The imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) is required when the verb in the dependent clause is in a past tense or the conditional. For conjugations of three regular verbs, see the table below.

　　CONJUGATING VERBS IN THE IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE

　　PRONOUN CANTARE SAPERE FINIRE

　　che io cantassi sapessi finissi

　　che tu cantassi sapessi finissi

　　che lui/lei/Lei cantasse sapesse finisse

　　che noi cantassimo sapessimo finissimo

　　che voi cantaste sapeste finiste

　　che loro/Loro cantassero sapessero finissero

　　Here are a few examples of the congiuntivo imperfetto:

　　Credevo che avessero ragione.(I thought they were right.)

　　Non era probabile che prendessimo una decisione.(It wasn't likely we would make a decision.)

　　Non c'era nessuno che ci capisse.(There was no one who understood us.)

　　Il razzismo era il peggior problema che ci fosse.(Racism was the worst problem there was.)