Shared Imperfect Sub

At its heart, this tense describes things that aren't quite real. It sits in a space where reality and imagination overlap. We use it to talk about actions that depend on a condition. It often works in pairs with the Condicional (e.g., faria, iria). Imagine you are in a parallel universe. In that universe, you speak perfect Portuguese. To talk about that universe, you need this tense. It also handles emotions tied to the past. If you wanted something to happen yesterday but it didn't, this is your go-to. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener, "Hey, stop looking for facts; we are talking about possibilities now." It is less about *when* something happened and more about the *vibe* of the situation. It creates a bridge between what you want and what actually is.

1. 1Forming this tense is actually quite logical once you know the secret trick. You don't start with the infinitive. Instead, you go to the past. Here is the 3-step magic formula:
2. 2Find the 3rd person plural (they) of the Pretérito Perfeito. For falar, it is falaram. For ter, it is tiveram.
3. 3Chop off the -ram at the end. You are left with the radical: fala- or tive-.
4. 4Add the following endings based on the person:
5. 5eu: -sse (falasse)
6. 6tu: -sses (falasses)
7. 7ele/ela/você: -sse (falasse)
8. 8nós: -ssemos (falássemos)
9. 9vós: -sseis (falásseis)
10. 10eles/elas/vocês: -ssem (falassem)
11. 11Pro-tip: The nós form always gets an accent! If it ends in -a, it becomes -ássemos. If it ends in -e or -i, it becomes -êssemos or -íssemos. This is the one place where native speakers often trip up in writing, so keep an eye on it. Even irregular verbs follow this rule perfectly because they use their already irregular past forms as a base. If you know the "they" form of the past, you are golden.

This tense pops up in several specific scenarios. You will hear it most often after the word se (if).

• Hypothetical Conditions: "Se eu tivesse dinheiro, eu compraria um carro." (If I had money, I would buy a car). This is the classic B2 structure.
• Wishes and Regrets: Using Quem dera (I wish) or Oxalá. "Quem dera eu pudesse viajar agora!"
• Polite Requests: When you want to be extra nice. "Eu queria que você me ajudasse." (I wanted/would like you to help me). It sounds much softer than a command.
• Emotions in the Past: "Eu fiquei triste que você não viesse à festa." (I was sad that you didn't come to the party).
• Doubts and Uncertainty: "Eu não tinha certeza que ele soubesse a verdade."

In the real world, you'll use this when ordering a fancy meal and wanting to sound sophisticated, or when negotiating a contract at work. It shows you understand the social weight of your words.

Don't use the Imperfect Subjunctive for things that are actually happening or definitely will happen. If you are certain, stay with the Indicativo. Also, be careful with the Futuro do Subjuntivo. If the condition is likely to happen in the future, use the Future form (Se eu for...). If the condition is imaginary or unlikely right now, use the Imperfect (Se eu fosse...). Don't use it as the main verb of a sentence without a trigger like que or se. It is a "moody" tense; it needs a reason to exist. If you find yourself using it for a simple fact like "Yesterday it rained," you have gone too far into the imaginary world. Come back to reality with the Pretérito Perfeito!

One of the biggest pitfalls is the "False Future" trap. Many learners use the Future Subjunctive when they should use the Imperfect. Remember: Se eu tiver is "If I have" (possible), while Se eu tivesse is "If I had" (imaginary). Another classic is forgetting the irregulars. People often say se eu fizesse (correct) but sometimes try to force the infinitive into the stem, which ends in disaster. Also, watch that nós accent. Nós falassemos without the accent looks naked to a Brazilian or Portuguese eye. Finally, don't confuse the Condicional with the Subjuntivo. You say "Se eu fosse (subjunctive), eu iria (conditional)." Never say "Se eu iria..." That is a one-way ticket to sounding like a confused tourist.

Let's look at the Presente do Subjuntivo vs. Pretérito Imperfeito.

• Present: "Espero que você venha." (I hope you come - right now/future).
• Imperfect: "Esperava que você viesse." (I hoped you would come - past/hypothetical).

Notice how the Imperfect pushes the emotion into a more distant or uncertain space. Now, look at the Futuro do Subjuntivo.

• Future: "Se você estudar, vai passar." (Likely).
• Imperfect: "Se você estudasse, passaria." (Less likely or purely hypothetical).

Think of the Future Subjunctive as a plan and the Imperfect as a dream. It is the difference between "When I win the lottery" and "If I won the lottery." One is an optimistic goal; the other is a beautiful fantasy while you eat your instant noodles.