conjugation.subjunctive.sequence-of-tenses
Sequence of tenses: which subjunctive after which verb
Present-frame triggers take the present or perfect subjunctive (quiero que vengas; dudo que haya llegado); past or conditional frames take the imperfect or pluperfect (quería que vinieras; habría preferido que hubieras llamado).
conjugationB2, C1standardinternally_reviewedv1.0.0
Explanation
The main verb sets the frame. Frame 1 — present, future, present perfect, or imperative: the subordinate subjunctive is present (simultaneous/future: quiero que vengas) or perfect (anterior: me alegra que hayas venido).
Frame 2 — preterite, imperfect, pluperfect, or conditional: the subordinate is imperfect subjunctive (quería que vinieras; me gustaría que vinieras) or pluperfect for anteriority (lamenté que no hubieras llamado).
The logic is relative time, not mechanical matching: a present trigger can look at the past (no creo que fuera él — 'I don't think it was him') when the subordinate event itself is past.
Examples
I want you to call me tomorrow.
Region: global
I wanted you to call me.
Region: global
I would like you to be here.
Region: global