When to choose one form of the Imperfect Subjunctive over the other

Question

How common is the second form of the imperfect subjunctive in everyday language? I.E. The conjugation that has 'iese' for ER/IR verbs and 'ase' for AR verbs. Do native speakers favor one over the other?

Inma Sánchez · Answer

Hola Jim,In Spain both conjugations (-ra and -se) are equally used. However our understanding is that in Latin American Spanish the conjugation with endings -se is far less common than -ra and only used in written formal texts. SaludosInma

Devin H · Answer

I missed a couple of the placement questions because I haven't studies the -se form. I'm mostly learning Spanish to travel in Mexico and I haven't heard/seen that form used too often. Can Kwiziq allow me to skip that form in the same way it allows me to focus on Latin American Spanish? ... Or do is it recommended that I try to master it as well?

Inma Sánchez · Answer

Hola DevinThere is no tool that allows to select specific grammar points to avoid in the testing if it is standard Spanish. The forms ending in -se for the imperfect subjunctive are maybe less frequent in Latin America but they are still used - they may be used more in other countries or specific regions, and also in different registers. I recommend you still learn both. Saludos cordialesInma