Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use this tense for hypothetical situations, wishes, or polite requests starting with 'if' (se).
- Use it after 'se' to express a condition: 'Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria.'
- Use it to express a wish or desire: 'Eu queria que você viesse.'
- Use it for polite requests: 'Eu gostaria que você me ajudasse.'
Overview
imperfect aspect refers not strictly to past time, but rather to the relative timing or conditionality of the action within a broader context, often linked to an unrealized past or a hypothetical present.if clause of an unreal conditional statement, paving the way for a consequence expressed in the Conditional tense. For instance, Se eu tivesse tempo, viajaria mais (If I *had* time, I *would travel* more) presents a situation contrary to your current reality.How This Grammar Works
imperfect nature means the action is viewed as ongoing, habitual, or potential, but always from a non-factual standpoint. The mood (Subjunctive) indicates subjective perspective, while the imperfect tense indicates an action that is unreal in the present or past, or a wish about the past.Eu tive tempo (I *had* time).se (if), embora (although), ainda que (even if), para que (so that), or following verbs that express emotion, doubt, will, or necessity. The choice of the Imperfect Subjunctive over, say, the Future Subjunctive, hinges on whether the condition or event is perceived as unlikely, impossible, or contrary to the speaker's reality at the moment of utterance, or from a past perspective. If the condition is genuinely possible in the future, the Future Subjunctive (Se eu tiver tempo...) is used.Se eu tivesse tempo...) is the correct choice. This distinction is crucial for conveying precise shades of meaning regarding possibility and reality.Eu queria que você viesse (I *wanted* you to come).queria is in the Imperfect Indicative, triggering the Imperfect Subjunctive viesse in the dependent clause, expressing a past desire for an action that may or may not have occurred. This back-shifting mechanism maintains sequence of tenses in complex sentences, ensuring temporal coherence between the main and subordinate actions when the main action is in the past.
Formation Pattern
eles/elas/vocês). This deep structural link explains why even highly irregular verbs often become regular in the Imperfect Subjunctive once their Preterite form is known.
eles/elas/vocês form of the Preterite Tense.
-aram, -eram, or -iram.
falar (to speak) → eles falaram
comer (to eat) → eles comeram
partir (to leave) → eles partiram
ter (to have) → eles tiveram (irregular Preterite)
-am ending.
falaram → falar-
comeram → comer-
partiram → partir-
tiveram → tiver-
falar) | Example (comer) | Example (partir) | Example (ter) |
eu | -asse / -esse / -isse | falasse | comesse | partisse | tivesse |
tu | -asses / -esses / -isses | falasses | comesses | partisses | tivesses |
ele/ela/você | -asse / -esse / -isse | falasse | comesse | partisse | tivesse |
nós | -ássemos / -êssemos / -íssemos | falássemos | comêssemos | partíssemos | tivéssemos |
eles/elas/vocês | -assem / -essem / -issem | falassem | comessem | partissem | tivessem |
nós: Notice the acute accent on the penultimate vowel of the nós form (-ássemos, -êssemos, -íssemos). This accent is mandatory and indicates that the stress falls on that syllable. Forgetting it is a common error and changes the pronunciation significantly.
irregularity of the Imperfect Subjunctive stems directly from the irregularity of the 3rd person plural Preterite form. Once you have that stem, the endings are always regular.
eles Preterite | Stem | Imperfect Subjunctive (eu/ele/ela/você) |
ser (to be) | foram | for- | fosse |
ir (to go) | foram | for- | fosse |
ter (to have) | tiveram | tiver- | tivesse |
vir (to come) | vieram | vier- | viesse |
dar (to give) | deram | der- | desse |
estar (to be) | estiveram | estiver- | estivesse |
fazer (to do/make) | fizeram | fizer- | fizesse |
poder (to be able to) | puderam | puder- | pudesse |
querer (to want) | quiseram | quiser- | quisesse |
saber (to know) | souberam | souber- | soubesse |
trazer (to bring) | trouxeram | trouxer- | trouxesse |
ver (to see) | viram | vir- | visse |
ser and ir are identical in the Imperfect Subjunctive, just as they are in the Preterite. Context is always key for disambiguation. For example, Se eu fosse rico (If I *were* rich) vs. Se eu fosse ao Brasil (If I *went* to Brazil).
