How to use the Imperfetto Subjunctive for Italian Past Tense (Parts 1-3)
How to use the Imperfetto Subjunctive for Italian Past Tense is a summary page of our three blogs on the Italian past tense subjunctive mood.
All of the phrases used to introduce the subjunctive mood are given on this page.
Click on the link at the end of each section for the complete blog, which will include past tense conjugation of the Italian subjunctive mood and example sentences.
Stella Lucente © 2018
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Imperfetto Subjunctive for Past Tense (Part 3): Speak Italian!
The Italian subjunctive mood is easy to conjugate for use with the Italian past tense, but tricky to use!
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Can you speak Italian? By now, many of you have passed the beginning stages of learning to speak Italian and can read and comprehend quite a bit of the Italian language. Meraviglioso!
But have you tried to take the next step to speak Italian fluently? Can you use the Italian subjunctive mood when you are speaking in the past tense? To express complex feelings in Italian correctly, it is important to use the Italian subjunctive mood. Using the subjunctive mood is difficult for English speakers, as we only rarely use this tense in English, and this is something that I am always working on! This is the third blog in the “Speak Italian” series that will focus on how to conjugate and use the imperfetto subjunctive mood, or “il congiuntivo” for speaking in the past tense.
Let’s take that giant step from simple beginning sentences to more complex and fluid sentences in Italian by using the imperfetto subjunctive mood while speaking in the past tense. In this segment, we will discuss when the helping verbs dovere, potere and volere take the subjunctive mood.
We will also repeat the Italian conjugation of the imperfetto subjunctive form for the regular and irregular -are, -ere, and -ire verbs and then present the conjugation of the modal, or helping, verbs dovere, potere, and volere. Finally, we will revisit the trapassato subjunctive mood from our previous blog on Italian hypothetical phrases. Example sentences will follow!
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
In each blog in the “Speak Italian” series about the imperfetto Italian subjunctive mood (“il congiuntivo”), we will first present phrases that take the Italian subjunctive mood.
Then, we will review how to conjugate the imperfetto subjunctive mood.
Finally, we will present common phrases from daily life that take the imperfetto subjunctive mood.
Remember these examples as “anchors” in your knowledge for when you must speak Italian and try out the imperfetto subjunctive mood in your next Italian conversation!
Enjoy the third blog in this series, “Imperfetto Subjunctive for Past Tense (Part 3): Speak Italian!”
—Kathryn Occhipinti
Some of this material is adapted from our textbook, Conversational Italian for Travelers © 2012 by Stella Lucente, LLC, found on www.learntravelitalian.com. Special thanks to Italian instructors Simona Giuggioli and Maria Vanessa Colapinto.
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood (Part 3)
Once Again… Italian Phrases That Take the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Verbs in Italian can have a subjunctive mood that is used to express beliefs, thoughts, or hopes with the verbs credere, pensare, and sperare.
The subjunctive mood is also said to “open up” a conversation to discussion about a particular topic by expressing doubt, uncertainty, desire, or a feeling.
Certain phrases are commonly used to start a sentence in order to introduce the subjunctive mood, and these initial phrases will be in the indicative tense (the “usual” present or past tense). These initial phrases imply uncertainty and trigger the subjunctive mood in the phrase to follow.
We have already learned to use the imperfetto subjunctive mood with the conditional tense in our blogs about Italian hypothetical phrases! Now, as stated before, we will focus on the use of the imperfetto subjunctive mood after introductory phrases that are in the past tense.
In our first blog about the imperfetto subjunctive mood, we learned that these initial phrases fall into several groups. We discussed Groups 1 through Group 5, which are given below for review.
In our second blog about the imperfetto subjunctive mood, we discussed Groups 6 and 7.
These groups are again listed below for review.
In this blog, we will discuss phrases that express feelings (any emotion, fear, or surprise) in Group 9 and describe the situations in which they are used to introduce the imperfetto subjunctive mood.
We will also now discuss Group 10, in which we list individual words that refer to the purpose or timing of an action that must be followed by the imperfetto subjunctive mood when speaking in the past tense. These words are part of “adverbial clauses” that modify verbs. As such, they are often used in the phrase that completes a sentence, but can also be found at the beginning of a sentence. Many of these words are easy to recognize since they end in -che.
Finally, Groups 11 and 12 are individual adjectives or pronouns that can introduce another clause and must be followed by the imperfetto subjective mood when speaking in the past tense, which we will discuss in blogs to follow.
Group 12 was already the topic of a series of blogs on Italian hypothetical phrases, but is included here for completeness.
