The Spanish Subjunctive

(El subjuntivo español)Quiero que Ud.

pase por el Control de Agricultura.

The Spanish SubjunctiveUntil now, you have been using verb tenses (present, preterit, and imperfect) in the indicative mood (or mode). The indicative is used to express real, definite, or factual actions or states of being.

Now, you are going to learn about the subjunctive mode. It is used to express the hypothetical or subjective, such as a speaker’s attitudes, wishes, feelings, emotions, or doubts. Unlike the indicative, which states facts, the subjunctive describes reality subjectively, or refers to actions or states that are not yet reality at all (and maybe never will be).

Por ejemplo…I may want you to do something, but you may not do it. I may suggest that you read the rest of this, but…

Your parents might recommend that you wash the dishes right away, but you might not do it at all.

A friend may insist that you go with him, but you might not want to go.

You might hope that something happens, but it may not happen.

The Spanish SubjunctiveNotice the following examples:

Creo que Luis va a Cartagena. I believe that Luis is going to

Cartagena. (Certainty: indicative)

No creo que Luis vaya a San Andrés. I don’t think that Luis is going to San

Andrés. (Uncertainty: subjunctive)

hablo como vivo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctiveBefore we learn usage, we must learn the forms we will be working with.

For all but six verbs in Spanish, we can apply a simple three-step process with which to construct the forms.

If we are careful to begin with this step, verbs with irregular stems and yo forms will be included and will not be considered irregular in the subjunctive:

conocer → conozco

The forms of the subjunctive

hablo como vivo

decir → digo

hacer → hago

perder → pierdo

querer → quiero

pedir → pido traer → traigo

oír → oigo tener → tengo

venir → vengo

ver → veo

dormir → duermo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctive

habl com viv

Step 2: Take off the final o of the yo form:

Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:

For -ar verbs: Add -er verb endings.

hablhablhabl

hablhablhabl

eese

emoséisen

Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

o o o

The forms of the subjunctiveStep 3: Add the “opposite” endings:

For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.

comcomcom

comcomcom

aasa

amosáisan

vivvivviv

vivvivviv

aasa

amosáisan

Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

recordar (o ue)

recuerderecuerdesrecuerderecordemosrecordéisrecuerden

perder (e ie)

pierdapierdaspierdaperdamosperdáispierdan

Remember, however, that stem changes do not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms.

The forms of the subjunctiveStem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem changes as in the present indicative.

dormir dormimosdormisteisdurmieron

dormídormistedurmió

u

duermaduermasduerma

durmamosdurmáisduerman

The forms of the subjunctiveYou may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The same changes occur in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the subjunctive.

These changes occur only in stem-changing -ir verbs.

mentir mentimosmentisteismintieron

mentímentistemintió

i

mientamientasmienta

mintamosmintáismientan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

sirvamossirváissirvan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

servir servimosservisteissirvieron

servíservistesirvió

i

sirvasirvassirva

-car c qu

The forms of the subjunctiveThe following spelling changes occur in all forms of the present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives end in -car, -gar, and -zar.

-gar g gu -zar z cbuscarbusquebusquesbusquebusquemosbusquéisbusquen

llegarlleguellegueslleguelleguemoslleguéislleguen

empezarempieceempiecesempieceempecemosempecéisempiecen

Dar

Ir

Ser

Haber

Estar

Saber

dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den

vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan

sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean

haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan

esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén

sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan

There are only six truly irregular verbs, that is, verbs to which we cannot apply our three-step process.

The forms of the subjunctive

When listed in the following order, the initial letters of each verb form the acronym DISHES, a useful memory device.

The usage of the subjunctive

To set up the subjunctive there are threethings that must be in the sentence.

1. One of the setup words or phrases

2. The word “que”

3. A subject change

The usage of the subjunctive

Sugerimos que ellos duerman más.

Setup word:

we suggest que:

that

ellos:

subject change

“duerman” = they sleep

This is the subjunctive conjugation. They may or may not do it, even though we suggest that they do it.

The usage of the subjunctive

Recomiendo que tú hagas la tarea.

