{"id":3179,"date":"2026-10-15T11:40:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/?p=3179"},"modified":"2026-10-15T11:55:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T09:55:07","slug":"italian-subjunctive-uses-of-the-congiuntivo-imperfetto-and-trapassato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/italian-subjunctive-uses-of-the-congiuntivo-imperfetto-and-trapassato\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian subjunctive: uses of the congiuntivo imperfetto and trapassato"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/italian-subjunctive-uses-of-the-present-and-past-congiuntivo\/\">previous article<\/a>, we looked at the uses of the <em>congiuntivo presente<\/em> and the <em>congiuntivo passato<\/em>. But what happens when the main clause shifts into the past or the conditional? That&#8217;s where the last two subjunctive tenses come in: the <strong><em>congiuntivo imperfetto<\/em> <\/strong>and the <em><strong>congiuntivo trapassato<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, you&#8217;ll find a clear explanation of these two tenses, practical examples and the pitfalls to avoid so you can use them with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Congiuntivo-Concession-3-1024x538.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Congiuntivo-Concession-3-1024x538.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Congiuntivo-Concession-3-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Congiuntivo-Concession-3-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Congiuntivo-Concession-3.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. The <em>congiuntivo imperfetto<\/em> and <em>trapassato<\/em>: a familiar logic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The logic is the same as for the two tenses we already covered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Congiuntivo imperfetto<\/strong>: the action in the subordinate clause happens <strong>at the same time<\/strong> as the action in the main clause (simultaneity), when the main clause is in a past tense or in the conditional.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Congiuntivo trapassato<\/strong>: the action in the subordinate clause took place <strong>before<\/strong> the action in the main clause (anteriority).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll find full explanations of how these tenses are formed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/app\/it\/resources\/it\/b2\">Sillabi grammar resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The <em>congiuntivo imperfetto: <\/em>main uses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The congiuntivo imperfetto is used when the verb in the main clause is in a past tense (imperfetto, passato prossimo, passato remoto) or in the conditional. It&#8217;s used in the following cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>a) After a verb expressing an opinion, a wish, a command or a doubt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Immaginavo che <strong>fosse<\/strong> in casa.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>b) After impersonal verbs<\/strong> (<em>bisognava, sembrava<\/em>\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Poteva darsi che <strong>dicesse<\/strong> la verit\u00e0 e noi non gli abbiamo creduto.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>c) After <em>essere<\/em> in the third person singular + adjective or adverb<\/strong> (<em>era probabile, era meglio, sarebbe bene, sarebbe stato meglio<\/em>\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Sarebbe opportuno che <strong>riempiste<\/strong> i moduli dell&#8217;iscrizione prima di iniziare il corso.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>d) After indefinite adjectives and pronouns<\/strong> (<em>qualunque, chiunque, niente<\/em>\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Non c&#8217;era nessuno che <strong>potesse<\/strong> aiutarci.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>e) After comparative adjectives and relative superlatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Era pi\u00f9 alto di quanto <strong>sembrasse<\/strong> in foto.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>f) In various types of subordinate clauses<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Nonostante ci <strong>provassero<\/strong>, non riuscivano a fare goal.<\/em> \u2192 concessive clause<br>&#8211; <em>Ti ho inviato un messaggio affinch\u00e9 tu ti <strong>ricordassi<\/strong> del suo compleanno.<\/em> \u2192 purpose clause<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. The <em>congiuntivo trapassato:<\/em> expressing anteriority in the past<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like the imperfetto, it requires a main clause in a past tense or the conditional \u2014 but here the subordinate action happened before the one in the main clause. It&#8217;s used in the following cases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>a) After a verb expressing an opinion, a wish, a command or a doubt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Non ero sicuro che <strong>fossero stati<\/strong> proprio loro a chiamarmi.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>b) After impersonal verbs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Poteva darsi che <strong>avessero detto<\/strong> la verit\u00e0 e noi non gli abbiamo creduto.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>c) After <em>essere<\/em> + adjective or adverb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Sarebbe stato opportuno che <strong>aveste riempito<\/strong> i moduli dell&#8217;iscrizione prima di iniziare il corso.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>d) After indefinite adjectives and pronouns<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Non c&#8217;era nessuno che <strong>avesse potuto<\/strong> aiutarci.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>e) After comparative adjectives and relative superlatives<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Era pi\u00f9 alto di quanto <strong>fosse sembrato<\/strong> in foto.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>f) After certain conjunctions<\/strong> (<em>bench\u00e9, nonostante, malgrado, sebbene<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Nonostante ci <strong>avessero provato<\/strong>, non riuscivano a fare goal.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. A special case: the verb sapere<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The verb <em>sapere<\/em> only takes the congiuntivo in negative sentences. In affirmative sentences, it&#8217;s followed by the indicative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Non sapevo che <strong>fossi<\/strong> un appassionato di fotografia.<\/em> (negative \u2192 congiuntivo)<br><em>&#8211; Sapevo che <strong>eri<\/strong> un appassionato di fotografia.<\/em> (affirmative \u2192 indicative)<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Same subject? No congiuntivo!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The rule from our previous article still applies: if the subject of the main clause is the same as the subject of the subordinate clause, you don&#8217;t use <em>che + congiuntivo<\/em> but <strong>di + infinitive<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Ritenevo <strong>di essere<\/strong> troppo indulgente.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the subject changes, however, the congiuntivo is required again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);color:#135b79\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#8211; <em>Ritenevo che Marco <strong>fosse<\/strong> troppo indulgente.<\/em><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Quick summary: how to choose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u27a1\ufe0f <strong>Congiuntivo imperfetto<\/strong>: the action is simultaneous with the main clause (past or conditional), after a verb of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2714 opinion, wish, command, doubt <br>\u2714 an impersonal verb <br>\u2714 <em>essere<\/em> + adjective\/adverb (<em>era meglio che\u2026<\/em>) <br>\u2714 an indefinite, a comparative\/relative superlative, or a subordinate clause (<em>nonostante, affinch\u00e9<\/em>\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u27a1\ufe0f <strong>Congiuntivo trapassato<\/strong>: the action is prior, in the same contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u27a1\ufe0f <strong>Di + infinitive<\/strong>: when the subject is the same in both clauses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Want to go deeper?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/app\/it\/resources\/it\/b2\">the grammar sheets on the use of the congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato<\/a> in the Sillabi grammar resources. And if you missed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/italian-subjunctive-uses-of-the-present-and-past-congiuntivo\/\">our article on the congiuntivo presente e passato<\/a>, now&#8217;s a great time to revisit it: together, the two articles give you the complete picture of the Italian subjunctive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. And to really make progress in Italian\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing the rules is a first step. To use the <em>congiuntivo<\/em> naturally, without stopping to think about every sentence, you need guided practice and a course that supports you step by step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s exactly what the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/app\/en\/course\/it\">Allegramente! course<\/a> offers: a clear, gradual and motivating path, with activities, videos and explanations designed to make Italian feel like second nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you&#8217;re not sure where to start, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/app\/en\/assessment\/it\">take our level test<\/a> now: in just a few minutes, you&#8217;ll discover the ideal starting point for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our previous article, we looked at the uses of the congiuntivo presente and the congiuntivo passato. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,32],"tags":[860,292,664,878],"class_list":["post-3179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-b2-italian","category-it-italian","tag-congiuntivo","tag-grammatica-2","tag-imperfetto","tag-trapassato"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3179"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3186,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3179\/revisions\/3186"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sillabi.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}