We use El Imperfecto Subjuntivo in some subordinate clauses and in particularly polite requests.
Rather unusually, this tense has two conjugation forms. Take a look at estar conjugations in El Imperfecto Subjuntivo:
Conjugation 1 (used widely in speech in Spain, Latin America and South America)
| yo | estuviera |
| tú | estuvieras |
| él / ella / Ud. | estuviera |
| nosotros / nosotras | estuviéramos |
| vosotros / vosotras | estuvierais |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | estuvieran |
Conjugation 2 (used more in written language and in Spain)
| yo | estuviese |
| tú | estuvieses |
| él / ella / Ud. | estuviese |
| nosotros / nosotras | estuviésemos |
| vosotros /vosotras | estuvieseis |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | estuviesen |
Read and listen to these examples:
Sería maravilloso que tú estuvieras de acuerdo en todo.It would be wonderful if you agreed with everything.
Tal vez vosotros estuvierais contentos por vuestro ascenso.Maybe you were happy about your promotion.
No admitía que vosotras estuvieseis enfadadas con vuestros maridos.She wouldn't admit that you were angry with your husbands.
Quizás ellos estuvieran satisfechos con el tiempo en verano.Maybe they were satisfied with the weather in the summer.
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Examples and resources
Ojalá estuvieran ustedes más contentos con sus notas.I wish you were more pleased with your results.
Sería maravilloso que tú estuvieras de acuerdo en todo.It would be wonderful if you agreed with everything.
Quizás mis amigas estuviesen de crucero por el Mediterráneo.Maybe my friends were on a cruise in the Mediterranean.
Tal vez vosotros estuvierais contentos por vuestro ascenso.Maybe you were happy about your promotion.
