Unit 120 Guidebook: use the past subjunctive

KEY PHRASES

Use the past subjunctive

Pensava che io fossi il suo fidanzato.
She thought that I was her boyfriend.
Pensavo che lei non credesse all'amore.
I thought that she didn't believe in love.
Andrei al cinema se avessi il tempo.
I would go to the movie theater if I had the time.
Vorrei che tu mi dicessi la verità.
I would like you to tell me the truth.
È più facile di quanto pensassi.
It is easier than I thought.
TIP

Pensavo ti piacesse

In Italian, after several expressions related to opinions, feelings, preferences, or desires, you will need to use verbs in the subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian), as in Non credo che lui venga.

But there's more! If the first verb is in the past, the subjunctive will be in the past too!

Non sapevo da dove venisse lui.
I did not know where he came from.
Non volevano che io prendessi l'ultimo.
They did not want me to take the last one.

Use these special endings to create the past of the subjunctive of verbs that end in ‑are, ‑ere, and ‑ire (replace ‑re with a special ending).

subject verb (trovare)
io
I		 trovassi
found
tu
you		 trovassi
found
lui / lei
he / she		 trovasse
found
noi
we		 trovassimo
found
voi
you all		 trovaste
found
loro
they		 trovassero
found
Volevo che tu conoscessi i miei genitori.
I wanted you to meet my parents.
TIP

Credevo fosse vero

The subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian) of essere is very special in the past. Let's have a look at it!

subject verb (essere)
io
I		 fossi
was
tu
you		 fossi
were
lui / lei
he / she		 fosse
was
noi
we		 fossimo
were
voi
you all		 foste
were
loro
they		 fossero
were
Pensavo che fosse carina.
I thought that she was cute.
TIP

Cosa volevate che dicessimo?

There are a few other verbs that have special subjunctive (or congiuntivo in Italian) forms in the past. These are the most common ones in their io form. Just the first part of the word changes though. The endings are the normal ones.

verb past subjunctive
stare stessi
dare dessi
fare facessi
dire dicessi
Volevate che dicessimo la verità.
You wanted us to tell the truth.
Volevo solo che qualcuno le desse aiuto.
I only wanted somebody to give her help.
Volevo che mio figlio facesse il letto.
I wanted my son to make the bed.