Imperfecto del Subjuntivo

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Rusty, Why do you say this sentence (I meant to say)? I know that the past tense form of mean is meant: Decir, dijo, but why do you use the word say too? I don't understand that phrase. Could you explain it to me in more detail?

I meant to say = I wanted to say = Quería/Quise decir

We say 'I meant to say' more frequently than we say 'I wanted to say', but they are identical phrases. They both mean 'quería/quise decir'.

Don't confuse 'to mean' (significar/querer decir) with 'to mean to say'. They are not the same. The first example is a simple verb. The second example is a phrasal verb; the two verbs function together and have a specific meaning.

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

En cuanto a la pregunta original, significan lo mismo, pero su uso puede ser un poco distinto. En mi opinión, fuera se usa más que fuese, y fuese se oye un poco más poético, literario etc.

Tengo una pregunta para los hablantes nativos- ¿Cuál sería más usual?

Me dijo que entrara a las diez.
Me dijo que entrase a las diez.

For me it's absolutely the same. Of course, if you talk about poetry, one or other will be chosen depending on the sound needed, but very few people speaks poetically everyday.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

For me it's absolutely the same. Of course, if you talk about poetry, one or other will be chosen depending on the sound needed, but very few people speaks poetically everyday.

Cool. I'm going to start using the -ase subjunctive more

[Alfonso]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

Cool. I'm going to start using the -ase subjunctive more

-ase / -iese, I hope, .

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Alfonso

-ase / -iese, I hope, .

¡Claro!

[Rusty]

David, will Mexicans look at you funny when you wax 'poetic'? I found that most the people in Central America didn't readily accept it.

[CrOtALiTo]

Ok, I meant to say it too.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Rusty

David, will Mexicans look at you funny when you wax 'poetic'? I found that most the people in Central America didn't readily accept it.

Probably. I have heard the alternate imperfect subjunctive in Mexico a handful of times and I remember because it's such a rare occurrence.

[Elaina]

stupid question alert.......stupid question alert........stupid question alert!!

Rusty and David, what do you mean "wax poetic"?

[Tomisimo]

To wax poetic, as in "to get all poetic". Or don't you use that in the Midwest?