How To Do Subjunctive In Spanish

Mastering the Subjunctive in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

The subjunctive mood in Spanish, or el subjuntivo, is a grammatical concept that often poses a challenge to learners. It expresses subjectivity, doubt, emotion, desire, uncertainty, and possibility rather than stating facts directly. While it might seem daunting at first, understanding its uses and formation is crucial for achieving fluency and nuance in Spanish. This guide will walk you through the intricacies of the Spanish subjunctive, providing you with the knowledge and examples you need to confidently incorporate it into your speech and writing.

Introduction to the Subjunctive Mood

Unlike the indicative mood, which describes objective realities, the subjunctive deals with hypothetical, uncertain, or emotional situations. Think of it as expressing what could be, what someone wants, or what someone doubts is true, rather than what is true. The subjunctive isn't a tense, but rather a mood that can be used in various tenses, such as the present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, and future subjunctive (though the future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish).

When to Use the Subjunctive: Key Triggers

The subjunctive mood is triggered by specific words, phrases, and sentence structures. Recognizing these triggers is the first step in mastering its usage. Here's a breakdown of the most common scenarios:

1. Wishes, Desires, and Hopes:

The subjunctive is frequently used after verbs expressing wishes, desires, hopes, and preferences. Common verbs in this category include:

• Querer (to want)
• Desear (to desire)
• Esperar (to hope)
• Preferir (to prefer)
• Ojalá (I hope/hopefully)

Examples:

• Quiero que vengas a mi fiesta. (I want you to come to my party.)
• Espero que tengas un buen día. (I hope you have a good day.)
• Ojalá que llueva café en el campo. (Hopefully, it will rain coffee in the countryside.)

2. Emotions:

Expressions of emotion, such as joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and regret, often trigger the subjunctive. Common phrases and verbs include:

• Alegrarse de que (to be happy that)
• Sentir que (to regret that/to feel that)
• Temer que (to fear that)
• Estar contento/a de que (to be happy that)
• Sorprender que (to be surprising that)

Examples:

• Me alegro de que estés aquí. (I'm happy that you're here.)
• Siento que no puedas venir. (I regret that you can't come.)
• Temo que sea demasiado tarde. (I fear that it's too late.)

3. Impersonal Expressions:

Impersonal expressions that convey opinions, possibilities, or necessity often require the subjunctive. These expressions typically start with "Es..." followed by an adjective or adverb. Examples include:

• Es importante que (It's important that)
• Es necesario que (It's necessary that)
• Es posible que (It's possible that)
• Es probable que (It's probable that)
• Es bueno que (It's good that)
• Es malo que (It's bad that)

Examples:

• Es importante que estudies para el examen. (It's important that you study for the exam.)
• Es necesario que llegues a tiempo. (It's necessary that you arrive on time.)
• Es posible que llueva mañana. (It's possible that it will rain tomorrow.)

4. Doubt, Uncertainty, and Denial:

When expressing doubt, uncertainty, or denial, the subjunctive is typically used. Common verbs and phrases include:

• Dudar que (to doubt that)
• No creer que (to not believe that)
• No pensar que (to not think that)
• Negar que (to deny that)
• Es dudoso que (It's doubtful that)
• No estar seguro/a de que (to not be sure that)

Important Note: If you are expressing certainty, belief, or affirmation, you generally use the indicative mood. For example: Creo que es verdad (I believe it is true). However, when these verbs are used in the negative, they often trigger the subjunctive: No creo que sea verdad (I don't believe it is true).

Examples:

• Dudo que venga a la fiesta. (I doubt he'll come to the party.)
• No creo que sea cierto. (I don't believe it's true.)
• No estoy seguro de que tenga razón. (I'm not sure he's right.)

