the spanish subjunctive, an introduction · desire or command: when the subject in the main clause...
TRANSCRIPT
The Spanish Subjunctive: An Introduction
(El subjuntivo español: una introducción)
Quiero que Ud. pase por el Control
de Agricultura.
Spanish Verb Modes Until now, you have been using verb tenses (present,
preterit, imperfect, future, conditional, and present/past
perfects) in the indicative mood (or mode). The
indicative mode is used to express real, definite, or
factual actions or states of being.
Yo Hablo Yo Hablé Yo Hablaba Yo Hablaré
Yo Hablaría Yo He Hablado Yo Había Hablado
Indicative Mode
Subjunctive – a NEW Verb Mode The Subjunctive is an entire new verb mode. It is used to
express the hypothetical or subjective, such as a speaker’s
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).
Subjunctive includes many tenses, just like Indicative!
Yo Hable Yo Hablara
Yo Haya Hablado Yo Hubiera Hablado
Subjuntive Mode
The Spanish Subjunctive
Notice 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 subjunctive
Before we learn usage, we must learn the forms we will be
working with. Think of it as learning the mechanics or
“nuts and bolts” before assembling the tool.
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.
habl
habl
habl
habl
habl
habl
e
es
e
emos
éis
en
Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are
identical.
o o o
The forms of the subjunctive Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:
For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.
com
com
com
com
com
a
as
a
amos
an
viv
viv
viv
viv
viv
viv
a
as
a
amos
áis
an Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.
recordar (o ue)
recuerde
recuerdes
recuerde
recordemos
recuerden
perder (e ie)
pierda
pierdas
pierda
perdamos
pierdan
Remember, however, that stem changes do not apply to nosotros form.
The forms of the subjunctive Stem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem
changes as in the present indicative.
dormir dormimos durmieron
dormí dormiste durmió
u
duerma duermas duerma
durmamos duerman
The forms of the subjunctive You 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 form of the subjunctive.
These changes occur only in stem-changing -ir verbs.
mentir mentimos mintieron
mentí mentiste mintió
i
mienta mientas mienta
mintamos mientan
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
Do-Now Copy the following sentences, and fill in the
blanks as we hear the song “Libertad”
1. Dime como quieres que me _____ (vestir)
2. Dime como quieres que me _____ (peinar)
3. Dime como quieres que yo ______ (pensar)
4. Dime como quieres que te ______ (tratar)
5. Dime como quieres que te ______ (hablar)
6. Dime como quieres que te ______ (insultar)
7. Dime como quieres que te ______ (mirar)
8. Dime como quieres que te ______ (escuchar)
-car c qu
The forms of the subjunctive Just like in preterit tense, these spelling changes occur in all forms of present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives end in -car, -gar, and -zar.
-gar g gu -zar z c buscar
busque
busques
busque
busquemos busquen
llegar
llegue
llegues
llegue
lleguemos lleguen
empezar
empiece
empieces
empiece
empecemos empiecen
Dar
Ir
Ser
Haber
Estar
Saber
dé, des, dé, demos, den
vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayan
sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean
haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayan
esté, estés, esté, estemos, estén
sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, 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.
Yo quiero que Juan vaya a la fiesta.
main clause subordinate clause
S1 V1 S2 V2
The usage of the subjunctive
The subjunctive normally occurs in the subordinate clause of a two-part sentence (hence the term subjunctive) and generally is preceded by que or an adverb cuando, donde, como, etc.
Normally, the main clause has a different subject and verb than the subordinate clause.
S1 V1 S1 V2
The usage of the subjunctive
Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta.
main clause subordinate clause
Although there are two different verbs . . .
. . . there is only one subject.
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the main and subordinate clauses have the same subject, there is no need to create a new clause or conjugation at all.
In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .
S AV INF
The usage of the subjunctive
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the main and subordinate clauses have the same subject, there is no need to create a new clause or conjugation at all.
Yo quiero ir a la fiesta.
. . . utilizing a subject, conjugated verb, and infinitive.
1. Desire or command
3. Falseness or unreality.
2. Personal bias or emotion.
The usage of the subjunctive The verb in the main clause determines whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative (regular conjugation) in the subordinate clause.
Three simple principles can be applied in almost every case.
If the main clause expresses . . .
. . . the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.
Benjamín quiere que Antonio ponga la mesa.
Yo insisto en que tú hagas el trabajo.
Prohibimos que los clientes coman en la oficina.
(Notice that que unites the two clauses.)
(indicative: pone)
(indicative: haces)
(indicative: comen)
The usage of the subjunctive 1. Desire or Command: When the subject in the main
clause uses a verb that desires/commands something in the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is always used in the subordinate clause.
Desires
querer insistir recomendar
pedir permitir aconsejar
necesitar sugerir
Es…(importante, imprescindible, permisible,
necesario, preferible, mejor, urgente, etc)
Commands
impedir prohibir no permitir mandar
obligar
The usage of the subjunctive Following are some common verbs and expressions that might be used to command or express desire
Me alegro de que tú saques buenas notas.
¡Qué lástima que ellos no sepan su número de teléfono!
Lamento que hayas perdido tu dinero.
Me gusta que Alfredo te ayude.
(indicative: sacas)
(indicative: saben)
(indicative: has perdido)
(indicative: ayuda)
The usage of the subjunctive 2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the
main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not always) used in the subordinate clause.
gustar alegrarse (de) dar pena
asombrar sorprender entristecer
temer esperar sentir
Es triste, una lástima, maravilloso, bueno, terrible, horrible, fantástico, etc.
Estar alegre, contento, triste, etc.
ojalá
The usage of the subjunctive Following are some common verbs and expressions that express personal bias or emotion.
Es verdad que los niños comen demasiado.
Estoy seguro que Alonzo tiene su pasaporte.
No creemos que vaya a nevar mañana.
Mis amigos dudan que yo pueda pilotear el avión.
No hay nadie que sepa la verdad.
The usage of the subjunctive 3. Falseness or unreality: If the main clause
indicates that something is true or indeed exists, the indicative is used in the subordinate clause.
By contrast, if the main clause indicates doubt, falseness or unreality, the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.
Truth creer estar seguro jurar afirmar confirmar asegurar ser cierto ser indudable ser evidente ser obvio ser verdad ser (estar) claro
Falseness no creer negar no estar seguro dudar no poder creer ser (im)posible ser (im)probable no ser verdad no ser cierto Aunque*
The usage of the subjunctive Following are some common verbs and expressions that express truth or falseness.
Translate to Spanish. For each verb that should be in subjunctive, number it in your translation, and explain why in English below. Tomorrow is the first day at my new job. I hope that
everything goes well. I am very happy to have a job.
My boss seems very nice, but I prefer her to be more
than nice. I want her to understand that I will make
mistakes, and I want her to talk to me. I will
recommend that she tell me what she thinks, even if
it might be bad.
Do-Now
Mucha gente vota hoy en las
primarias. Los padres de la nación
pensaron que el proceso
democrático era importante, y
estoy de acuerdo. Es
imprescindible que tengamos la
habilidad de influir nuestro
gobierno. Votaré cada vez que
pueda.