When To Use It
se Clause)if part of a second-type conditional sentence (Type 2 Conditional). It expresses a hypothetical situation that is contrary to fact in the present or unlikely to happen. The consequence is typically in the Conditional Simple tense.Se eu tivesse mais dinheiro, compraria uma casa.(If I *had* more money, I *would buy* a house.) – Implies you don't have enough money now.Se ele soubesse a verdade, ficaria chocado.(If he *knew* the truth, he *would be* shocked.) – Suggests he doesn't know the truth.Nós viajaríamos se pudéssemos.(We *would travel* if we *could*.) – Implies an inability to travel.
- Desire/Will:
Eu queria que você viesse à festa.(I *wanted* you to come to the party.) – The desire was in the past, and the action of coming is subjective. - Emotion:
Fiquei feliz que ele me ajudasse.(I *was* happy that he *helped* me.) – Past emotion regarding a past or present subjective action. - Doubt/Uncertainty:
Eu duvidava que ela chegasse a tempo.(I *doubted* that she *would arrive* on time.) – Past doubt about a potential past or future action. - Request/Command (indirect):
O professor pediu que os alunos fizessem o trabalho.(The professor *asked* that the students *do* the work.) – Past request for a subjective action. - Necessity/Impersonality:
Era importante que estudássemos mais.(It *was* important that we *studied* more.) – Past impersonal statement about a subjective action.
quem dera que (if only/I wish that) or gostaria que (I would like that).Quem dera que eu falasse francês fluente.(If only I *spoke* fluent French.) – Expresses a regret or an unrealized wish about the present.Gostaria que você me acompanhasse.(I *would like* you to accompany me.) – A very polite way to make a suggestion or request.Se ao menos ele entendesse.(If only he *understood*.) – A strong regret about someone's current lack of understanding.
ainda que (even though/even if), mesmo que (even if), embora (although), when referring to an action that is hypothetical or contrary to fact.Ainda que chovesse, iríamos ao parque.(Even if it *rained*, we *would go* to the park.) – A hypothetical, potentially unreal, condition.Ele continuou a trabalhar, mesmo que estivesse doente.(He continued to work, even though he *was* sick.) – Describes a past situation where the sickness was a potential or subjective condition.
Havia tão poucas cadeiras que não coubessem todos.(There were so few chairs that not everyone *would fit*.) – Thecoubessemexpresses an imagined, undesirable result due to the limited chairs.
como se (as if) or qual se (as though).Ele agia como se não soubesse de nada.(He acted as if he *knew* nothing.) – A comparison to an unreal situation.
Common Mistakes
Ver (visse) and Vir (viesse)Ver (to see)
eles viram (they saw) → Stem: vir- → Imperfect Subjunctive: visse
Vir (to come)
eles vieram (they came) → Stem: vier- → Imperfect Subjunctive: viesse
Se eu viesse o filme, teria entendido. (If I *came* the movie, I would have understood.) - Incorrect. It should be Se eu visse o filme... (If I *saw* the movie...).nós Formnós form of the Imperfect Subjunctive always carries a written accent: -ássemos, -êssemos, -íssemos. This accent shifts the stress to the antepenultimate syllable, making it a proparoxytone word. Omitting it results in incorrect pronunciation and can sound jarring to native speakers, as it implies a different stress pattern.- Incorrect:
Se nós falassemos com ele, resolveríamos. - Correct:
Se nós falássemos com ele, resolveríamos.(If we *spoke* with him, we would resolve it.)
se Clausese when expressing a hypothetical condition. The se clause requires the Imperfect Subjunctive.- Incorrect:
Se eu viajaria, compraria a passagem. - Correct:
Se eu viajasse, compraria a passagem.(If I *traveled*, I would buy the ticket.)
eles Preterite, any error in recalling that initial Preterite form will propagate to the subjunctive. Learners often try to derive irregular subjunctive forms from the infinitive, which is incorrect.fazer: falaram
falar- (correct for falar), but incorrectly applying a regular pattern to fazer (e.g., fazesse instead of fizesse).
fazer: eles fizeram
fizer- → fizesse.
