Verbs: Subjunctive Imperfect
Pensavo ti piacesse
In Italian, after several expressions related to opinions, feelings, preferences, or desires, you will need to use verbs in the subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian), 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!
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 (replace ‑re with a special ending).
| subject | verb (trovare) |
| io I | trovassi found |
| tu you | trovassi found |
| lui / lei he / she | trovasse found |
| noi we | trovassimo found |
| voi you all | trovaste found |
| loro they | trovassero found |
Volevo che tu conoscessi i miei genitori.
I wanted you to meet my parents.
Credevo fosse vero
The subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian) of essere is very special in the past. Let's have a look at it!
| subject | verb (essere) |
| io I | fossi was |
| tu you | fossi were |
| lui / lei he / she | fosse was |
| noi we | fossimo were |
| voi you all | foste were |
| loro they | fossero were |
Pensavo che fosse carina.
I thought that she was cute.
Cosa volevate che dicessimo?
There are a few other verbs that have special subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian) forms in the past. These are the most common ones in their io form. 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.
Volevo che mio figlio facesse il letto.
I wanted my son to make the bed.