B2 (Upper Intermediate)Lesson 1: Advanced Subjunctive Forms
The imperfect subjunctive expresses hypothetical situations, unfulfilled wishes, and polite requests using forms derived from the third-person plural preterite, adding endings -sse, -sses, -sse, -ssemos, -ssem to create Brazil's go-to mood for "what if" scenarios and diplomatic communication.
Formation: Take 3rd plural preterite (falaram), drop -ram, add -sse endings
Main trigger: Se (if) for hypothetical situations
Result clause: Uses conditional (futuro do pretérito): -ria, -rias, -ria, -ríamos, -riam
Classic pattern: Se eu tivesse dinheiro, compraria um carro
Wishes: Quem dera, tomara que, oxalá + imperfect subjunctive
Polite requests: Queria que, gostaria que + imperfect subjunctive
Como se (as if): Always triggers imperfect subjunctive
Talvez in past contexts uses it too
3rd person plural preterite stem (remove -ram) + -sse, -sses, -sse, -ssemos, -ssem
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The imperfect subjunctive is your ticket to Brazilian diplomacy – it's how you make requests without sounding demanding ("Queria que você me ajudasse"), dream out loud without seeming delusional ("Se eu ganhasse na loteria..."), and navigate hypothetical conversations that Brazilians absolutely love! From job interviews ("Se eu fosse contratado...") to relationship talks ("Se você me amasse de verdade...") to that universal Brazilian game of imagining lottery winnings, this structure appears everywhere. Master this, and you'll sound sophisticated, polite, and quintessentially Brazilian in your communication style!
The imperfect subjunctive has a beautifully logical formation. Take ANY verb's third-person plural preterite form, chop off the -ram, and add your endings:
Find 3rd plural preterite: eles falaram
Remove -ram: fala-
Add imperfect subjunctive endings:
| Person | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| eu | -sse | falasse |
| tu | -sses | falasses |
"Se eu tivesse um carro, não pegaria ônibus"
"Se chovesse menos, a gente sairia mais"
"Se o dólar caísse, eu viajaria pro exterior"
"Se eu morasse mais perto, chegaria na hora"
"Se ela cozinhasse, não pediríamos delivery"
"Quem dera eu pudesse tirar férias agora!"
"Tomara que ele ligasse hoje"
"Se eu ganhasse na Mega-Sena, pararia de trabalhar"
"Ah, se eu soubesse o que sei hoje..."
Biggest mistake: Using indicative instead of subjunctive after "se":
❌ "Se eu tinha dinheiro, comprava"
✅ "Se eu tivesse dinheiro, compraria"
However, in very casual speech, Brazilians DO say the "wrong" version!
When both clauses need past meaning:
❌ "Se eu soubesse, falasse" (both subjunctive)
✅ "Se eu soubesse, teria falado" (subjunctive + conditional perfect)
✅ "Se eu soubesse, falaria" (subjunctive + simple conditional)
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