Italian Grammar Bank
ITALIAN IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
The imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) is used to talk about things that could have happened in the past or were possible but didn’t actually happen.
It’s not about things that did happen—it’s for things we imagined, wished, or doubted in the past.
WHEN TO USE THE IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
The imperfect subjunctive is used when talking about:
- Hypothetical situations in the past
- Wishes and desires about the past
- Doubts or uncertainty about past events
- Indirect speech (reporting what someone else said)
Here are some common verbs and phrases that trigger the use of the imperfect subjunctive:
| Volevo che | I wanted that |
| Desideravo che | I wished that |
| Temevo che | I feared that |
| Pensavo che | I thought that |
| Credevo che | I believed that |
| Dubitavo che | I doubted that |
| Non sapevo che | I didn’t know that |
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Forming the imperfect subjunctive is simple. Take the third-person plural form of the verb in the indicative past (in the imperfect) and remove the -rono ending.
PATTERN
Main clause (indicative) + “che” + Dependent clause (imperfect subjunctive)
Then, add the correct subjunctive endings. Here’s the breakdown for regular verbs.
Conjugation of regular verbs
Let’s see how the verbs pensare (to think), credere (to believe), and dormire (to sleep) are conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive.
| verb | io | tu | lui/lei | noi | voi | loro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensare | Pens-assi | pensassi | pensasse | pensassimo | pensaste | pensassero |
| Credere | Cred-essi | credessi | credesse | credessimo | credeste | credessero |
| Dormire | Dorm-issi | dormissi | dormisse | dormissimo | dormiste | dormissero |
The conjugation is regular for all three verbs, following the typical imperfect subjunctive endings.
Conjugation of essere and avere
Let’s take a look at how essere (to be) and avere (to have) are conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive.
| verb | io | tu | lui/lei | noi | voi | loro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essere | fossi | fossi | fosse | fossimo | foste | fossero |
| Avere | avessi | avessi | avesse | avessimo | aveste | avessero |
Notice how both verbs follow the same pattern as regular verbs when used in the imperfect subjunctive.
EXAMPLES
Below are three examples per case with verbs that trigger the imperfect subjunctive, and their English translations.
Example 1: Hypothetical Situations
| Se io parlassi italiano, sarebbe fantastico. | If I spoke Italian, it would be amazing. |
| Se tu venissi con noi, sarebbe più divertente. | If you came with us, it would be more fun. |
| Se loro capissero il problema, sarebbe meglio. | If they understood the problem, it would be better. |
In these examples, we’re imagining something that didn’t happen or might have happened.
Example 2: Wishes or Desires in the Past
| Volevo che tu studiassi di più. | I wanted you to study more. |
| Desideravo che lui fosse qui con me. | I wished that he were here with me. |
| Temevo che non ci fosse abbastanza tempo. | I feared there wasn’t enough time. |
These sentences express wishes or desires about something that didn’t happen.
Example 3: Doubts or Uncertainty in the Past
| Non pensavo che lui fosse capace di farlo. | I didn’t think he was capable of doing it. |
| Dubitavo che tu riuscissi a finire in tempo. | I doubted that you could finish on time. |
| Non credevo che loro avessero detto quello. | I didn’t believe they had said that. |
Here, the imperfect subjunctive expresses doubt or uncertainty about something in the past.
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FAQs
When to use the imperfect subjunctive?
The imperfect subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses after expressions of desire, doubt, opinion, or emotion when the main clause is in the past or conditional.
For example: Volevo che tu studiassi di più (I wanted you to study more).
How to conjugate regular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive?
Some verbs that often trigger the imperfect subjunctive include:
Volere (to want) → Volevo che tu venissi (I wanted you to come).
Pensare (to think) → Pensavo che lui sapesse la risposta (I thought he knew the answer).
Temere (to fear) → Temevo che piovesse (I feared it would rain).
Imperfect subjunctive or past subjunctive?
The past subjunctive (congiuntivo passato) is used for actions completed in the past (Pensavo che tu sia arrivato – I thought you had arrived), while the imperfect subjunctive is used for ongoing or hypothetical past actions (Pensavo che tu arrivassi più tardi – I thought you would arrive later).
What verbs require the imperfect subjunctive?
Some verbs that often trigger the imperfect subjunctive include:
Volere (to want) → Volevo che tu venissi (I wanted you to come).
Pensare (to think) → Pensavo che lui sapesse la risposta (I thought he knew the answer).
Temere (to fear) → Temevo che piovesse (I feared it would rain).
Can the imperfect subjunctive be used in conditional sentences?
Yes! The imperfect subjunctive is commonly used in hypothetical “if” clauses with the conditional tense:
👉 Se avessi tempo, viaggerei di più. (If I had time, I would travel more.)
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MORE FREE LESSONS
-
Italian conditional tense
Auxiliary (to be, to have) + past principle -
Pluperfect subjunctive in Italian
Main clause (past/conditional) + che + subject + auxiliary verb (imperfetto congiuntivo) + past participle -
The Italian past perfect indicative
Subject + conjugated auxiliary verb (imperfect) + past participle of the main verb -
Present & past subjonctive in Italian
Main Clause (Indicative) + "che" + Dependent Clause (Present Subjunctive)