Section 13: Spanish Imperative Mood (Commands)
Brain Boost: Spanish Commands, Present/Past Subjunctive
Section 14. Spanish Past Subjunctive
Brain Boost: Present/Past Subjunctive, Commands, & Present Tense
Sections 15-16: Perfect Tenses: Present, Past, and Future
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Instruction: The “other form” of Past Subjunctive

In addition to the commonly used -ra endings, Spanish also has an alternative set of endings for the past subjunctive, known as the -se endings. While this form is less commonly used in modern Spanish, it is still important to understand, as it can appear in literature, formal writing, or when reading older texts. This lesson will introduce you to the -se form of the past subjunctive, show you how it is formed, and compare it to the more common -ra form.

1. Formation of the “Other Form” of the Past Subjunctive

The -se form of the past subjunctive is created similarly to the -ra form, but with different endings. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. Start with the third-person plural form of the verb in the preterite tense (e.g., tenertuvieron).
  2. Remove the -ron ending from the preterite form (e.g., tuvierontuvie).
  3. Add the -se endings: -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen:

Yo

- se

Nosotros

- semos

(Juana, Juan)

- ses

Vosotros

(informal Spain)

- seis

Él/Ella/Ud.

(Sra./Dr. García)

- se

Ellos/Ellas/Uds.

- sen

Example Verbs:

InfinitiveStemYo (Ra Form)Yo (Se Form)
hablarhabla-hablarahablase
comercomie-comieracomiese
vivirvivie-vivieraviviese
tenertuvie-tuvieratuviese
hacerhicie-hicierahiciese
decirdije-dijeradijese
poderpudie-pudierapudiese
ser/irfue-fuerafuese

2. Comparison of -ra and -se Forms

Both the -ra and -se forms of the past subjunctive are grammatically correct and interchangeable in meaning. The choice between them is often a matter of regional preference or formality. In most of Latin America and modern Spanish, the -ra form is more commonly used, while the -se form is seen more frequently in Spain, formal writing, or literature.

Examples:

  • Si yo tuviera / Si yo tuviese más tiempo, viajaría.
    (If I had more time, I would travel.)
  • Ella quería que él hablara / Ella quería que él hablase con el director.
    (She wanted him to speak with the director.)
  • Dudaba que ellos hicieran / Dudaba que ellos hiciesen el trabajo a tiempo.
    (I doubted that they would do the work on time.)

3. Practice with the -se Form

To help you become familiar with the -se form of the past subjunctive, try converting the following sentences from the -ra form to the -se form.

1. Si yo hablara más despacio, me entenderías.
2. Quería que nosotros fuéramos a la fiesta.
3. Si tú vinieras a mi casa, te mostraría las fotos.
4. Dudaba que ellos comieran todo.
5. Esperaba que ella dijera la verdad.

Answers:

  1. Si yo hablase más despacio, me entenderías.
  2. Quería que nosotros fuésemos a la fiesta.
  3. Si tú vinieses a mi casa, te mostraría las fotos.
  4. Dudaba que ellos comiesen todo.
  5. Esperaba que ella dijese la verdad.

4. When to Use the -se Form

While the -ra form is more common in everyday speech, the -se form can be used interchangeably and is often seen in:

  • Formal writing: Legal documents, formal letters, and official communications.
  • Literature: Many literary works, especially classical Spanish literature, use the -se form.
  • Regional Preference: In some regions, particularly in Spain, the -se form is more prevalent.
Conclusion

The -se form of the past subjunctive, though less common than the -ra form, is still an important part of Spanish grammar. Understanding this form will help you better comprehend formal writing, literature, and regional variations in Spanish. By practicing both forms, you’ll become more versatile in your use of the past subjunctive, whether you encounter it in spoken or written Spanish.