The Use of Imperfect Subjunctive Forms in Spanish: Ra and Se

The Spanish language utilizes the imperfect subjunctive to express hypothetical situations, wishes, and actions dependent on another action in the past. While two main forms of the imperfect subjunctive exist in Spanish—-ra form and -se form—both are not equally ubiquitous in daily conversation.

Understanding the Imperfect Subjunctive Forms

There are two primary forms of the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish:

-ra Form

The more commonly used form, -ra form, is derived from the third-person plural of the preterite tense. This form is preferred in everyday conversation. Here are some examples:

Hablar: 'to speak'

hablara hablaras hablara habláramos hablaseis hablasen

Comer: 'to eat'

comiera comieras comiera comiéramos comieseis comiesen

The -ra form is used to express hypothetical scenarios, wishes, or actions contingent on a past event. For example, 'I wish I had spoken the language better' can be translated as 'Si hubiera hablado mejor...'.

-se Form

The -se form is considered more literary or formal. It is derived from the third-person plural of the preterite tense and uses a different set of endings:

Hablar: 'to speak'

hablas hablas hablas hablásemos hablaseis hablasen

Comer: 'to eat'

comiese comieses comiese comiésemos comieseis comiesen

This form is often used in contexts that require a more formal or literary tone, such as literature or formal writing.

Usage in Everyday Conversation

Both forms are used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, or actions, but the -ra form is generally preferred in everyday conversation. Here are some examples:

Querer: 'to want'

Correct: Quisiera un café. (I would like a coffee please.) Incorrect: Quisiese un café. (Not commonly used in practice.) Note: u0027Quisierau0027 is so extremely polite in Spanish that it doesnu0027t need to be followed by 'por favor'. In English, it is difficult to find such a polite way of speaking.

Normal: Quiero un café. u0027Quierou0027 can be used if you know the person conversing with you.

More Polite: Quiero un café por favor. This is appropriate if you do not know the person or are trying to be extra polite.

Hypothetical Condition: Si yo quisiera podría hacer muchas cosas. (If I wanted, I could do many things.)

Additionally, certain verbs like 'hablar' and 'comer' use different endings based on the form chosen:

Hablar: 'to speak'

Si tú me amaras / amases, yo sería tan feliz. (If you loved me, I would be so happy.)

Comer: 'to eat'

Si yo comiera / comiese tanto como tú pesaría más de cien kilos. (If I ate as much as you do, I would weigh more than a hundred kilos.)

In summary, while both forms are used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, or actions dependent on another action in the past, the -ra form is more commonly used in everyday conversation and is generally preferred. The -se form is more literary and formal in nature. Understanding and correct usage of these forms can greatly enhance the expressiveness and formality of your Spanish language skills.