5. Conjunctions of Time, Purpose, Condition, or Concession:

Certain conjunctions, especially when referring to future or hypothetical events, require the subjunctive. These conjunctions often introduce subordinate clauses. Some of the most common include:

• Cuando (when) - only when referring to a future event
• Antes de que (before)
• Después de que (after) - only when referring to a future event. Often takes the indicative.
• Para que (so that/in order that)
• A fin de que (so that/in order that)
• En caso de que (in case)
• A menos que (unless)
• Sin que (without)
• Con tal de que (provided that)
• Aunque (although) - only when expressing doubt or hypothesis

Examples:

• Te llamaré cuando llegue. (I will call you when I arrive.) (Future event, subjunctive)
• Te llamé cuando llegué. (I called you when I arrived.) (Past event, indicative)
• Lo hago para que entiendas. (I do it so that you understand.)
• No salgas sin que te lo diga. (Don't go out without me telling you.)
• Aunque llueva, iremos al parque. (Even if it rains, we'll go to the park.) (Hypothetical, subjunctive)
• Aunque llueve, iremos al parque. (Even though it's raining, we'll go to the park.) (Statement of fact, indicative)

6. Relative Clauses with Uncertain or Non-Existent Antecedents:

When a relative clause refers to someone or something that is uncertain, hypothetical, or doesn't exist, the subjunctive is used.

Examples:

• Busco un libro que sea interesante. (I'm looking for a book that is interesting.) (The speaker doesn't know if such a book exists.)
• Necesito un empleado que hable español. (I need an employee who speaks Spanish.) (The speaker doesn't know if such an employee exists.)

Compare these to examples with the indicative, where the antecedent is known or definite:

• Tengo el libro que es interesante. (I have the book that is interesting.) (The speaker has a specific book in mind.)
• Conozco al empleado que habla español. (I know the employee who speaks Spanish.) (The speaker knows a specific employee.)

Forming the Present Subjunctive

Now that you know when to use the subjunctive, let's look at how to form the present subjunctive.

1. Start with the Yo Form of the Present Indicative:

Take the yo (I) form of the verb in the present indicative.

2. Drop the "-o" Ending:

Remove the "-o" ending from the yo form.

3. Add the Subjunctive Endings:

• For -ar verbs, add the endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en
• For -er and -ir verbs, add the endings: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an

Examples:

Irregular Verbs in the Present Subjunctive:

Many verbs have irregular forms in the present subjunctive. These irregularities often stem from the yo form of the present indicative. Here are some common examples:

• Ser (to be): sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean
• Estar (to be): esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
• Ir (to go): vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan
• Saber (to know): sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan
• Haber (to have - auxiliary verb): haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
• Tener (to have): tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan
• Venir (to come): venga, vengas, venga, vengamos, vengáis, vengan
• Poner (to put): ponga, pongas, ponga, pongamos, pongáis, pongan
• Hacer (to do/make): haga, hagas, haga, hagamos, hagáis, hagan
• Decir (to say/tell): diga, digas, diga, digamos, digáis, digan
• Oír (to hear): oiga, oigas, oiga, oigamos, oigáis, oigan
• Ver (to see): vea, veas, vea, veamos, veáis, vean
• Dar (to give): dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
• Caber (to fit): quepa, quepas, quepa, quepamos, quepáis, quepan
• Valer (to be worth): valga, valgas, valga, valgamos, valgáis, valgan

Stem-Changing Verbs in the Present Subjunctive:

Stem-changing verbs also undergo changes in the present subjunctive, similar to how they change in the present indicative. Remember that -ir verbs have an additional stem change in the nosotros/vosotros forms

• e -> ie: Pensar (to think): piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, penséis, piensen
• o -> ue: Poder (to be able to): pueda, puedas, pueda, podamos, podáis, puedan
• e -> i: Pedir (to ask for): pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan
• o -> ue / u: Dormir (to sleep): duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman

Forming the Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive is used to express hypothetical situations, past wishes, or polite requests. It's often used in si (if) clauses to describe what would happen under certain conditions.

There are two ways to form the imperfect subjunctive, both equally correct:

Option 1: Using the "-ra" endings

1. Start with the third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) form of the preterite (past simple): For example, hablar becomes hablaron.
2. Drop the "-ron" ending: In this case, we are left with hablar-
3. Add the imperfect subjunctive endings:
   • -ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran

Option 2: Using the "-se" endings

1. Start with the third-person plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes) form of the preterite (past simple): For example, hablar becomes hablaron.
2. Drop the "-ron" ending: In this case, we are left with hablar-
3. Add the imperfect subjunctive endings:
   • -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sen

Examples:

Irregular Verbs in the Imperfect Subjunctive:

The irregular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive follow the same principle: take the stem from the third-person plural of the preterite and add the imperfect subjunctive endings. This results in the irregular stem being carried through all forms.

