Discuss the rules for forming the past subjunctive in Portuguese and provide examples.
The past subjunctive, also known as the "pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo" in Portuguese, is a verb tense used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions or states that occurred in the past. It is commonly used in subordinate clauses to convey doubt, possibility, desire, or subjective opinions. The formation of the past subjunctive in Portuguese involves specific rules for regular and irregular verbs.
1. Regular Verbs:
* For regular -ar verbs: Remove the -ar ending from the infinitive form and add the following endings: -asse, -asses, -asse, -ássemos, -ásseis, -assem.
Example: Falar (to speak) → Eu falasse (I spoke), Tu falasses (You spoke), Ele/Ela/Você falasse (He/She/You spoke), Nós falássemos (We spoke), Vós falásseis (You spoke), Eles/Elas falassem (They spoke).
* For regular -er and -ir verbs: Remove the -er or -ir ending from the infinitive form and add the following endings: -esse, -esses, -esse, -êssemos, -êsseis, -essem.
Example: Comer (to eat) → Eu comesse (I ate), Tu comesses (You ate), Ele/Ela/Você comesse (He/She/You ate), Nós comêssemos (We ate), Vós comêsseis (You ate), Eles/Elas comessem (They ate).
2. Irregular Verbs:
* Irregular verbs in the past subjunctive have unique conjugation patterns that do not follow the regular rules. Some common irregular verbs include ser (to be), ter (to have), poder (to be able to), querer (to want), and vir (to come).
Example: Ser (to be) → Eu fosse (I was/were), Tu fosses (You were), Ele/Ela/Você fosse (He/She/You were), Nós fôssemos (We were), Vós fôsseis (You were), Eles/Elas fossem (They were).
It's important to note that the past subjunctive is more commonly used in formal and written Portuguese, while the present subjunctive is more prevalent in everyday spoken language. However, understanding and recognizing the past subjunctive is essential for comprehending written texts and expressing complex ideas.
The past subjunctive is typically used in dependent clauses introduced by conjunctions such as se (if), quando (when), embora (although), a menos que (unless), entre outros (among others). It conveys actions or situations that are uncertain, hypothetical, or contrary to reality.
Example sentences using the past subjunctive:
* Se eu tivesse mais tempo, viajaria para o Brasil. (If I had more time, I would travel to Brazil.)
* Ele falou como se não soubesse a verdade. (He spoke as if he didn't know the truth.)
* Ainda que eles tentassem, não conseguiriam alcançar o objetivo. (Even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to achieve the goal.)
* Caso vocês me convidassem, eu iria à festa. (If you invited me, I would go to the party.)
By understanding the rules and usage of the past subjunctive in Portuguese, learners can effectively express hypothetical situations, doubt, desires, and opinions related to past events, contributing to their overall proficiency in the language.