Correlação de tempos no subjuntivo: presente pede presente, passado pede imperfeito
Correlação de tempos no subjuntivo: presente pede presente, passado pede imperfeito means “The tense of the main clause fixes which subjunctive tense the subordinate clause must use”. After verbs of wishing, requesting, hoping and doubting (querer, pedir, esperar, duvidar que), the subjunctive tense is not free: it is dictated by the tense of the main verb. Formation: oração principal no presente/futuro → subjuntivo presente (que faça) · oração principal no passado/condicional → subjuntivo imperfeito (que fizesse) · anterioridade → formas compostas (que tenha feito / que tivesse feito)
The tense of the main clause fixes which subjunctive tense the subordinate clause must use
C1Formation
oração principal no presente/futuro → subjuntivo presente (que faça) · oração principal no passado/condicional → subjuntivo imperfeito (que fizesse) · anterioridade → formas compostas (que tenha feito / que tivesse feito)
Explanation
After verbs of wishing, requesting, hoping and doubting (querer, pedir, esperar, duvidar que), the subjunctive tense is not free: it is dictated by the tense of the main verb. The rule of thumb is simple: present main verb takes present subjunctive, past main verb takes imperfect subjunctive. So Quero que você venha but Eu queria que você viesse; Peço que ele fique but Pedi que ele ficasse; a conditional main verb behaves like a past, hence Seria bom que ela soubesse. To mark that the subordinate action happened earlier, use the compound forms: Espero que ele tenha chegado (present) versus Eu esperava que ele tivesse chegado (past). This backshift is obligatory in careful speech and writing, and the classic learner error is freezing the present, saying Queria que você venha when the correct form is viesse. Spanish speakers have an enormous advantage here, because Spanish follows the identical correlation (quiero que vengas / quería que vinieras), making this one of the strongest transfer points between the two languages.
Examples
Note
Quick self-check: if the main verb is queria, pedia, esperava, seria, the following subjunctive must end in -sse (viesse, fizesse, soubesse), never in the present -a/-e.
FAQ
Correlação de tempos no subjuntivo: presente pede presente, passado pede imperfeito — what does it mean and how is it used?
The tense of the main clause fixes which subjunctive tense the subordinate clause must use. After verbs of wishing, requesting, hoping and doubting (querer, pedir, esperar, duvidar que), the subjunctive tense is not free: it is dictated by the tense of the main verb. The rule of thumb is simple: present main verb takes present subjunctive, past main verb takes imperfect subjunctive. So Quero que você venha but Eu queria que você viesse; Peço que ele fique but Pedi que ele ficasse; a conditional main verb behaves like a past, hence Seria bom que ela soubesse. To mark that the subordinate action happened earlier, use the compound forms: Espero que ele tenha chegado (present) versus Eu esperava que ele tivesse chegado (past). This backshift is obligatory in careful speech and writing, and the classic learner error is freezing the present, saying Queria que você venha when the correct form is viesse. Spanish speakers have an enormous advantage here, because Spanish follows the identical correlation (quiero que vengas / quería que vinieras), making this one of the strongest transfer points between the two languages.
Correlação de tempos no subjuntivo: presente pede presente, passado pede imperfeito — how do you form it?
oração principal no presente/futuro → subjuntivo presente (que faça) · oração principal no passado/condicional → subjuntivo imperfeito (que fizesse) · anterioridade → formas compostas (que tenha feito / que tivesse feito)
Correlação de tempos no subjuntivo: presente pede presente, passado pede imperfeito — any usage notes?
Quick self-check: if the main verb is queria, pedia, esperava, seria, the following subjunctive must end in -sse (viesse, fizesse, soubesse), never in the present -a/-e.