-ar, -er, -ir) and the Imperfect Subjunctive (-asse, -esse, -isse) is crucial for conveying certainty. The Future Subjunctive implies a possible future condition, whereas the Imperfect Subjunctive denotes an unreal or hypothetical condition in the present/past.Se você tiver tempo, me ligue.(If you *have* time [in the future, possibly], call me.) – Future Subjunctive, possible.Se você tivesse tempo, iríamos ao cinema.(If you *had* time [now, but you don't], we would go to the cinema.) – Imperfect Subjunctive, unreal present.
if I were often translates to the Imperfect Subjunctive, not every hypothetical in English will follow this pattern in Portuguese. For instance, the English I wish I had...can sometimes be
Quem dera que eu tivesse..., but other expressions might require different tenses depending on the nuance of the wish or regret.
Real Conversations
The Imperfect Subjunctive is not confined to formal writing; it is a dynamic component of everyday Portuguese, reflecting how speakers express doubts, wishes, and hypothetical scenarios in various registers.
1. Expressing Wishes and Regrets (Social Media / Casual Chat)
- Quem dera que a internet não caísse no meio do filme! (I wish the internet *didn't cut out* in the middle of the movie!) – A common lament.
- Se eu tivesse mais tempo, respondia todos os comentários. (If I *had* more time, I *would reply* to all comments.) – A polite apology or explanation online.
- Gostaria que o show começasse mais cedo. (I *would like* the show to *start* earlier.) – A common thought shared with friends.
2. Offering Polite Suggestions (Work / Professional)
- Seria útil que você enviasse o relatório até amanhã. (It *would be* useful for you to *send* the report by tomorrow.) – A polite, indirect request via email.
- Caso houvesse alguma dúvida, por favor, me avise. (Should there *be* any doubt, please let me know.) – Standard professional phrasing in email correspondence.
- Eu preferiria que a reunião fosse presencial. (I *would prefer* the meeting to *be* in person.) – Expressing a preference politely in a professional context.
3. Hypothetical Scenarios (Daily Life / Storytelling)
- Se eu fosse você, não faria isso. (If I *were* you, I *wouldn't do* that.) – Classic advice given among friends or family.
- Minha mãe queria que eu estudasse medicina. (My mom *wanted* me to *study* medicine.) – Narrating past family expectations.
- Imagina se chovesse amanhã, o piquenique estaria arruinado. (Imagine if it *rained* tomorrow, the picnic *would be* ruined.) – Discussing potential negative outcomes.
4. Brazilian Portuguese (BP) vs. European Portuguese (EP) Nuances
While the conjugation and core usage are identical, a notable difference arises in the result clause of conditional sentences. In informal Brazilian Portuguese, the Conditional Simple (iria, faria) is often replaced by the Imperfect Indicative (ia, fazia).
- EP (Standard) / BP (Formal): Se eu tivesse dinheiro, compraria um carro novo. (If I *had* money, I *would buy* a new car.)
- BP (Informal): Se eu tivesse dinheiro, comprava um carro novo. (If I *had* money, I *bought* a new car.)
This substitution, while grammatically incorrect in prescriptive grammar, is pervasive in spoken BP and acceptable in casual contexts. For learners aiming for formal proficiency, the Conditional Simple remains the correct choice in the main clause.
