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 haber conjugated in El Imperfecto Subjuntivo:
Conjugation 1 (used widely in speech in Spain, Latin America and South America)
| yo | hubiera |
| tú | hubieras |
| él / ella / Ud. | hubiera |
| nosotros | hubiéramos |
| vosotros | hubierais |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | hubieran |
Conjugation 2 (used more in written language and in Spain)
| yo | hubiese |
| tú | hubieses |
| él / ella / Ud. | hubiese |
| nosotros | hubiésemos |
| vosotros | hubieseis |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | hubiesen |
Note that in El Imperfecto Subjuntivo, only the impersonal third person form hubiera/hubiese is ever used on its own.
Read and listen to these examples:
No creía que hubiera elecciones tan pronto.
I didn't think that there were elections so soon.
Tal vez no hubiera tantos problemas.
Maybe there were not so many problems.
Ojalá hubiera paz en el mundo.
I wish there were peace in the world.
Quizás hubiese actores muy guapos en la ciudad.
Maybe there were some very handsome actors in the city.
Tal vez no hubiese un huracán tan fuerte.
Maybe there wasn't such a strong hurricane.
Sería mejor que hubiese menos gente en el concierto.
It would be better if there were less people at the concert.
The full set of six forms is used with past participles of a second verb to form another tense: El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo. For example:
Se comportaba como si hubiese bebido demasiado.
He was behaving as if he had drunk too much.
Read more about El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo.
See also:
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Tal vez no hubiese un huracán tan fuerte.
Maybe there wasn't such a strong hurricane.
Tal vez no hubiera tantos problemas.
Maybe there were not so many problems.
Sería mejor que hubiese menos gente en el concierto.
It would be better if there were less people at the concert.
Quizás hubiese actores muy guapos en la ciudad.
Maybe there were some very handsome actors in the city.
Ojalá hubiera paz en el mundo.
I wish there were peace in the world.
Se comportaba como si hubiese bebido demasiado.
He was behaving as if he had drunk too much.
No creía que hubiera elecciones tan pronto.
I didn't think that there were elections so soon.
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