Groups 1-9: “Noun Clauses”
Group 10: “Adverbial Clauses”
Groups 11 and 12: “Adjective/Pronoun Clauses”
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- Phrases that use the verbs credere (to believe), pensare (to think), and sperare (to hope). These verbs use the pattern: [verb + di + infinitive verb] to describe the beliefs, thoughts, or hopes that one has. When the subject in the introductory phrase is not the same as the subject in the subjunctive clause that follows, the pattern changes to: [verb + che + subjunctive verb].*
- Impersonal constructions that begin with, “It is…” such as, “È possibile che…”
- Phrases that express a doubt, such as, “I don’t know…” or “Non so che…”
- Phrases that express suspicion, such as, ” I suspect that…” or “Sospetto che…”
- Phrases that express uncertainty, such as, “It seems to me…” or “Mi sembra che…” and “Chiedersi se… “ or ” To wonder if…”
- Impersonal verbs followed by the conjunction che, such as, “Basta che…” “It is enough that,” or “Si dice che…” “They say that…
- Phrases that use the verbs volere, desiderare, chiedere, esigere when the subject in the introductory phrase is not the same as the subject in the clause that follows. In this situation, these verbs will be followed by che.
- Phrases that use the verbs piacere and dispiacere when the subject in the introductory phrase is not the same as the subject in the clause that follows. In this situation, these verbs will be followed by che.
- Phrases that express feelings (any emotion, fear, surprise) and use the pattern: [avere, essere, or augurarsi verb + di + infinitive verb]. When the subject in the introductory phrase is not the same as the subject in the clause that follows, the pattern changes to: [avere, essere, or augurarsi verb + che + subjunctive verb].
- Sentences that begin with words that end in –ché, or complex conjunctions that end with che: affinché, perché (so as, so that, in order that), purché (as long as, provided that, only if)**, a meno che, senza che (unless), può darsi che (it may be possible that, possibly, maybe), prima che (before that). Also the many words that mean although/even though, one of which ends in -che: benché (also sebenne, malgrado, nonostante).***
- Sentences that begin with adjectives or pronouns that include the idea of any in a description of a person, place or thing: qualsiasi, qualunque (any), chiunque (whoever), dovunque (anywhere).
- Sentences that begin with adjectives or pronouns that include the idea of nothing or only in a description of a person, place, or thing: niente che, nulla che (nothing that), nessuno che (nobody that), l’unico, il solo, a che (the only one that).
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Hypothetical Phrases: Phrases that begin with se (if) in certain situations. Phrases that begin with come se (as if), and magari (if only).
As usual, there are summary tables in the next section that shows how to use these phrases. The present tense is in the left columns. The imperfetto past tense has been chosen for the right columns, although in some situations, the passatto prossimo past tense can be used as well. We will then present examples for the past tense.
Points to remember about the subjunctive mood:
In Italian, the introductory phrases that take the subjunctive mood (those that trigger doubt, uncertainty, desire, or a feeling) usually end with a linking word, also known as a conjunction, which will be che. In this situation, che means that. The clause that follows our introductory phrase will then describe what the uncertainty is about.
We now see from Group 9 that some introductory words or phrases already have -ché or che integrated into the word itself. In these cases, che is not repeated.
*When the speaker in the introductory phrase will carry out the action in the phrase to follow, Italian will use the following construction to link the phrases for credere, pensare, and sperare : di + infinitive verb. Example: Penso di andare a Roma domani. = I think I will go to Rome tomorrow. (Use pensare a when thinking ABOUT something or someone.)
**solo se also means only if but does NOT take the subjunctive mode.
*** anche se also means even though/if but does NOT take the subjunctive mode.
How to Express One’s Feelings with “Di” and “Che” and the Italian Subjunctive Mood – Present Tense
Phrases Used to Express Feelings with “Di” in Italian
When expressing one’s feelings in Italian in the first person (io conjugation), many common Italian expressions are followed by di (of). In this case, when di is followed by another verb, the verb in the second phrase will be in the infinitive tense (if you remember, infinitive verbs end in -are, -ere, -ire, and translate as “to…”). Below are some examples of these phrases, along with example sentences, adapted from Chapter 7 of the Conversational Italian for Travelers textbook.
