Imperfect Subjunctive: Ir

The Imperfect Subjunctive is all about the past or the conditional. It rarely stands alone in a sentence. It usually follows a trigger word or a specific context. For ir, it describes a movement that didn't happen. Or perhaps a movement that might happen under certain conditions. It creates a mood of uncertainty or subjectivity. You are not saying someone "went" (Preterite). You are saying "if they went" or "I wished they went." It is like a grammar safety net for things that aren't 100% real yet.

1. 1Forming this verb is actually quite logical once you see the trick. Most learners find this part surprisingly easy. Just follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Start with the 3rd person plural of the Preterite: foram (they went).
3. 3Remove the -ram ending from the end of the word.
4. 4Add the specific Imperfect Subjunctive endings to the stem fo-.
5. 5Here is how ir looks for every person:
6. 6Eu fosse
7. 7Tu fosses
8. 8Ele/Ela/Você fosse
9. 9Nós fôssemos (Note the accent here!)
10. 10Eles/Elas/Vocês fossem
11. 11Yes, these are the exact same forms as the verb ser. Context is your only guide to tell them apart. If there is a destination, it is usually ir. If it is a quality, it is usually ser. It is like a two-for-one deal at your favorite store.

You will use fosse in four main scenarios. First, use it after "if" (se) for hypothetical situations. For example, "If I went to the party, I would dance." Second, use it after verbs of wishing or wanting in the past. If you wanted someone to go somewhere, use fosse. Third, use it for polite requests or suggestions. It softens the blow of a command. Finally, use it after certain conjunctions like embora (although).

Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, "If I went to that branch, I would help." Or imagine you are ordering food and the waiter is slow. You might think, "I wish the food went to my table faster." It covers movement in your mind and movement in space.

Do not use fosse for things that actually happened. If you went to the beach yesterday, use the Preterite fui. Do not use it for future certainties either. That is the job of the Future Subjunctive (for). Avoid using it when the main verb is in the present tense. If you say "I want you to go," use the Present Subjunctive (vá).

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. If the situation is a solid fact, the light is red for the subjunctive. If it is a dream or a "maybe," the light turns green. Don't use it to describe your daily routine. Unless your routine is entirely imaginary, which would be a different problem!

The biggest mistake is forgetting the accent on fôssemos. Without that hat, the word loses its rhythm. Another classic error is mixing up ir and ser. Since they look identical, learners often get confused. Just look for the preposition a or para. If they are there, you are probably dealing with ir.

Many people also use the Future Subjunctive where they need the Imperfect. Remember: se eu for is "if I go" (likely). se eu fosse is "if I went" (unlikely/imaginary). Even native speakers mess this up in casual speech sometimes. But at the B2 level, you want to be sharper than that.

Let's compare fosse with vá (Present Subjunctive). You use vá for current wishes: "I want you to go now." You use fosse for past or unlikely wishes: "I wanted you to go then."

Now, compare it with for (Future Subjunctive). Use for when the condition is likely to happen in the future. "When I go to Lisbon, I'll call you." Use fosse when the condition is purely hypothetical. "If I went to the moon, I'd take a selfie." It is the difference between a plan and a daydream. One is on your calendar; the other is in your head.