The difference between present subjunctive and the imperfect subjunctive

Question

Can anyone help me find the difference between present subjunctive and the imperfect subjunctive. Thankyou

I would be happy to help you if I knew:) - Yeser007, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 1

Hi, Isaiah. Welcome to the forum.

You can look under the "More" tab at the top of this page and go under "Reference," or you can Google "Subjunctive Spanish."

¡Buena suerte!

thank you - isaiah45798, Jul 28, 2011

Answer 2

There is a great lesson provided by Paralee that you should watch in the learn spanish section of this site. That being said, the most important difference is whether or not the W.E.I.R.D.O. clause (remember that the use of the subjunctive requires 2 clauses except with ojalá) is in/refers to the present or past. If it is in the present, use the present subjunctive:

Quiero que BUSQUES la lección sobre el subjuntivo.

If the W.E.I.R.D.O. clause is in or refers to the past (this includes either the preterit or imperfect), use the imperfect subjunctive: Agradezco que me preguntaras sobre el subjuntivo (While agradezco isn't conjugated to the past, I am referring to a past action. This is a tricky but helpful example)

thankyou - isaiah45798, Jul 28, 2011