| avere bisogno di | to have need of | Ho bisogno di… riposare. |
| avere paura di | to be afraid/have fear of | Ho paura di… guidare. |
| avere voglia di | to feel like | Ho voglia di… mangiare una pizza. |
| essere certo di | to be certain of | Sono certo(a) di… ricordare il tuo nome. |
| essere sicuro di | to be certain of | Sono sicuro(a) di… ricordare questo posto. |
| essere felice di | to be happy to | Sono felice di… incontrare mio cugino oggi. |
| essere fortunato di | to be lucky to | Sono fortunato(a) di… mangiare questa cena. |
| essere libero di | to be free to | Sono libero(a) di… viaggiare. |
| essere stanco di | to be tired of | Sono stanco(a) di… lavorare. |
| temere di… | to be afraid of | Temo di… essere in ritardo. |
| augurarsi di… | to wish/to hope (of) | Mi auguro di… fare una buona vacanza. |
How to Express One’s Feelings with “Di” and “Che” and the Italian Subjunctive Mood – Past Tense
Phrases Used to Express Feelings with “Che” and the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Some of the expressions listed in the following table are most commonly used with the same subject for the second phrase. As noted in our previous discussions, these phrases will be followed with “di” and an infinitive verb. They are reprinted here to correspond with the previous table, followed by an asterisk and an explanation in parentheses.
For most of the expressions of feeling that we have been talking about, though, it is possible to express a feeling that the speaker (io) has regarding another person or people. In this case, then, these expressions must be followed by che, and the subjunctive mood should be used for the verb in the second phrase.
The above rule for using che + subjunctive applies whether the introductory phrase is in the present tense or the past tense.
However, if the introductory verb is in the past tense, the imperfetto subjunctive form is the form to follow!
In our example table, we will illustrate this by following the Italian phrases in which the subjects can be different with ...che tu, which we know means …that you, although of course, this rule follows no matter which subject pronoun we use.
Phrases Used to Express Feelings with “Che” and the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mode
| Present Tense Subjunctive Phrase Group 8 |
Past Tense Subjunctive Phrase Group 8 |
|||
| Ho bisogno… che tu | I need… that you*
*(This expression is not commonly used in Italian to tell another person what needs to be done; voglio che is used instead.) |
Avevo bisogno… che tu | I needed… that you*
*(This expression is |
|
| Ho paura… che tu | I am afraid… that you | Avevo paura… che tu | I was afraid… that you | |
| Ho voglia di… * | I feel like… * *(always used with the same subject +di in both phrases) |
Avevo voglia… * | I felt like…*
*(always used with
|
|
| Non sono certo(a)… che tu |
I am certain… that you |
Non ero certo… che tu | I was certain… that you | |
| Non sono sicuro(a)… che tu |
I am certain… that you |
Non ero sicuro… che tu | I was certain… that you | |
| Sono felice… che tu | I am happy… that you | Ero felice… che tu | I was happy… that you | |
| Sono fortunato(a)… che tu | I am happy… that you | Ero fortunato(a)… che tu | I was fortunate… that you | |
| Sono libero(a) di… *
|
I am free… * *(always used with the same subject +di in both phrases) |
Ero libero(a)… * | I was free… * *(always used with the same subject +di in both phrases) |
|
| Sono stanco(a) di…
|
I am tired…*
*(always used with the same subject +di in both phrases) |
Ero stanco(a)… che tu | I was tired…*
*(always used with |
|
| Temo… che tu | I am afraid… that you |
Temevo… che tu | I was afraid… that you | |
| Mi auguro… che tu | I hope… that you | Mi auguravo… che tu | I hoped… that you |
Idiomatic Use of the Italian Subjunctive Mood
The final group of words in the table below take the subjunctive mood when used to start a sentence. These conjunctions, adjectives, and pronouns imply that a second phrase is necessary to complete the sentence.
The above rule for using che + subjunctive applies whether the introductory phrase is in the present tense or the past tense.
However, if the introductory verb is the past tense, the imperfetto subjunctive form is the form to follow!
Only the most commonly used have been given in the table. For a more complete list, see the list in the first section of this blog.
| Phrases Used to Introduce the Subjunctive Mood—Idiomatic |
| Present Tense Subjunctive Phrase Groups 9, 10, 11 |
|
| Prima che | Before that ( Prima che is used to mean “before that” and followed by the subjunctive when the subject in the first phrase is different from the subject in the second phrase; use Prima di + infinitive verb when the subject of both phrases is the same.) |
| Benché, Sebbene | Although, Even though, If |
| Può darsi che | It may be possible that, Possibly, Maybe |
| Affinché | So as, So that, In order that |
| Perché | So that (Perché is only used in the subjunctive mood when it means “so that.” Other meanings of perché include “why” and “because,” and in these cases, the subjunctive mood is not used.) |
| Purché | As long as, Provided that, Only if |
Finally, our usual reminder:
DO NOT USE THE SUBJUNCTIVE WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE PHRASES!