Quick FAQ
The core difference lies in the perception of reality and likelihood. The Imperfect Subjunctive (Se eu tivesse...) deals with situations that are unreal, hypothetical, or contrary to fact in the present or past. It's about what if scenarios that aren't happening. The Future Subjunctive (Se eu tiver...), conversely, refers to conditions that are genuinely possible or likely to happen in the future. It's about
when/if X happens...It's the distinction between
If I *were* rich (but I'm not) vs. If I *become* rich (it's possible). The Portuguese language clearly distinguishes these concepts, unlike English which often uses the simple present tense for both future conditions.
Absolutely. While not a direct command, using the Imperfect Subjunctive in expressions of desire or preference makes a request significantly more polite and less direct. Phrases like Gostaria que você me ajudasse (I *would like* you to help me) or Eu preferiria que eles esperassem (I *would prefer* them to wait) soften the request by placing it in a hypothetical, desired realm rather than a factual one. This nuance is crucial for formal and social interactions, allowing for respectful communication.
ser and ir have the exact same Imperfect Subjunctive form (fosse)?This identity stems from their identical 3rd person plural Preterite forms: eles foram. As the Imperfect Subjunctive is directly derived from this Preterite stem, the forms necessarily merge. This linguistic phenomenon is a historical inheritance from Vulgar Latin, where the forms of *esse* (to be) and *ire* (to go) converged in certain tenses. Context is always sufficient to differentiate their meanings, just as it is in the Preterite. For example, Se fosse presidente... (If I *were* president...) clearly implies ser, while Se fosse à praia... (If I *went* to the beach...) clearly implies ir.
While pairing with the Conditional Simple (compraria, faria) is its most common and grammatically canonical use in second-type conditional sentences (Se eu tivesse, compraria), it also appears in other constructions. As discussed in the
When To Use Itsection, it is frequently governed by past tense verbs of emotion, will, or doubt (
Eu queria que viesse). Additionally, in informal Brazilian Portuguese, the Imperfect Indicative can replace the Conditional Simple in the main clause (Se eu tivesse, comprava). Therefore, while the Conditional Simple is a primary partner, it's not the exclusive one.
In highly informal spoken Portuguese, particularly in Brazil, the Imperfect Indicative can sometimes replace the Imperfect Subjunctive in certain contexts, though this is grammatically considered incorrect. For example, instead of Eu queria que você viesse, one might hear Eu queria que você vinha. This substitution is generally avoided in formal speech and writing and should not be emulated by learners aiming for standard proficiency. It's an example of linguistic simplification in very casual registers, but not an acceptable grammatical alternative.
Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
| Pronoun | -AR (Falar) | -ER (Comer) | -IR (Partir) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eu
|
falasse
|
comesse
|
partisse
|
|
Você/Ele
|
falasse
|
comesse
|
partisse
|
|
Nós
|
falássemos
|
comêssemos
|
partíssemos
|
|
Vocês/Eles
|
falassem
|
comessem
|
partissem
|
Meanings
The Imperfect Subjunctive is used to express hypothetical, unreal, or contrary-to-fact situations in the past or present.
Hypothetical Condition
Expressing a condition that is unlikely or impossible.
“Se chovesse, não iríamos à praia.”
“Se ele estudasse mais, passaria na prova.”
Polite Request
Softening a request or desire.
“Eu gostaria que você me ajudasse.”
“Queria que você viesse jantar conosco.”
Past Subjunctive Trigger
Used after verbs of emotion or doubt in the past.
“Eu duvidava que ele viesse.”
“Fiquei feliz que você gostasse do presente.”
Reference Table
| 人称代词 | Falar (AR动词) | Comer (ER动词) | Partir (IR动词) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eu / Ele / Ela / Você
|
falasse
|
comesse
|
partisse
|
|
Nós
|
falássemos
|
comêssemos
|
partíssemos
|
|
Eles / Elas / Vocês
|
falassem
|
comessem
|
partissem
|
正式程度
Gostaria que Vossa Senhoria me auxiliasse. (Requesting help)
Eu gostaria que você me ajudasse. (Requesting help)
Queria que você me desse uma mão. (Requesting help)
Dá uma força aí, vai? (Requesting help)
“昨天他们”变位小妙招
第一步：完全过去时第三人称复数
- Falaram 他们说了
第二步：去掉 '-am'
- Falar- 词根
第三步：加上词尾
- Falasse 如果我说
Ver (看) 对比 Vir (来)
该用哪个虚拟式？
这个情况是真实的还是假设的？
这是未来可能发生的事吗？
常见不规则词根
身份与位置
- • Ser -> Fosse
- • Estar -> Estivesse
- • Ir -> Fosse
拥有与能力
- • Ter -> Tivesse
- • Poder -> Pudesse
- • Querer -> Quisesse
按水平分级的例句
Se eu fosse rico, viajaria.
