Subjunctive Imperfect · d13a41e4245d8463f44470912fa2c3a9
Pensavo ti piacesse
In Italian, after several expressions related to opinions, feelings, preferences, or desires, you will need to use verbs in the subjunctive, as in Non credo che lui venga.
But there's more! If the first verb is in the past, the subjunctive will be in the past too!
Non sapevo da dove venisse lui.
I did not know where he came from.
Non volevano che io prendessi l'ultimo.
They did not want me to take the last one.
Use these special endings to create the past of the subjunctive of verbs that end in ‑are, ‑ere, and ‑ire.
| trovare to find |
|
|---|---|
| io | trovassi (I) found |
| tu | trovassi (you) found |
| lui / lei | trovasse (he / she) found |
| noi | trovassimo (we) found |
| voi | trovaste (you all) found |
| loro | trovassero (they) found |
Credevo fosse vero
The subjunctive of essere is very special in the past. Let's have a look at it!
| essere to be |
|
|---|---|
| io | fossi (I) was |
| tu | fossi (you) were |
| lui / lei | fosse (he / she) was |
| noi | fossimo (we) were |
| voi | foste (you all) were |
| loro | fossero (they) were |
Pensavo che fosse carina.I thought that she was cute.
Pensava che io fossi il suo fidanzato.
She thought that I was her boyfriend.
Cosa volevate che dicessimo?
There are a few other verbs that have special subjunctive forms in the past. These are the most common ones. Just the first part of the word changes though. The endings are the normal ones.
| Verb | Past Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| stare | stessi |
| dare | dessi |
| fare | facessi |
| dire | dicessi |
Volevate che dicessimo la verità.
You wanted us to tell the truth.
Volevo solo che qualcuno le desse aiuto.
I only wanted somebody to give her help.