Forse = Perhaps
Per me = For me
Secondo me = According to me
The above may seem like exceptions to the rule, but perhaps… because these phrases already express doubt or your personal opinion… in the Italian way of thinking, it would be redundant to use these phrases along with the subjunctive!
And, two more phrases we can now add that DO NOT take the subjunctive mood:
Solo se = Only if
Anche se = Even though/if
Speak Italian: Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood (Part 3)
How to Conjugate the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood for -are, -ere, and -ire Verbs
Luckily, there are only a few irregular stem forms to learn for the imperfetto subjunctive mood, making it an easier tense to learn than the present, future, and conditional tenses.
Also, the imperfetto subjunctive mood endings are always regular and will be the same for all three conjugations!
To change any regular infinitive verb into the imperfetto subjunctive mood, first drop the final -re, from our infinitive -are, -ere, and -ire verbs to create the stem.
This will create stems that end in the letters –a for the –are verbs, -e for the –ere verbs, and–i for the –ire verbs. Then add the endings given in the first table below to the stem that has been created. Examples for each verb type are given in the second table below.*
The word che is included in parentheses in the subject pronoun column as a reminder that these verb forms typically are used with the conjunction che. Also, use the subject pronoun in your sentence after che for clarity, since the endings for the singular forms are all the same!
Practice the subjunctive verbs out loud by saying che, the subject pronoun and then the correct verb form that follows!
Subjunctive Mood – Imperfetto Endings
| io | ssi |
| tu | ssi |
| Lei/lei/lui | sse |
| noi | ssimo |
| voi | ste |
| loro | ssero |
The following table will put together our stems with our imperfetto subjunctive mood endings. A few notes about this:
When pronouncing the imperfetto subjunctive mood verbs, the stress will always be on the syllable that begins with the last two letters of the stem and will incorporate one –s letter from the ending. (Remember the rule for Italian double consonants: one consonant will go with the syllable before and the second with the syllable after, in effect also stressing the double consonant itself.) The stressed syllables are underlined in our example table below.
Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood – Example Verb Conjugations
| Abitare(to live)
(lived/were living) |
Vedere(to see)
(saw/had seen) |
Finire(to finish)
(finished/were finishing) |
|
| (che) io | abitassi | vedessi | finissi |
| (che) tu | abitassi | vedessi | finissi |
| (che) Lei/lei/lui | abitasse | vedesse | finisse |
| (che) noi | abitassimo | vedessimo | finissimo |
| (che) voi | abitaste | vedeste | finiste |
| (che) loro | abitassero | vedessero | finissero |
How to Conjugate the Italian Subjunctive Mood Imperfetto Tense for the Modal Verbs
Here are the Italian imperfetto subjunctive forms for the modal verbs. If you remember, modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that are also called “helping verbs.” These verbs are often used in the subjunctive mood in written and spoken Italian. As you no doubt recall, these three helping verbs give additional information about the main verb in the phrase. In the subjunctive mood, volere can also be translated as “to need.”
Dovere – to have to/must – Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| (che) io | dovessi | I had to |
| (che) tu | dovessi | you (familiar) had to |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
dovesse | you (polite) had to she/he had to |
| (che) noi | dovessimo | we had to |
| (che) voi | doveste | you all had to |
| (che) loro | dovessero | they had to |
|
Potere – to be able (to)/can – Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood |
| che) io | potessi | I was able to/could |
| (che) tu | potessi | you (familiar) were able to/could |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
potesse | you (polite) were able to/could
she/he was able to/could |
| (che) noi | potessimo | we were able to/could |
| (che) voi | poteste | you all were able to/could |
| (che) loro | potessero | they were able to/could |
| Volere – to want/ to need – Imperfetto Subjunctive mode |
| (che) io | volessi | I wanted/needed |
| (che) tu | volessi | you (familiar) wanted/needed |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
volesse | you (polite) wanted/needed
she/he wanted/needed |
| (che) noi | volessimo | we wanted/needed |
| (che) voi | voleste | you all wanted/needed |
| (che) loro | volessero | they wanted/needed |
The Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Commonly Used Regular and Irregular Verbs
A review from the second blog in this series:
Luckily, most verbs are regular in the imperfetto subjunctive mood. So, there are many, many more regular than irregular verbs! Below are some commonly used regular verbs, some of which are irregular in the present tense and most other tenses! Practice saying them out loud and listen to how each conjugated verb sounds.
| Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood Conjugations – Commonly Used Regular Verbs |
| Andare(to go)
(went/were going) |
Sapere (to know)(knew/had known) |
Venire(to come)
(came/had come) |
Vivere(to live)
(lived/were living) |
|
| io | andassi | sapessi | venissi | vivessi |
| tu | andassi | sapessi | venissi | vivessi |
| Lei/lei/lui | andasse | sapesse | venisse | vivesse |
| noi | andassimo | sapessimo | venissimo | vivessimo |
| voi | andaste | sapeste | veniste | viveste |
| loro | andassero | sapessero | venissero | vivessero |
The Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Commonly Used Irregular Verbs
There are a few important irregular verbs to know in the imperfetto subjunctive mood. You will find them in the tables below. Practice saying them out loud and listen to how each conjugated verb sounds.
