Past Subjunctive Reflexives & Direct Objects

Here we’ll learn how to use direct objects and reflexives with the past subjunctive tense. It’s fairly simple. Just like with subjunctive, when there’s one verb, the direct object or reflexive pronoun goes in front, and when there are two verbs, it can go either in front of both or after both. Just keep in mind that the subjunctive trigger doesn’t count as a verb. In other words, if I said, “She wanted us to do it” or “Ella quiería que nosotros lo hiciéramos”, the “Ella quiere que” doesn’t count as a verb because it’s the subjunctive trigger.

Let’s look at a few examples with one verb where the direct object or reflexive pronoun would come before the verb. See if you can guess how to say it.

It was important for Juana to read it.		Fue importante que Juana lo leyera [pronoun goes before] [one verb]
He wanted us to do it.		Quería que nosotros lo hiciéramos. [pronoun goes before] [one verb]
It wasn’t possible for me to sit down.		No fue posible que me sentara [pronoun goes before] [one verb]

We didn’t think (believe) he shaved		No creíamos que se afeitara [pronoun goes before] [one verb]

Now let’s look at a few examples with two verbs.

It wasn’t posible to try to do it.	No fue posible que tratáramos de hacerlo [two verbs] [pronoun goes before or after]
He hoped we could eat it.	Esperaba que pudiéramos comerlo. [two verbs] [pronoun goes before or after]
I doubted that they could wake up.	Dudé que pudieran despertarse [two verbs] [pronoun goes before or after]
I wanted him to try to do it.	Quería que tratara de hacerlo [two verbs] [pronoun goes before or after]

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