soffrissero

Soffrissero is the third-person plural imperfect subjunctive form of the Italian verb soffrire, meaning to suffer. It belongs to the conjugation pattern of -ire verbs and appears in subordinate clauses to express hypotheticals, wishes, doubts, or past-oriented conditions, typically introduced by conjunctions such as se or qualora.

In full form, the imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) of soffrire is: io soffrissi, tu soffrissi, lui/lei soffrisse, noi soffrissimo, voi soffriste, loro soffrissero. Therefore, soffrissero corresponds to the standard ending for the third-person plural in this mood and tense. The form is used when the action is viewed as uncertain, desired, or contingent relative to a past or present reference point.

Usage and register: the imperfect subjunctive is common in formal, literary, or careful speech. In contemporary informal Italian, speakers may substitute with other constructions or the present subjunctive in some contexts, but soffrissero remains the correct form for the intended tense and mood in standard Italian.

Examples:

- Se loro soffrissero per questa decisione, cambierebbero idea.

- Sarebbe bello che loro soffrissero meno e ascoltassero di più.

Related topics: congiuntivo imperfetto, soffrire, congiuntivo, Italian verb conjugation.