If I were rich, I would travel.
Se eu tivesse tempo, leria.
If I had time, I would read.
Se ele quisesse, viria.
If he wanted, he would come.
Se nós pudéssemos, iríamos.
If we could, we would go.
Eu queria que você viesse.
I wanted you to come.
Eu gostaria que você me ajudasse.
I would like you to help me.
Ele pediu que eu fizesse o bolo.
He asked that I make the cake.
Eu precisava que você soubesse.
I needed you to know.
Se eu tivesse estudado, teria passado.
If I had studied, I would have passed.
Mesmo que chovesse, eu iria.
Even if it rained, I would go.
Como se ele fosse o dono.
As if he were the owner.
Duvidei que ele soubesse a verdade.
I doubted he knew the truth.
Caso você precisasse de ajuda, avise-me.
In case you needed help, let me know.
Não havia ninguém que soubesse a resposta.
There was no one who knew the answer.
Se fosse possível, eu faria.
If it were possible, I would do it.
Eu não esperava que eles viessem.
I didn't expect them to come.
Fosse eu o responsável, mudaria tudo.
Were I the one in charge, I would change everything.
Quem me dera que estivesses aqui.
I wish you were here.
Não fosse a chuva, teríamos ido.
Had it not been for the rain, we would have gone.
Por mais que ele tentasse, não conseguia.
No matter how much he tried, he couldn't.
Se bem que ele soubesse, não disse nada.
Even though he knew, he said nothing.
Talvez ele quisesse dizer outra coisa.
Perhaps he meant something else.
Se fosse para eu ir, já teria ido.
If it were for me to go, I would have already gone.
Que ele viesse ou não, pouco importava.
Whether he came or not, it mattered little.
容易混淆
Both are used with 'se', but they refer to different timeframes.
Learners often use the conditional in the 'if' clause.
Both are used for wishes, but they differ in time.
常见错误
Se eu souber...
Se eu soubesse...
Se eu tenho...
Se eu tivesse...
Se eu faria...
Se eu fizesse...
Se eu fosseis...
Se eu fosse...
Eu quero que você vai...
Eu queria que você fosse...
Eu gostaria que você ajuda...
Eu gostaria que você ajudasse...
Eu precisava que você faz...
Eu precisava que você fizesse...
Se eu teria...
Se eu tivesse...
Mesmo que chove...
Mesmo que chovesse...
Como se ele era...
Como se ele fosse...
Se eu tinha sabido...
Se eu tivesse sabido...
Talvez ele quer...
Talvez ele quisesse...
Que ele vem ou não...
Que ele viesse ou não...
句型
Se eu ___ (verb), eu ___ (verb).
Eu gostaria que você ___ (verb).
Como se ele ___ (verb) o dono.
Mesmo que eu ___ (verb), não daria.
Real World Usage
Eu gostaria que você me desse mais detalhes.
Se você pudesse, vem aqui.
Se eu soubesse, teria reservado antes.
Quem me dera que estivesses aqui!
Eu queria que o pedido chegasse rápido.
Caso precisasse de mais informações, contate-me.
"Nós" 的重音符号
nós 变位上的重音符号（比如 falássemos）。它会完全改变发音的节奏哦！比如：Se nós falássemos português.
Ver 和 Vir 别搞混
Se eu visse 来自 Ver（看），而 Se eu viesse 来自 Vir（来）。看个例子：Eu queria que você viesse.
