Subjunctive: Evolution from Classical Latin to Spanish

by María Constanza Pérez

See Vulgar Latin.
 

III. Vulgar Latin and Subjunctive

• The Imperfect Subjunctive disappeared in Vulgar Latin.

• The (Present) Perfect Subjunctive disappeared with its original function and was replaced in the system by the newly created perfect tenses formed with habêre to have.

• With the merger of -i- and -e- in unstressed syllable, the (Present) Perfect Subjunctive
 
amaverim => amarem,
amaveris => amaris,
amaverit => amaret (see Parallel verbal forms in Latin)
 
must have become similar or identical with the Imperfect subjunctive amarem, amares, amaret.
 
• In Spanish a Future Subjunctive, which did not exist in Latin, was created from the Future Perfect Indicative.

• The Pluperfect Subjunctive amavissem was reduced to amassem and as a result some of these forms lost their original function. (See Parallel verbal forms in Latin.)

• After the (Present) Perfect Subjunctive and Imperfect Subjunctive disappeared, the Pluperfect Subjunctive became isolated and lost its specific temporal meaning by taking the place of the two lost tenses. In fact, it remained the only Past Subjunctive.

• An additional Imperfect Subjunctive was created from the Pluperfect Indicative,cf.:
 
amaveram => amara(m). (See Parallel verbal forms in Latin.)
 
• In Vulgar Latin a new construction made up of the forms of habêre to have and the perfect passive participle began to gain ground with the function of a perfect. This allowed to cover various subjunctive perfect tenses, thus replacing the former synthetic tenses.