What is the difference between the pluscuamperfecto (past perfect) and imperfect subjunctive?

Question

We're studying the subjunctive and I don't understand the difference between the past perfect subjunctive and the imperfect subjunctive.

I understand how to conjugate them, but I don't understand what they mean in English. In what scenarios would I use in each tense?

Thank you SO much in advance! I have searched the net and found nothing so I was hoping someone could explain it to me!

Answer 1

Same as the imperfect indicative and pluperfect indicative... even in English! What is the difference between "They ate" and "They had eaten"? Same thing in Spanish with those two tenses: the pluperfect is an action that had already finished in the past. Extend that idea to the subjunctive.

Answer 2

What Lazarus said.

Having said that, I managed to live, interact, go through college, work, and generally communicate quite effectively (in Spanish and English) in life for several decades, before I ever even heard the words "plusperfect" or "pluscuanperfecto". First time was right here, not one year ago!

You should say this more often. Maybe they'll get it eventually. - lazarus1907, Feb 9, 2011

We both say it all the time, my friend. ;-) - Gekkosan, Feb 9, 2011