Past Subjunctive by Fernanda L. Ferreira, Ph.D.
The past subjunctive is used when the main clause is also in the past and also requires you to play the “agreement game” again. Look at the following chart to get a better understanding:
Past Subjunctive Construction
Expression of “Want” |
que |
[another subject] |
Subjunctive Verb |
Eu gostaria |
que |
vocês |
aprendessem. |
Translation: I wanted you (pl.) to learn.
|
|
Eu precisava |
que |
ela |
me chamasse. |
Translation: I needed for her to call me.
|
|
Eu sugeri |
que |
você |
estudasse mais. |
Translation: I suggested that you study more.
|
|
Eu desejava |
que |
eles |
soubessem de tudo. |
Translation: I longed for them to know.
|
|
Notice that the first verb is in either the preterite (sugeri [I suggested]) or in the imperfect (precisava [I needed]), or even in the conditional (gostaria[I wanted] or [would have liked]). All of these verb tenses imply that the desire existed before, and the next verb is a longing or unrealized event or action on the part of another agent.
You may also use the past subjunctive when you express doubt in the first clause. The verb that comes in the subordinate clause is in the past subjunctive, as in the following examples:
Duvidávamos que eles viessem. (We doubted that they would come.)
Não era certo que ela estivesse ali. (It was not certain that she was there.)
Finally, if there is a verb of emotion or surprise in the main clause, the next one in the subordinate is also in the past subjunctive:
Era surpreendente que ele tivesse medo. (It was suprising that he would be afraid.)
Fiquei triste que eles não telefonassem. (I was sad that they did not call.)
