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Congiuntivo Passato & Imperfetto

Extend the subjunctive into the past — for opinions about what already happened.

Same triggers as before (penso che, credo che…), but now about the past. Which past-subjunctive form you use depends on the tense of the main verb.

Congiuntivo passato

Penso che abbia già mangiato.

I think he's already eaten.

Built like the passato prossimo, but with the helper (avere/essere) in the congiuntivo: abbia mangiato, sia andato.

Congiuntivo imperfetto

Pensavo che tu fossi a casa.

I thought you were home.

When the main verb is itself in the past (pensavo), the subjunctive often shifts to imperfetto: fossi, avessi, parlassi.

Vocabulary in this lesson

  • abbia mangiato

    (that he/she) has eaten

    Non credo che abbia mangiato.

  • fossi

    (that I/you) were

    Speravo che fossi qui.

  • avessi

    (that I/you) had

    Vorrei che avessi tempo.

Check yourself

Instant feedback as you answer each question.

"I thought you were home" needs which subjunctive?
"I think he's already eaten" uses…

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