mejor que - it’s better thates necesario que - it’s necessary thates peor que - it’s worse thates posible que - it’s possible thates probable que - it’s probable thates raro que - it’s rare thates ridículo que - it’s ridiculous thates sorprendente que - it’s surprising thates triste que - it’s sad thates una lástima que - it’s a shame thates útil que - it’s useful thatmás vale que - it’s better thatno es que - it’s not thatno es cierto que - it’s not certain thatno es evidente que - it’s not evident thatno es obvio que - it’s not obvious thatno es verdad que - it’s not true thatojalá que - hopefully

 

THESE WORDS ALWAYS INTRODUCE THE INDICATIVE aprender que -to learn thatcomprender que -to understand thatcreer que -to believe thatdarse cuenta de que -to realize thatentender que -to understand thatestar cierto que -to be certain thatestar seguro que -to be sure thatoír que -to hear thatopinar que -to think (opine) thatparecer que -to seem thatpensar que - to think thatsaber que -to know thatver que -to see that