Conjugate estar in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Silvia Piriz BA
Last updated: 2022-05-30
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We use El Imperfecto Subjuntivo in some subordinate clauses and in particularly polite requests.

Learn how to conjugate Spanish verb estar in El Imperfecto Subjuntivo 

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:

Ojalá yo estuviera en Las Vegas ahora mismo.I wish I were in Las Vegas right now.

Ojalá yo estuviese en una playa desierta.I wish I were on a deserted beach.

Sería maravilloso que tú estuvieras de acuerdo en todo.It would be wonderful if you agreed with everything.

Tal vez tú no estuvieses con tus amigos antes.Maybe you weren't with your friends before.

Quizás mi novio estuviera enfermo ese día.Maybe my boyfriend was ill that day.

Quizás ella no estuviese en Madrid en vacaciones.Maybe she wasn't in Madrid on holiday.

No creo que nosotros estuviéramos enamorados de verdad.I don't think that we were truly in love.

Ojalá nosotras estuviésemos en Brasil.I wish we were in Brazil.

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.

Quizás mis amigas estuviesen de crucero por el Mediterráneo.Maybe my friends were on a cruise in the Mediterranean.

Ojalá estuvieran ustedes más contentos con sus notas.I wish you were more pleased with your results.

See also:
Conjugate Spanish verbs in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive tense (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)  

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Examples and resources

Ojalá yo estuviera en Las Vegas ahora mismo.I wish I were in Las Vegas right now.
Quizás mi novio estuviera enfermo ese día.Maybe my boyfriend was ill that day.
No creo que nosotros estuviéramos enamorados de verdad.I don't think that we were truly in love.
Tal vez tú no estuvieses con tus amigos antes.Maybe you weren't with your friends before.
Quizás ellos estuvieran satisfechos con el tiempo en verano.Maybe they were satisfied with the weather in the summer.
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.
Ojalá nosotras estuviésemos en Brasil.I wish we were in Brazil.
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.
Quizás ella no estuviese en Madrid en vacaciones.Maybe she wasn't in Madrid on holiday.
No admitía que vosotras estuvieseis enfadadas con vuestros maridos.She wouldn't admit that you were angry with your husbands.
Ojalá yo estuviese en una playa desierta.I wish I were on a deserted beach.
I'll be right with you...