巴西口语习惯
Se eu pudesse, eu ia.（而不是 iria）。
"Quem dera" 触发器
Quem dera（但愿/要是...就好了）这个词组**总是**触发这个时态。想听起来像母语者？用它准没错：Quem dera ele me ligasse.
Smart Tips
Use 'Eu gostaria que' followed by the imperfect subjunctive.
Check if the situation is real or hypothetical.
Use 'Quem me dera que' + imperfect subjunctive.
Use 'Caso' + imperfect subjunctive.
发音
The 'SS' sound
The 'ss' is always pronounced like a soft 's'.
Nós form accent
The accent on the 'a' or 'e' in the 'nós' form is crucial.
Hypothetical rise
Se eu fosse rico... ↗
The rising intonation signals the condition is not yet complete.
记住它
记忆技巧
Remember the 'SSE' sound: 'If I were, I would be' = 'Se eu fosse, eu seria'.
视觉联想
Imagine a cloud floating above your head. Everything inside the cloud is a dream or a wish, and every verb inside that cloud must end in -sse.
Rhyme
Se eu fosse, se eu tivesse, o sonho acontece.
Story
Imagine you are a king. You say: 'If I were a king, I would have a castle.' In Portuguese: 'Se eu fosse rei, teria um castelo.' You then ask your servant: 'I wish you would bring me tea.' In Portuguese: 'Eu queria que você trouxesse chá.'
Word Web
挑战
Write 5 sentences starting with 'Se eu fosse...' describing a fantasy life.
文化笔记
In informal Brazilian Portuguese, the imperfect subjunctive is often used in place of the conditional in the result clause.
European Portuguese speakers are more likely to strictly follow the conditional in the result clause.
In formal writing, the imperfect subjunctive is used to maintain a high register.
Derived from the Latin pluperfect subjunctive.
对话开场白
Se você pudesse viajar para qualquer lugar, para onde iria?
O que você faria se ganhasse na loteria?
Você gostaria que o mundo fosse diferente?
Se você fosse presidente, qual seria sua primeira lei?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
Se eu ___ você, aceitaria o emprego.
Which creates a hypothetical situation?
Find and fix the mistake:
Nós falessemos com ele se tivéssemos tempo.
Score: /3
练习题
8 exercisesSe eu ___ (ter) tempo, eu iria.
Eu queria que você ___ (vir).
Find and fix the mistake:
Se eu faria, eu diria.
Eu quero que você estude. (Past)
Falar -> ?
Nós ___.
Se / eu / puder / ir / iria.
Se eu fosse você, eu faria.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesSe nós ___ tempo, iríamos ao cinema.
O professor pediu que eles ___ o dever de casa.
Which sentence means 'If I could'?
Se você visse o que eu vi...
Match the verbs.
eu / soubesse / contava / Se / ,
Eu queria que ela ___ aqui. (estar)
Eu duvidava que eles ___.
Se nos partissemos agora, chegaríamos a tempo.
Se eu ___ dinheiro.
Ele agiu como se não ___ de nada.
Connect the root to the infinitive.
Score: /12
常见问题 (8)
It comes from the imperfect tense stem, which describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
Yes, it is used for present hypothetical situations, like 'If I were you'.
No, it is also used for wishes and polite requests.
If the past tense is irregular, the imperfect subjunctive will be too.
Yes, Brazilians use it more flexibly in result clauses.
The sentence will sound incorrect to native speakers.
It can be formal, but it is also used in daily conversation.
Start by writing 'If I were' sentences.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Imperfecto de subjuntivo
Spanish has two forms (-ra/-se), Portuguese only one (-sse).
Imparfait du subjonctif
Portuguese uses it in daily speech; French does not.
Konjunktiv II
German uses 'würde' + infinitive more often than the synthetic form.
Tara conditional
Japanese lacks the concept of a subjunctive mood entirely.
Law + Past Tense
Arabic uses past tense forms rather than a specific subjunctive conjugation.
Yao shi... jiu...
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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