Fare – to do/make – Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| io | facessi | I did/ made |
| tu | facessi | you (familiar) did/made |
| Leilei/lui | facesse | you (polite) did/madeshe/he did/made |
| noi | facessimo | we did/made |
| voi | faceste | you all did/made |
| loro | facessero | they did/made |
Dare – to give – Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| io | dessi | I gave |
| tu | dessi | you (familiar) gave |
| Leilei/lui | desse | you (polite) gaveshe/he gave |
| noi | dessimo | we gave |
| voi | deste | you all gave |
| loro | dessero | they gave |
Dire – to say/tell – Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| io | dicessi | I said/told |
| tu | dicessi | you (familiar) said/told |
| Leilei/lui | dicesse | you (polite) said/toldshe/he said/told |
| noi | dicessimo | we said/told |
| voi | diceste | you all said/told |
| loro | dicessero | they said/told |
How to Conjugate Italian Verbs “Essere,” “Avere,” and “Stare” in the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
A review from the first blog in this series:
In the tables below are the imperfetto subjunctive forms for the Italian auxiliary verbs avere, stare, and essere, which are often used in the subjunctive mood in written and spoken Italian. These are important verbs to commit to memory!
You will notice that avere has a regular conjugation in the imperfetto subjunctive mood, whereas essere and stare have an irregular conjugation.
Avere—to have—Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| (che) io | avessi | I had |
| (che) tu | avessi | you (familiar) had |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
avesse | you (polite) had
she/he had |
| (che) noi | avessimo | we had |
| (che) voi | aveste | you all had |
| (che) loro | avessero | they had |
Essere—to be—Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| (che) io | fossi | I were |
| (che) tu | fossi | you (familiar) were |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
fosse | you (polite) were
she/he were |
| (che) noi | fossimo | we were |
| (che) voi | foste | you all were |
| (che) loro | fossero | they were |
Stare—to stay/be—Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
| (che) io | stessi | I stayed/were |
| (che) tu | stessi | you (familiar) stayed/were |
| (che) Lei
(che) lei/lui |
stesse | you (polite) stayed/were
she/he stayed/were |
| (che) noi | stessimo | we stayed/were |
| (che) voi | steste | you all stayed/were |
| (che) loro | stessero | they stayed/were |
The “Trapassato” Subjunctive Mood
“Essere” or “Avere” + Past Participle
To form the trapassato subjunctive mood to describe an event that started and was completed in the past, simply use either essere or avere in the imperfetto conjugation, and add the past participle of the verb.
In English, any event that started and was completed in the past simply needs “had” inserted in front of the past participle! This is a bit easier than Italian, but with a little practice, you will get used to the Italian in no time!
Visit our blog about Italian hypothetical phrases in the past tense (Italian Subjunctive Part 5) for practice using this verb form with impossible hypothetical sentences.
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Below are the trapassato subjunctive mood conjugations for the auxiliary verbs avere and essere, using the past participles for two Italian verbs that are commonly used in this tense – fare and andare.
Remember that action verbs of direction, reflexive verbs, other verbs of growing and changing, and piacere all take essere as a helping verb when making these compound verbs. All other verbs take avere. If you need a review of the use of helping verbs for the Italian past tense, please refer to our blog Speak Italian: A Story About… Love!
You will notice that avere has a regular conjugation in the imperfetto subjunctive mood, whereas essere has an irregular conjugation. The past participle for fare (fatto) is irregular, but that of andare (andato) is regular. If you need a refresher on how to form past participles, please refer to our blog Speak Italian: A Story About… Love!
In hypothetical clauses, because the trapassato subjunctive mood is introduced by se, (se) is included in the subject pronoun column as a reminder. When conjugating these verbs, say “se” before the subject pronoun and each verb form to reinforce this way of thinking!
