12.2.2 The formation of the imperfeito do conjuntivo
The imperfeito do conjuntivo is used in the same context as the presente do conjuntivo, however it doesn't describe simultaneity between the action described in the main clause (in indicative) and the action described in the subordinate clause (in subjunctive) in the present, but in the past.
The verb in the main clause is in a tense of the present
É uma pena que chegues atrasado.
It is a pity that you come lately.
The verb in the main clause is in a tense of the past
Foi uma pena que chegasses atrasado.
It was a pity that you came lately.
The imperfeito do conjuntivo is formed by leaving out the personal ending of the third person plural of the perfeito simples (-aram) and adding to this steem the endings of the imperfeito do conjuntivo -asse, -asses, -asse, -ássemos, -assem in the case that verb belongs to the group of verbs whose infinitive ending is -ar, -isse, -isses, -isse, -íssemos, -issem in the case that the verb belongs to the group of verbs whose infinitive ends with -ir and -esse, -esses, -esse, -êssemos, -essem in the case the verb belongs to the group of verbs ending in -er.
imperfeito do conjuntivo
pagar = to pay
produzir = to produce
ler = to read
eles pagaram
eles produziram
eles leram
eu
pagasse
produzisse
lesse
tu
pagasses
produzisses
lesses
ele / ela você o senhor / a senhora
pagasse
produzisse
lesse
nós
pagássemos
produzíssemos
lêssemos
eles / elas vocês os senhores / as senhoras
pagassem
produzissem
lessem
As usual the most frequent verbs, the verbs most used, are the most irregular ones. However regular is relative in this case. The imperfeito do conjuntivo is regular, wenn it can be deduced from the pretérito perfeito simples, the problem however is that the pretérito perfeito simples is very often irregular. If we start from the pretérito perfeito simples, the verbs below are regular. The problem is, that the pretérito perfeito simples is irregular.
imperfeito do conjuntivo
ser (to be)
ter (to have)
poder (to be able to)
querer (to want, to desire)
dritte Plural perfeito simple
foram
tiveram
puderam
quiseram
eu
fosse
tivesse
pudesse
quisesse
tu
fosses
tivesses
pudesses
quisesses
ele / ela você o senhor / a senhora
fosse
tivesse
pudesse
quisesse
nós
fôssemos
tivéssemos
pudéssemos
quiséssemos
eles / elas vocês os senhores / as senhoras
fossem
tivessem
pudessem
quisessem
Apart from the contexts already mentioned in 12.1.1 the imperfeito do conjuntivo is used as well in conditonal clauses of type 2, condition possible, although not probable (If I had money, I would stop working). We will discuss about conditional clauses in chapter 13. (As it has been already said, the imperfeito do conjuntivo is used, if the main clause is in a tense of the past, in the imperfeito, pretérito perfeito simples.)
1) after verbs like advise, agree, wish etc.
2) in relative clauses when the relative clause describes a wish
3) in relative clause when the relative claus describes something inexistet
4) after conjunction that describes a goal, in order to or uncertainty, perhaps
5) in indirect speech it the indirect speech contains an order
6) after idiomatic expressions that express uncertainty
7) after idiomatic expressions that expresses a subjective attitude toward the reality
8) in unreal conditional clauses
9) after certain indefinitive pronouns (see indefinitive pronouns)
1) after verbs like to wish, to hope, to doubt etc
Esperava
que
ele
comesse
a
sopa
toda.
Hoped
that
he
would
the
soup
whole
I hoped that he would eat the whole soup.
Não
queria
que
ele
vendesse
a
casa.
Not
wanted
that
he
sells
the
house.
I didn't want him to sell the house..
Eu
desejava
que
meu
marido
me
desse
um
presente.
I
wished
that
my
husband
me
gave
a
present.
I wished my husband presented me a gift.
Não
admitia
que
se
fizesse
greve.
Not
allowed
that
one
made
strike.
He didn't allow to strike.
Proibiu
que
revelassem
o
acordo.
Forbad
that
published
the
agreement.
He forbad that the agreement would be published.
Deixou
que
as
crianças
brincassem
à
vontade.
Let
that
the
children
played
as
mood.
He let the children play as they liked.
2) in a relative clause if the relative clause describes a wish
Queria
um
carro
que
não
fosse
igual
ao
do
vizinho.
Wanted
a
car
that
not
was
equal
to the
of the
neighbour.
I wanted a car different from that of my neighbour.
3) in relative clauses if the relative clause describes something inexistent
Não
encontrou
quem
aceitasse
o
encargo.
Not
found
who
accepted
the
order.
He didn't find anybody willing to accept the order.
Não
encontrou
ninguém
que
assumisse
a
culpa.
Not
found
anybody
who
assumed
the
Schuld.
He didn't find anybody willing to assume the responsibility.
4) after conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause that expresses uncertainty, condition, contradiction
Ela
foi
ao
escritório
do
professor,
para que
ele
soubesse
o que
tinha
acontecido.
She
went
to the
office
of the
professor
so that
he
knew
what
had
happened.
She went to the professors office to tell him what had happened.
Pediu-lhe
para
não
conduzir,
caso
bebesse.
Asked him
that so
not
drive
if
drank
He asked him not to drink when he drives.
Procurava
agir
de maneira
que
agradasse
a todos.
Tried
to do
the way
that
pleases
to all.
He tried to do it in a way that pleased to everyone.
5) in indirect speech if the indirect speech contains an order
Ordenei-lhe
que
entrasse.
Ordered him
that
entered.
I ordered him to come in.
Disse-lhe
que
nos
telefonasse.
I told him
that
us
called.
I told him to call us.
6) after idiomatic expressions, adverbs and adverbials that describe uncertainty
Foi
impossível
que
cumpríssemos
com estas
exigências
em
tão
pouco
tempo.
Was
impossible
that
comply
with these
requests
in
such
short
time.
It was impossible to comply with the requests in such a short period of time.
7) after idiomatic expressions that describe a subjective attitude to the world
Era
importante
que
ele
chegasse
cedo
na
escola.
Was
important
that
he
came
early
in the
school.
It was important that he gets to school early.
Era
provável
que
surgisse
outra
oportunidade.
Was
possible
that
came up
other
opportunity.
It was possible that another opportunity came up.
8) in irreal conditional clauses, where the condition is possible, but not probable
Se
eu
soubesse
isso,
não
estaria
sentado
aqui
agora.
If
I
knew
that
not
woul be
sit
here
now.
If I knew that I wouldn't be sitting here now.
Se
tivesses
paciência,
obterias
o que
pretendes.
If
had
patiences
would get
the what
want.
If only you were more patient, you would get what you want..
9) after certain indefinite pronouns
Quem
fizesse
greve
seria
demitido.
Who
made
strike
would be
fired.
Whoever participates in the strike, will be fired.