Setup word:

I recommend que:

that

tú:

subject change

“hagas” = you do

This is the subjunctive conjugation. You may or may not do it, even though I recommend that you do it.

The usage of the subjunctive

Ella quiere que yo viva en España.

Setup word:

she wants que:

that

yo:

subject change

“viva” = I live (subjunctive)

I may or may not do it, even though she wants me to. Note: In English this would be, “She wants me to live in Spain. In Spanish the infinitive is not used, even though it sounds like it should be.

S1 V1 S1 V2

The usage of the subjunctiveIf there is no change of subject the subjunctive is not used.

Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta.

main clause subordinate clause

Although there are two different verbs . . .

. . . there is only one subject.

In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .

S AV INF

The usage of the subjunctive

Yo quiero ir a la fiesta.

. . . utilizing a subject, auxiliary verb, and infinitive.

The usage of the subjunctiveThe verb or expression in the main clause determines whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative in the subordinate clause. The acronym WEDDING can help you decide if you will use the subjunctive.W

E

D

D

I

N

G

Wish/Want (querer, esperar, ójala, preferir, aconsejar)

Impersonal Expressions (es importante, bueno, malo)Negation (no + verbos como creer, pensar)General Expressions (ójala, sin que, para que)

Emotion (alegrarse, enojarse, sorprenderse)Doubt (dudar, no estar seguro)

Denial (negar)

Benjamín quiere que Antonio ponga la mesa.

Yo espero que tú saques buenas notas.

Recomiendo que ellos hagan ejercicio cada día.

(indicative: pone)

(indicative: sacas)

(indicative: hacen)

The usage of the subjunctive

1. Wish/Want: When the subject in the main clause uses a verb that indicates wish, want, desire, or advice.

querer insistir recomendar mandar

pedir permitir aconsejar esperar

necesitar sugerir exigir ójala

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that might be used to express wish, want, desire, or advice.

Me alegro de que tú saques buenas notas.

¡Qué lástima que ellos no sepan su número de teléfono!

Lamento que no tengas dinero.

Me gusta que Alfredo te ayude.

(indicative: sacas)

(indicative: saben)

(indicative: tienes)

(indicative: ayuda)

The usage of the subjunctive2. Emotion: When the verb in the main clause

expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias.

gustar alegrarse (de) estar alegresorprender enojarse estar tristetemer sentir

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that express personal bias or emotion.

No es verdad que los niños coman demasiado.

No estoy seguro que Alonzo tenga su pasaporte.

Mis amigos dudan que yo pueda pilotear el avión. No hay nadie que sepa la verdad.

The usage of the subjunctive3. and 4. Doubt and Denial: If the main clause

indicates doubt or denial.

Niego que tú seas mi amigo.

dudar no ser ciertonegar no poder creerno estar seguro ser (im)posibleno ser verdad ser (im)probable

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that doubt or denial

Es imposible que tú saques buenas notas.

No es probable que ellos digan la verdad

Es importante que yo escuche a mis padres.

Es bueno que Alfredo te ayude.

(indicative: sacas)

(indicative: dicen)

(indicative: escucho)

(indicative: ayuda)

The usage of the subjunctive5. Impersonal Expressions: When the verb in the

main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias.

ser posible ser buenoser probable ser maloser importante ser mejorser necesario ser díficil

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common impersonal expressions.

No creo que tú estés bien.

No pienso que ellos guarden su secreto.

No es cierto que seamos amigos.

No es verdad que mi amiga venga.

(indicative: estás)

(indicative: guardan)

(indicative: somos)

(indicative: viene)

The usage of the subjunctive6. Negation: When certain verbs have a “no” in

front of them.

no creer no estar segurono pensar no ser ciertono ser verdad

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common impersonal expressions.

ESCAPA

en caso de quesin quecon tal (de) queantes (de) quepara quea menos que

(in case)(without, unless)(provided that)(before)(so that, in order that)(unless)

The usage of the subjunctive

7. General Expressions: Certain expressions will always use the subjunctive. They are:

FIN