Avere (to have) + Fare (to do/make) — Trapassato Subjunctive Mood
| (se) io | avessi + fatto | I had + made/done |
| (se) tu | avessi + fatto | you (familiar) had + made/done |
| (se) Lei
(se) lei/lui |
avesse + fatto | you (polite) had + made/done
she/he had + made/done |
| (se) noi | avessimo + fatto | we had + made/done |
| (se) voi | aveste + fatto | you all had + made/done |
| (se) loro | avessero + fatto | they had + made/done |
Essere (to be) + Andare (to go) — Trapassato Subjunctive Mood
| (se) io | fossi + andato(a) | I had + gone |
| (se) tu | fossi + andato(a) | you (familiar) had + gone |
| (se) Lei
(se) lei/lui |
fosse + andato(a) | you (polite) had + gone
she/he had + gone |
| (se) noi | fossimo + andati(e) | we had + gone |
| (se) voi | foste + andati(e) | you all had + gone |
| (se) loro | fossero + andati(e) | they had + gone |
To read more of this blog, click HERE
Imperfetto Subjunctive for Past Tense (Part 2): Speak Italian!
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Can you speak Italian? By now, many of you have passed the beginning stages of learning to speak Italian and can read and comprehend quite a bit of the Italian language. Meraviglioso!
But have you tried to take the next step to speak Italian fluently? Can you use the imperfetto subjunctive mood when you are speaking in the past tense? To express complex feelings in Italian correctly, it is important to use the Italian subjunctive mood. Using the subjunctive mood is difficult for English speakers, as we only rarely use this tense in English, and this is something that I am always working on! This is the second blog in the “Speak Italian” series that will focus on how to conjugate and use the imperfetto subjunctive mood, or “il congiuntivo” for speaking in the past tense.
Let’s take that giant step from simple beginning sentences to more complex and fluid sentences in Italian by using the imperfetto subjunctive mood while speaking in the past tense. In this segment, we will discuss when volere, desiderare, piacere, and dispiacere take the subjunctive mood.
We will also learn the conjugation of the imperfetto subjunctive mood for the -are, -ere, and -ire verbs and the commonly used irregular verbs andare, dare, dire, fare, sapere, and venire. Example sentences will follow!
How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood with
Volere and Desiderare
When expressing one’s desire in Italian in the first person (io conjugation), voglio/vorrei and desidero are used in similar situations to mean I want and I would like. In this case, these helping verbs are followed directly by another verb that is in the infinitive tense (if you remember, infinitive verbs end in -are, -ere, -ire and translate as “to…”). Of course, these verbs can also be followed by a noun, the “object of our desire”!
Volere and desiderare are covered in detail in Chapter 4 of our textbook, Conversational Italian for Travelers, if you would like a review. Below are some simple examples:
Voglio imparare l’italiano. I want to learn Italian.
Vorrei viaggiare in Italia. I would like to travel to Italy.
Desidero andare al cinema. I want to go to the movies.
But when these same verbs—voglio/vorrei and desidero—are used to express a desire for something that the speaker in the first person (io) wants another person to do, then these helping verbs must be followed by che, and then the subjunctive mood should be used for the verb in the next phrase.
In the same way, I can ask that someone do something using the verb chiedere or insist that they do it with the verb esigere. But just asking someone else or even insisting does not mean that it will be done (as those of us who have children know). So, in these cases as well, the verbs chiedere and esigere will be followed by the conjunction che and the next phrase will use a verb in the subjunctive form.
The above rule for using che + subjunctive applies whether the introductory phrase is in the present tense or the past tense.*
However, if the introductory verb is in the past tense, the imperfetto subjunctive form is the form to follow!
*Be careful with chiedere and esigere, though, when using the passato prossimo past tense, since their past participles are irregular. For chiedere, the past participle is chiesto and for esigere, the past participle is esatto.
Esatto is, of course, also used as an adjective, meaning “exact” or “precise” as well as an interjection with the meaning of “Exactly!”
How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood with
Piacere and Dispiacere
The verb forms mi piace, mi piacerrebbe and mi dispiace, mi dispiaccerebbe follow the same rule given for the verbs in Group 6 we just discussed: when the verb that follows these introductory phrases refers to the speaker (io form), then a verb in the infinitive form follows directly. When the verb that follows refers to someone else, che is used as a link to a verb in the subjunctive mood in the second clause.
The above rule for using che + subjunctive applies whether the introductory phrase is in the present tense or the past tense.
However, if if the introductory verb is in the past tense, the imperfetto subjunctive form is the form to follow!
