<u>Answers:</u>
In Spanish the preterite imperfect subjunctive form is used to refer:
(1) to something that <u>happened previously</u> of the moment of speech
or
(2) to something that <u>happened simultaneously</u> at the moment of speech
We will be able to know this by recognizing if the main verb in the sentence is in <u>present </u>or <u>past</u> tense.
<h2>
This form is also used to express <u>
courtesy or caution.</u></h2>
In the sentences below, we are talking about the first case: <u>something that happened previously of the moment of speech. </u>
This means the main verb in each sentence is in past.
7. Me recomendaste que (yo) no <u>aceptara</u> (aceptar) el trabajo de peluquera.
<em>recomendaste</em> is in past (present form:recomendar), then the correct form of the verb aceptar is <u>aceptara</u>.
<em>You recommend me to not accept the work of a hairdresser</em>
8. No me imaginaba que el trabajo de abogado <u>sería</u> (ser) tan duro.
<em>imaginaba</em> is in past (present form:imaginar), then the correct form of the verb ser is<u> sería</u>.
<em>I did not imagine that the lawyer's job would be so hard</em>
9. Fue absurdo que (ellos) te <u>despidieran</u> (despedir) así.
<em>fue</em> is in past (present form:es), then the correct form of the verb despedir is <u>despidieran</u> (in plural).
<em>It was absurd that they fired you like this</em>
10. No nos imaginábamos que la entrevista <u>durara</u> (durar) dos horas.
<em>imaginábamos</em> is in past (present form:imaginar), then the correct form of the verb durar is <u>durara</u>.
<em>We did not imagine that the interview would last two hours</em>
11. Para mi madre era importante que mis hermanos y yo eligiéramos (elegir) una profesión con futuro.
<em>era</em> is in past (present form:es), then the correct form of the verb elegir is <u>eligiéramos </u><u>(in plural)</u>.
<em>For my mother it was important that my brothers and I (we) chose a profession with a future</em>