• Ser/Ir (to be/to go): fueron -> fuera, fueras, fuera, fuéramos, fuerais, fueran / fuese, fueses, fuese, fuésemos, fueseis, fuesen
• Estar (to be): estuvieron -> estuviera, estuvieras, estuviera, estuviéramos, estuvierais, estuvieran / estuviese, estuvieses, estuviese, estuviésemos, estuvieseis, estuviesen
• Tener (to have): tuvieron -> tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran / tuviese, tuvieses, tuviese, tuviésemos, tuvieseis, tuviesen
• Poder (to be able to): pudieron -> pudiera, pudieras, pudiera, pudiéramos, pudierais, pudieran / pudiese, pudieses, pudiese, pudiésemos, pudieseis, pudiesen
• Poner (to put): pusieron -> pusiera, pusieras, pusiera, pusiéramos, pusierais, pusieran / pusiese, pusieses, pusiese, pusiésemos, pusieseis, pusiesen
• Hacer (to do/make): hicieron -> hiciera, hicieras, hiciera, hiciéramos, hicierais, hicieran / hiciese, hicieses, hiciese, hiciésemos, hicieseis, hiciesen
• Decir (to say/tell): dijeron -> dijera, dijeras, dijera, dijéramos, dijerais, dijeran / dijese, dijeses, dijese, dijésemos, dijeseis, dijesen
• Venir (to come): vinieron -> viniera, vinieras, viniera, viniéramos, vinierais, vinieran / viniese, vinieses, viniese, viniésemos, vinieseis, viniesen
• Saber (to know): supieron -> supiera, supieras, supiera, supiéramos, supierais, supieran / supiese, supieses, supiese, supiésemos, supieseis, supiesen
• Querer (to want): quisieron -> quisiera, quisieras, quisiera, quisiéramos, quisierais, quisieran / quisiese, quisieses, quisiese, quisiésemos, quisieseis, quisiesen

Examples:

• Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had money, I would travel the world.)
• Quería que vinieras a mi cumpleaños. (I wanted you to come to my birthday.)
• Me pidieron que les ayudara. (They asked me to help them.)

Sequence of Tenses

The sequence of tenses is crucial when using the subjunctive in complex sentences. This refers to how the tense of the main clause affects the tense of the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Here's a simplified overview:

• Present or Future Indicative in the Main Clause: Use the present subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
  • Espero que vengas mañana. (I hope that you come tomorrow.)
• Past Indicative or Conditional in the Main Clause: Use the imperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
  • Esperaba que vinieras ayer. (I hoped that you came yesterday.)
  • Me gustaría que fueras a la fiesta. (I would like you to go to the party.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting the "que": The conjunction que is often required to introduce the subjunctive clause. Quiero que vengas. (I want you to come.)
• Using the Indicative After Subjunctive Triggers: Always remember to switch to the subjunctive mood after trigger words and phrases.
• Incorrectly Conjugating Irregular Verbs: Pay close attention to the irregular forms, especially in the present and imperfect subjunctive.
• Using the Subjunctive When Expressing Certainty: The subjunctive is for doubt, uncertainty, and subjectivity. Use the indicative for facts and certainties.
• Confusing "Después de que": While antes de que always requires the subjunctive, después de que generally takes the indicative when referring to a completed action and the subjunctive when referring to a future action.

Practice and Immersion

The best way to master the Spanish subjunctive is through consistent practice and immersion. Here are some tips:

• Practice Exercises: Complete grammar exercises focusing on subjunctive conjugation and usage.
• Read in Spanish: Pay attention to how the subjunctive is used in books, articles, and other written materials.
• Listen to Spanish: Listen to podcasts, music, and conversations to hear the subjunctive in context.
• Speak Spanish: Practice using the subjunctive in your own conversations. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; it's part of the learning process.
• Write in Spanish: Keep a journal, write stories, or participate in online forums to practice your writing skills.
• Use flashcards: Create flashcards for irregular verbs and subjunctive triggers.

Conclusion

The Spanish subjunctive mood is a challenging but essential aspect of the language. By understanding its uses, mastering its formation, and practicing consistently, you can confidently express a wide range of emotions, desires, and possibilities in Spanish. Embrace the challenge, and you'll find that the subjunctive adds depth and nuance to your communication, bringing you closer to fluency. Don't be discouraged by mistakes; view them as learning opportunities. With dedication and perseverance, you can unlock the power of the Spanish subjunctive and elevate your language skills to the next level.