3.5.2. Past perfect subjunctive, congiuntivo trapassato

Uses of the congiuntivo trapassato

The congiuntivo trapassato (past perfect subjunctive, also called the pluperfect subjunctive) is used if the action described in the dependent clause took place (or was hoped to have taken place, if a conditional mood is involved) before the action of the main verb. This means that the verb in the main clause will be either in a past tense or in the (past) conditional. E.g.,

Credeva che mio fratello avesse mandato la lettera il giorno prima.

He thought my brother had sent the letter the day before.

Vorrei che tu fossi già partita.

I wish you had already left.

Non sapevo che voi aveste già mangiato.

I didn’t know you had already eaten.

Non avrei creduto che lei fosse nata in Francia.

I wouldn’t have believed that she was born in France.

Forms of the congiuntivo trapassato

The congiuntivo trapassato is formed by using the imperfect subjunctive of the auxiliary verb essere or avere and adding, as for any compound verb, the past participle of the acting verb.

Any irregularities in the conjugation are due to the irregular forms of the past participles.

E.g., avesse letto, fossi sceso, fosse nata, avessero detto, ecc…