When does one use the past subjunctive?

Question

When does one use the past subjunctive?

Past subjunctive - Jeremias, Dec 6, 2011

Lol I have never heard it called that before hahaha - FELIZ77, Dec 6, 2011

subjective that is - FELIZ77, Dec 6, 2011

Welcome to the forum, I just fixed your typo's for you :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 6, 2011

Just a reminder, there is a reference section at this site: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/100058/imperfect-subjunctive - Stadt, Dec 6, 2011

Answer 1

I wanted them to pick up the papers for me from the office so i could ....I dont know

Quería que recogieran los papeles por mí de la oficina para que pudiera ...

Answer 2

The subjunctive in the past tense (imperfect subjunctive) serves the same purpose as the present subjunctive, but where all the conditions and events occur in the past. Example (limpiar in subjunctive mood):

Present:

I want you to clean your room.

Quiero que limpies tu cuarto.

Past:

I wanted you to clean your room.

Quería que limpiaras tu cuarto.

Simple enough. - 0074b507, Dec 6, 2011

and remember that the conditional is considered a past tense :0 - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 7, 2011

Answer 3

Besides just being the simple past tense in the subjunctive mood you will also find it used in unreal, or contrary-to-fact, IF clauses.

Si ganara el lotería viajaría a......

If I won the lottery (but I haven't...theoretical (unreal) if clause.)

(Note that it uses past tense to refer to present or future time.)

Answer 4

KiwiGirl has given a very good answer to this previously posted question.

aw, thanx for noticing je je :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 6, 2011

Answer 5

I found this article very helpful on when to use which subjunctive I hope you do too

You use the past subjunctive when the governing verb is in a “past time” tense.

If the governing verb is in the imperfect indicative, preterite indicative, conditional, conditional perfect, imperfect subjunctive, or past perfect subjunctive you will use either the imperfect subjunctive for a simultaneous or future state or action or the past perfect subjunctive for a prior state or action.

Another couple of interesting things to remember is that you never* follow si (if) by the present subjunctive so if it requires the subjunctive (when the condition is contrary to fact or is unlikely) then you will follow it by the past subjunctive.

The other thing is regarding 'ójala' - if you use it with the present subjunctive it means 'I hope' but used with the past subjunctive it's more a case of 'I wish' and carries the implication that whatever you are referring to is hypothetical or contrary-to-fact.

I hope that this helps you

ps *never is pretty strong but take that in the sense of there's bound to be a very rare exception but pretty much never, lol

Good answer, as usual, Kiwi! - territurtle, Dec 7, 2011

Thanx Terri :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 7, 2011