This episode’s audio doesn’t exist, and we have technology to blame (poof! gone into cyberspace!). Instead of listening to this episode, feel free to use the notes below to learn more about the topic. And if you’re like, “CHER, NO. I NEED THIS EPISODE,” then let me know in the comments below. I’ll put it on my list to record again!
Because I’ve been doing this Italian thing for awhile (&because I like lists), I have a list of tenses that I love in Italian.
The imperfect subjunctive is number two because I love the way all of the s’s sound.
And because I can think up ridiculous scenarios and talk about them.
And ask everyone who speaks Italian a less realistic, more interesting version of 21 questions.
But how do you use this lovely s-filled, dreamy scenario tense?
When to use it
— When the most important part of the sentence includes the past tense, imperfect tense or the conditional tense
— Talk about an unlikely hypothetical situation that starts with Se (If) like If I won the lottery…
— After the wishful expression Magari (if only)
What it looks like
If you say goodbye to the -RE at the end of each verb, you can tack on these endings for regular verbs:
–ssi
–ssi
–sse
–ssimo
–ste
–ssero
Here are couple example verbs so you can see the big, wonderful picture.
Avere – to have
Avessi Avessimo
Avessi Aveste
Avesse Avessero
Venire – to come
Venissi Venissimo
Venissi Veniste
Venisse Venissero
Cominciare – to begin
Cominciassi Cominciassimo
Cominciassi Cominciaste
Cominciasse Cominciassero
How to use it
— When the most important part of the sentence includes the past tense, imperfect tense or the conditional tense
Subject* + past/imperfect/conditional tense + che + imperfect subjunctive verb + last part of your magnificent sentence
— Talk about an unlikely hypothetical situation that starts with Se (If) like If I won the lottery…
Se (If) + subject* + imperfect subjunctive tense + something lovely made up by you + conditional tense + some lovely ending to your sentence
— After the wishful expression Magari (if only)
Magari + imperfect subjunctive tense + some fantastic ending
*Keep in mind that the subjects io and tu are spoken in this tense to remedy a misunderstanding since they have the same endings. The remaining subjects noi, voi, loro can be left off. Lui and lei can be left off if it’s clear who you’re talking about.
Esempi
— Cher desiderava che tu studiassi l’italiano di più. – Cher wishes that you study Italian more.
— Vorremmo che guardaste il film francese. – We would like that you all watch the French film.
— Speravo che la vita fosse più facile. – I hoped that life were easier.
— Se fossi una giraffa, mangerei le foglie. – If I were a giraffe, I would eat leaves.
— Se avessero tempo, imparerebbero a ballare. – If they had time, they would learn to dance.
— Magari fosse vero. – If only it were true.
— Magari potessi venire da te. – If only I could come to your house.
Must-Know Irregular Verbs
Bere – to drink
Bevessi Bevessimo
Bevessi Beveste
Bevesse Bevessero
Dare – to give
Dessi Dessimo
Dessi Deste
Desse Dessero
Dire – to say
Dicessi Dicessimo
Dicessi Diceste
Dicesse Dicessero
Essere – to be
Fossi Fossimo
Fossi Foste
Fosse Fossero
Fare – to do/to make
Facessi Facessimo
Facessi Faceste
Facesse Facessero
Stare – to be/stay
Stessi Stessimo
Stessi Steste
Stesse Stessero
Other useful articles
— Italian Present Conditional (or the tense that finally lets you express yourself in Italian)
— Italian Past Tense (because even though we shouldn’t live in it, we need to talk about it)
— The Imperfect Tense in Italian (or the tense that lets you sweetly reminisce on the old days)
Leave a comment (scrivimi!) if you have any questions about this tense OR scrivimi with a sentence in the imperfect subjunctive using the verb Avere.
