Level 3+; Subjunctive [29] tenses; spot the difference; the sounds of the subjunctive present, imperfect and pluperfect

Image #1: You have now seen all the active forms of the subjunctive: present, perfect, imperfect and pluperfect. There are also passive forms, but we will look at those separately. Always remember with the subjunctive: keep it slow and steady!

Becoming familiar with the uses takes time – and practice, especially reading in context. However, recognising the subjunctive is fairly straightforward because there are distinct ‘markers’ that tell you what tense is involved.

Images #2 and #3: Here, we will look at how to recognise the present, imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive. We’ll look at the perfect subjunctive separately.

Think of the sounds of the subjunctives:

[i] Pluperfect subjunctives hISS …

amāvISSem

habuissēs

vīxisset

audīvisset

[ii] Imperfect subjunctives gRowl …

amāRēmus

habērētis

vīverent

audīrent

[iii] … and wE present subjunctives fEAr A lIAr

amEm

habEĀs

vīvAt

audIAt

Are there a few exceptions? Yes, there are, and those were shown when the individual tenses were discussed in earlier posts - but there are so few that it’s worth remembering:

“Pluperfect subjunctives hISS, imperfect subjunctives gRowl, and wE present subjunctives fEAr A lIAr.” Try saying that on the bus going home from work, and see what happens!

Image #4: all the verbs are subjunctives. Complete the table by [1] ticking the tense, and indicating [2] the person and [3] the number:

Level 3+; Subjunctive [14] the tenses [3] imperfect subjunctive [ii] practice

Put the verbs into the appropriate form of the imperfect subjunctive.

[i] First, identify the person and number of the verb

Example:

laudō:  first person singular

[ii] Then identify the infinitive of the verb

Infinitive: laudāre

[iii] Add the same personal ending to the infinitive

For the imperfect subjunctive, you simply attach the regular personal endings to the full infinitive:

-m for first person singular

So: laudāre + m > laudārem

[1]

1. vocō
2. monēs
3. scrībit
4. veniunt
5. cantāmus
6. tenētis
7. dūcis
8. dormiō
9. rogant
10. habet
11. petimus
12. scītis
13. parās
14. vidētis
15. currunt
16. capiō
17. pugnās
18. timet
19. mittimus
20. sentiunt

[2] Irregular verbs – but they still the imperfect subjunctive in the same way as regular verbs.

1. abeō
2. adest
3. eunt
4. ferimus
5. fert
6. fiunt
7. māvis
8. nōlō
9. nōn vult
10. potes
11. sum
12. vultis

____________________ 

[1] 

1. vocārem
2. monērēs
3. scrīberet
4. venīrent
5. cantārēmus
6. tenērētis
7. dūcerēs
8. dormīrem
9. rogārent
10. habēret
11. peterēmus
12. scīrētis
13. parārēs
14. vidērētis
15. currerent
16. caperem
17. pugnārēs
18. timēret
19. mitterēmus
20. sentīrent

[2]

1. abīrem
2. adesset
3. īrent
4. ferrēmus
5. ferret
6. fierent
7. māllēs
8. nōllem
9. nōllet
10. possēs
11. essem
12. vellētis

Level 3+; Subjunctive [13] the tenses [3] imperfect subjunctive [i]

The imperfect subjunctive is used widely in many different categories of subjunctive usage and will be referred to repeatedly when other subjunctive uses are discussed. It is important, therefore, to become familiar with it. Points to note: [i] it is easy to recognise [ii] it is easy to form, and [iii] all verbs – no exceptions – are formed in the same way.

[1] The present infinitive of the verb:

1^st: amāre

2^nd: habēre

3^rd: vīvere

3^rd-iō: capere

4^th: audīre

[2] + the personal endings; the only slight difference is that, in the 2^nd singular and the 1^st and 2^nd plural, the /e/ of the original infinitive ending lengthens > /ē/*

amārem

amārēs*

amāret

amārēmus*

amārētis*

amārent

Similarly:

habērem, habērēs etc.

vīverem, vīverēs etc.

caperem, caperēs etc.

audīrem, audīrēs etc.

That system of infinitive + personal ending applies to all verbs, even irregular ones:

eō, īre: go > imperfect subjunctive: īrem, īrēs, īret, īrēmus, īrētis, īrent

sum, esse: be > imperfect subjunctive: essem, essēs, esset, essemus, essetis, essent

possum, posse: be able > imperfect subjunctive: possem, possēs, posset, possēmus, possētis, possent

volō, velle: want > imperfect subjunctive: vellem, vellēs, vellet, vellēmus, vellētis, vellent

Video: Latin Tutorial –  “Use the trick, and you’ll get the result.”