3.5.1. Imperfect subjunctive, congiuntivo imperfetto

Uses of the imperfect subjunctive – congiuntivo imperfetto

There are several uses for the congiuntivo imperfetto in Italian, it is a very commonly used form of the (past) subjunctive. The congiuntivo imperfetto is used if the action described in the dependent clause took place (or was believed/hoped to have taken place) simultaneously to or after that of the main verb. The main verb could be in a past tense or in the conditional. E.g.,

Credevo che Giulia non volesse votare per il mio partito.

 I thought that Giulia didn’t want to vote for my party.

Non credevo che tu fossi a casa da solo!

I didn’t think you were home all alone!

Noi vorremmo che  loro finissero il progetto presto.

We would like them to finish the job soon.

Agreement of the congiuntivo (imperfetto) across clauses is also treated in Section 16.1

Forms of the imperfect subjunctive – congiuntivo imperfetto

The congiuntivo imperfetto is formed by dropping the infinite ending and adding the following specific endings:

For –are verbs: -assi, -assi, -asse, -assimo, -aste, -assero

For –ere verbs: -essi, -essi, -esse, -essimo, -este, -essero

For –ire verbs:  -issi, -issi, -isse, -issimo, -iste, -issero

Following are fully conjugated examples for each verb type:

Most verbs are regular in the congiuntivo imperfetto (as they are in the imperfect indicative, Section 1.3). The most common irregular verbs are only ‘irregular’ due to an elongated stem.

Examples:

fare (Latin form: facere) à facessi, facessi, facesse, facessimo, faceste, facessero

bere (Latin form: bevere) à bevessi, bevessi, bevesse, bevessimo, beveste, bevessero

dire (Latin form: dicere) à dicessi, dicessi, dicesse, dicessimo, diceste, dicessero

E.g.,

Dubitavi che dicessero la verità.

You doubted they were telling the truth.

The verb essere is irregular.

E.g.,

Pensavo che fosse un caro amico.

I thought he was a good friend.

The verb avere is regular.

E.g.,

Non sapevo che lei avesse una macchina.

I didn’t know she had a car.