In our example table that follows, we will illustrate the use of che followed by a different speaker from the introductory phrase with ...che tu. This conjunction means …that you. Of course, we can replace tu with any of the other subject pronouns, and then the phrases would be: ….che Lei, che lei, che lui, che noi, che voi, or che loro.
| Phrases Used to Introduce the Subjunctive Mood with Volere, Desiderare, Piacere, Dispiacere |
| Present Tense & Conditional Tense Subjunctive Phrases Groups 6 and 7 |
Past Tense & Past Conditional Tense Subjunctive Phrases Groups 6 and 7 |
|||
| Voglio… che tu | I want… that you | Volevo… che tu Ho voluto… che tu |
I wanted… that you | |
| Vorrei… che tu | I would like… that you |
Volevo… che tu Ho voluto… che tu |
I wanted… that you | |
| Desidero… che tu Chiedo... che tu Esigo… che tu |
I want… that you I ask… that you I insist... that you |
Desideravo… che tu Chiedevo… che tu Esigevo… che tu Ho desiderato… che tu Ho chiesto… che tu Ho esatto… che tu |
I wanted… that you I asked... that you I insisted… that you |
|
| Mi piace… che tu | I like… that you | Mi piaceva… che tu Mi sono piaciuto(a)… che tu |
I liked… that you | |
| Mi dispiace… che tu | I am sorry… that you | Mi dispiaceva… che tu Mi sono dispiaciuto(a)… che tu |
I was sorry… that you | |
| Mi piacerebbe… che tu |
I would like… that you |
Mi sarebbe piaciuto(a)… che tu | I would have liked… that you |
|
| Mi dispiacerebbe… che tu |
I don’t mind… that you |
Mi sarebbe dispiaciuto(a)… che tu |
I didn’t mind… that you |
To read more of this post, click HERE.
Imperfetto Subjunctive for Past Tense (Part 1): Speak Italian!
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
Can you speak Italian? By now, many of you have passed the beginning stages of learning to speak Italian and can read and comprehend quite a bit of the Italian language. Meraviglioso!
But have you tried to take the next step to speak Italian fluently? Can you use the imperfetto subjunctive mood when you are speaking in the past tense? To express complex feelings in Italian correctly, it is important to use the Italian subjunctive mood. Using the subjunctive mood is difficult for English speakers, as we only rarely use this tense in English, and this is something that I am always working on! The next three blogs in the “Speak Italian” series will focus on how to conjugate and use the imperfetto Italian subjunctive mood, or “il congiuntivo” for speaking in the past tense.
Let’s take that giant step from simple beginning sentences to more complex and fluid sentences in Italian by using the imperfetto subjunctive mood while speaking in the past tense. In this segment, we will discuss the phrases that take the subjunctive mood when in the past tense and how to conjugate the imperfetto subjunctive mood for avere, essere and stare. Example sentences will follow!
Speak Italian: How to Use the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood
In each blog in the “Speak Italian” series about the imperfetto subjunctive mood (“il congiuntivo”), we will first present phrases in the past tense that take the imperfetto subjunctive mood.
Then, we will review how to conjugate the imperfetto subjunctive mood.
Finally, we will present common phrases from daily life that take the Italian subjunctive mood.
Remember these examples as “anchors” in your knowledge for when you must speak Italian and try out the imperfetto subjunctive mood in your next Italian conversation!
Enjoy the first blog in this series, “Imperfetto Subjunctive for Past Tense (Part 1): Speak Italian!”
—Kathryn Occhipinti
Some of this material is adapted from our textbook, Conversational Italian for Travelers © 2012 by Stella Lucente, LLC, found on www.learntravelitalian.com. Special thanks to Italian instructor Maria Vanessa Colapinto.
| Italian Phrases That Take the Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood |
To follow is a (long) list of phrases that can be used to introduce the subjunctive mood, with examples from the passato prossimo past tense in the first two columns and the imperfetto past tense in the last two columns.
Basic translations are given in our tables, but remember that the imperfetto past tense can also be translated as “was… ing.” Therefore, “Speravo che” means, “I hoped,” and “I was hoping.” In the last section, we will then present examples for the past tense.
