214 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Spanish Verb Tenses

Uses of the present subjunctiveUse the subjunctive whenever there is a degree of desire, ignorance, emotion, or impersonal opin-ion on the part of the subject.

A sentence containing a subjunctive clause has two parts: the main clause and the subordi-nate clause. !ese two clauses are generally separated by que (meaning “that”). !e main clause contains the statement of desire, ignorance, emotion, or opinion; this clause is in the indicative. !e subordinate clause contains whatever is being considered; this clause is in the subjunctive. Consider the following sentence.

I doubt that he works much.

!e main clause “I doubt” is in the indicative, because it is reporting. !e subordinate clause, “he works much,” is in the subjunctive because of the uncertainty expressed in the main clause. !is sentence is expressed in Spanish as follows.

Yo dudo que él trabaje mucho.

Note that although subjunctive verb forms are identi"able by a distinct conjugated verb form in Spanish, the subjunctive is not necessarily expressed by a distinct verb form in English.

Expressions of desireVerbs in the main clause that express a wish, a preference, a request, or similar desire set up the need for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. In these situations, the subject tells what he or she would like to happen; whether it will actually happen is not certain.Below are several common verbs of desire that require the use of the subjunctive.

VOCABULARIO

esperar to hope preferir (e > ie) to preferexigir to demand querer (e > ie) to wantinsistir en to insist (on) rogar (o > ue) to pray, begojalá God willing, I strongly hope sugerir (e > ie) to suggestpedir (e > i) to request

Él pre"ere que yo hable. He prefers that I speak.Ellos esperan que podamos bailar. !ey hope that we can dance.Insistimos en que tengas el dinero. We insist that you have the money.Ella pide que sirváis el café. She requests that you all serve the co"ee.Quiero que Juan estudie. I want John to study. (literally, I want that John study.)Espero que ellos vivan en esa casa. I hope that they live in that house.Ojalá que ella llegue a tiempo. God willing, she (will) arrive on time.

EJERCICIO

¿Cuál es verdadero o falso para ti?

1. Ojalá que no tenga un examen hoy.

2. Espero que haga buen tiempo mañana.

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The present subjunctive 215

3. Espero que el próximo presidente sea demócrata.

4. Quiero que mis amigos sean amables.

5. Pre!ero que haya nieve en la Navidad.

6. Espero que llueva el !n de semana que viene.

7. Excepto en caso de emergencia, sugiero que nadie me llame después de las diez de la noche.

8. Cuando tengo una !esta, quiero que los invitados lleguen a tiempo.

9. Pido que mis vecinos no tengan muchas !estas ruidosas.

10. Espero que no haya cucarachas en mi cocina.

11. Cuando asisto a una reunión, pre!ero que (yo) no tenga que preparar nada.

12. Insisto en que las personas me den el mismo respeto que yo les doy a ellos.

20·1EJERCICIO

Traducción

1. I hope that she speaks with me tomorrow.

2. I want you to eat the bread.

3. He wants me to write a letter.

4. We pray that you are well.

5. They [m.] want us to do it.

6. She hopes that you can come to the party.

7. They [f.] suggest that you do it.

8. I insist that you all work.

9. He requests that we be here at nine o’clock.

Uses of the present subjunctiveUse the subjunctive whenever there is a degree of desire, ignorance, emotion, or impersonal opin-ion on the part of the subject.

A sentence containing a subjunctive clause has two parts: the main clause and the subordi-nate clause. !ese two clauses are generally separated by que (meaning “that”). !e main clause contains the statement of desire, ignorance, emotion, or opinion; this clause is in the indicative. !e subordinate clause contains whatever is being considered; this clause is in the subjunctive. Consider the following sentence.

I doubt that he works much.

!e main clause “I doubt” is in the indicative, because it is reporting. !e subordinate clause, “he works much,” is in the subjunctive because of the uncertainty expressed in the main clause. !is sentence is expressed in Spanish as follows.

Yo dudo que él trabaje mucho.

Note that although subjunctive verb forms are identi"able by a distinct conjugated verb form in Spanish, the subjunctive is not necessarily expressed by a distinct verb form in English.

Expressions of desireVerbs in the main clause that express a wish, a preference, a request, or similar desire set up the need for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. In these situations, the subject tells what he or she would like to happen; whether it will actually happen is not certain.Below are several common verbs of desire that require the use of the subjunctive.

VOCABULARIO

esperar to hope preferir (e > ie) to preferexigir to demand querer (e > ie) to wantinsistir en to insist (on) rogar (o > ue) to pray, begojalá God willing, I strongly hope sugerir (e > ie) to suggestpedir (e > i) to request

Él pre"ere que yo hable. He prefers that I speak.Ellos esperan que podamos bailar. !ey hope that we can dance.Insistimos en que tengas el dinero. We insist that you have the money.Ella pide que sirváis el café. She requests that you all serve the co"ee.Quiero que Juan estudie. I want John to study. (literally, I want that John study.)Espero que ellos vivan en esa casa. I hope that they live in that house.Ojalá que ella llegue a tiempo. God willing, she (will) arrive on time.

EJERCICIO

¿Cuál es verdadero o falso para ti?

1. Ojalá que no tenga un examen hoy.

2. Espero que haga buen tiempo mañana.

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216 PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Spanish Verb Tenses

10. Why do you request that I do it?

11. I prefer that we not leave the house until !ve o’clock.

12. She hopes that you know her.

13. We insist that you eat with us.

14. Do you want me to count the money?

15. They [m.] suggest that we put the papers in the cabinet (el gabinete).

20·2EJERCICIO

Traducción Verbs in bold italic are in the present subjunctive.

VOCABULARIO amable friendly cambiar to change cometer un error to make a mistake el desempeño performance el jefe, la jefa boss justo fair

Tomorrow is the !rst day of my new job. I hope that everything go well for me. My boss seems very friendly, but I prefer that she be more fair than friendly. I want her to understand that if I make a mistake (and I’m sure that I’ll make many), I want her to tell (it to) me directly. Before the !rst week ends, I’m going to request that she tell me what she thinks of my performance. If she suggests that I change some aspect of my work, it will be easier to do so then than after working there for a few months.

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