Esquecesse

Esquecesse is a verb form in Portuguese, specifically the imperfect subjunctive (conjunctive) of the verb esquecer, meaning “to forget.” It is used in dependent clauses to express hypothetical, uncertain, or past-context actions, especially after words that express doubt, desire, possibility, or after conditional clauses introduced by se.

In practical terms, the form appears in sentences such as “Se eu esquecesse onde guardei as chaves” or “Queria que ele esquecesse esse incidente,” where the action is not asserted as fact but as a potential or wished-for past event. The imperfect subjunctive also appears in indirect speech and in certain literary styles to convey nuance of doubt or unreality regarding past events.

Conjugation of the imperfect subjunctive for esquecer includes: eu esquecesse, tu esquecesses, ele/ela esquecesse, nós esquecêssemos, vós esquecêsseis, eles/elas esquecessem. The forms for nós and vós use the characteristic endings -êssemos and -êsseis, respectively, with the root esquecd- adjusted to the subjunctive spelling.

Usage notes include that esquecimento in this tense is typically reserved for hypothetical past scenarios or conditions that did not occur, and it contrasts with the present subjunctive esquaça, which refers to present or future possibilities. In many spoken Brazilian Portuguese contexts, the imperfect subjunctive is less frequent in everyday speech, with speakers often using alternative constructions, although the forms remain standard in formal writing and in regional varieties that preserve the traditional tense system.