| Passato Prossimo Past Subjunctive Phrase Groups 1 and 2 |
Imperfetto Past Subjunctive Phrase Groups 1 and 2 |
|||
| Ho creduto che | I believed that | Credevo che | I believed that | |
| Ho pensato che | I thought that | Pensavo che | I thought that | |
| Ho sperato che | I hoped that | Speravo che | I hoped that | |
| È stato possibile che | It was possible that | Era possibile che | It was possible that | |
| È stato probablile che | It was probable that | Era probabile che | It was probable that | |
| È stato bene che | It was fine/good that | Era bene che | It was fine/good that | |
| Sarebbe stato bene che | It would have been good that | |||
| È stato giusto che | It was right that | Era giusto che | It was right that | |
| È stato meglio che | It was better that | Era meglio che | It was better that | |
| È stato incredible che | It was incredible that | Era incredibile che | It was incredible that | |
| È stato un peccato che | It was a shame that | Era un peccato che | It was a shame that | |
| È stata una vergogna che | It was a disgrace that | Era una vergogna che | It was a disgrace that | |
| È stato normale che | It was normal that | Era normale che | It was normal that | |
| Passato Prossimo Past Subjunctive Phrase Groups 3, 4, and 5 |
Imperfetto Past Subjunctive Phrase Groups 3, 4, and 5 |
|||
| Non ho saputo che | I didn’t know that | Non sapevo che | I didn’t know that | |
| Non ho saputo dove | I did’t know where | Non sapevo dove | I didn’t know where | |
| Non sono stato sicuro che | I wasn’t sure that | Non ero sicuro che | I wasn’t sure that | |
| Non ho avuto idea che | I had no idea that | Non avevo idea che | I had no idea that | |
| Non vedevo l’ora che… | I couldn’t wait that | |||
| Non c’è stato nulla che | There was nothing that | Non c’era nulla che | There was nothing that | |
| Mi è parso* che | It seems to me | Mi pareva che | It seemed to me | |
| Mi è sembrato* che | It seems to me | Mi sembrava che | It seemed to me | |
| (Può darsi che only used in present tense) | (Perhaps) | |||
| Ho avuto l’impressione che | I had the impression that | Avevo l’impresione che | I had the impression that | |
| Ho supposto che | I supposed that | Supponevo che | I supposed that | |
| Ho immaginato che | I imagined that | Immaginavo che | I imagined that | |
| Ho dubitato che | I doubted that | Dubitavo che | I doubted that | |
| Sono stato(a) convinto che | I was convinced that | Ero convinto che | I was convinced that | |
| (A meno che only used in present tense) | (Unless) | |||
| Ho convenuto che | It was best that | Conveniva che | It was best that | |
| È bastato(a) che | It was enough that | Bastava che | It was enough that | |
| (Malgrado che only used in present tense) | (In spite of that) | |||
| Si è detto che | It was said that = One says/said that |
Si diceva che | It was said that | |
| Hanno detto che | They said that | Dicevano che | They said that | |
| C’è stato bisognato che | It was necessary that = There was a need for that |
Bisognava che | It was necessary that |
* Use the phrases “Mi era parso che” and “Mi era sembrato che” when the phrase that follows will refer to another speaker’s actions. Do NOT change the ending of parso or sembrato. In this case, parso and sembrato refer to “it” in the phrase, “It seems to me that…” and so are invariable.
However, when saying, “It seems to me…” followed by an adjective that describes how the speaker himself feels about something, the last letter of parso and sembrato must match in gender and number what is being described.
So, to describe how a beautiful girl seemed to me, I would say:
Mi era parsa bella. – or – Mi era sembrata bella. = She seemed beautiful to me.
Speak Italian: The Imperfetto Subjunctive Mood (Part 1)
How to Conjugate and Use
“Chiedersi” – To Wonder
********************
In our previous blog on Italian hypothetical phrases, Italian Subjunctive (Part 4): Italian Hypothetical Phrases of Love, we discussed the verb chiedersi, which is the verb Italians use to describe the idea of “wondering if…” something might happen.
Let’s see how this works in the past tense, in a situation when one might have “wondered if…” something might have happened.
“Mi chiedevo…” literally means, “I asked myself,” which translates into “I wondered.” At first glance, it may seem like chiedersi should fall into the category of improbable hypothetical phrases – especially when this verb is followed by se, such as in the phrase “I wondered if…” But, as we’ve learned in previous blogs, instead, chiedersi follows the same rules as our verbs of uncertainty in Rule 4.
Therefore, when chiedersi is used in the past tense, the phrase that follows will take the imperfetto subjunctive and the trapassato subjunctive forms.
Here are our previous examples for when one is wondering in the past tense about something that may have happened in either the present or the past.
Mi chiedevo se lui fosse un attore bravo in quel film.
I wondered if he is a great actor in that film.
Mi chiedevo se lui fosse stato un attore bravo in quel film.
I wondered if he was a great actor in that film.
To read more of this blog click HERE.
Kathryn Occhipinti, MD, is the author of the
Conversational Italian for Travelers series of books and a teacher of Italian for travelers to Italy in the Peoria and Chicago area.
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Italian Subjunctive Past Tense: Speak Italian! Stella Lucente © 2018
