Regular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive
This is how regular verbs work in the imperfect subjunctive:
Tu parlassi
Lui/lei parlasse
Noi parlassimo
Voi parlaste
Loro parlassero
Tu vivessi
Lui/lei vivesse
Noi vivessimo
Voi viveste
Loro vivessero
Tu sentissi
Lui/lei sentisse
Noi sentissimo
Voi sentiste
Loro sentissero
Volevo che loro sentissero come canti.
I wanted them to hear how you sing.
Credevo che parlassi apertamente.
I thought you were speaking openly.
The imperfect subjunctive is used:
- After verbs showing an opinion (like pensare “to think”, credere “to believe”, volere “to want”, etc.) in the “normal” (indicative) imperfect.
Pensavo che tu parlassi francese parlare, congiuntivo imperfetto
I thought you spoke French parlare, congiuntivo imperfetto
Credevo che lavorasse ancora a Londra lavorare, congiuntivo imperfetto
I thought he still worked in London lavorare, congiuntivo imperfetto
- In sentences with se (if) when talking about a hypothetical situation.
Se loro sentissero si arrabbierebbero molto sentire, congiuntivo imperfetto
If they heard they would get very angry sentire, congiuntivo imperfetto
Se vivessimo a Roma, ci abitueremmo al traffico vivere, congiuntivo imperfetto
If we lived in Rome, we'd get used to the traffic vivere, congiuntivo imperfetto
- After a verb in the conditional in the main part of the sentence, to express a desire in the form of a possibility.
Vorrei che andassimo al mare oggi. andare, congiuntivo imperfetto
I would like us to go to the coast today (literally, “I would like that we go…”).
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