< Portuguese Grammar

imperfect subjunctive

Use the imperfect subjunctive tense to talk about things that are extremely unlikely to have happened or happen.
*Also called the Preterit Imperfect or, the Past Subjunctive.

Se eu soubesse... (If I knew / were to know...)

Se você falasse... (If you said / were to say...)

Se você tivessel... (If you had / were to have...)

It’s most often used together with the conditional:

Se eu soubesse tudo seria sábio. If I knew everything I'd be wise.

Se fosse ele eu te contaria. If it were he I would tell you.

Se eu tivesse tempo estudaria mais. If I have time I'd study more.