The subjunctive in noun clauses: WEIRDO
When talking about the subjunctive, noun clauses refer to dependent clauses (after
the que) that act like the direct object of a sentence, just like a noun often does.
Example: I want the book.
Yo quiero el libro
I = subject, want=verb, book=direct object
I want you to buy me the book.
Yo quiero que me compres el libro.
I=subject, want =verb, you to buy the book= activity acting like a direct object (in other
words, a verb acting like a noun)
RULE: The Spanish subjunctive is used in a dependent noun clause when :
1. The subject of the dependent clause is different from the subject in the main
clause, AND
2. The verb in the main clause expresses: influence, doubt, emotion, negation,
impersonal expressions.
The acronym WEIRDO may help you remember the situations where the subjunctive is used with
dependent noun clauses. (Note, there is a lot of overlap between the categories so verbs may fit in
more than one place)
W
wishes, wants, willing : querer, insistir, preferir, desear, esperar, mandar, permitir*,
prohibir, requerir, dejar,
E
emotion: estar contento/triste, sentir, gustar, alegrase, sorprender, disgustar, temer, tener
miedo de, encantar, molestar
I
impersonal expressions: es possible, es importante, es necesario, etc
R
requests : aconsejar, pedir, recomendar, mandar, exigir, sugerir
D
doubt/ denial*: dudar, es dudoso, no estar seguro, no creer, no pensar, no es cierto
O
obligation/ ojalá
WEIRDO: The five situations under this acronym represent situations when the
subjunctive may be necessary provided that the verb in the main clause of a
sentence exerts will or influence on the subject of the dependent clause. The verbs
listed in these categories are triggers that the subjunctive may be coming. This
means that they are conjugated in the indicative and come before the que.
Wishes and wants: When you want someone or something else to do
something you must use the subjunctive because you can’t account for the action
in the dependent clause. Here are some verbs that indicate wishes and wants:
desear, querer, insistir en, preferir, necesitar, proponer, mandar, esperar.
1.
Yo quiero que tú tomes estas pastillas.
2.
Prefiere que nosotros no vayamos al mercado ahora.
3.
Mis padres quieren que yo sea una buena persona.
4.
Alejo insiste en que su novia le diga la verdad.
5.
BUT: Ellos prefieren llegar temprano.
Emotions: The subjunctive is used when you express an emotional
reaction to something/someone else. Here are some expressions that indicate
and emotional reaction: alegrarse, estar contento/triste, molestar, gustar,
sorprender, sentir, temer, tener miedo de, disgustar, encantar.
1.
No me gusta que mis alumnos lleguen tarde.
2.
Julia siente que su amiga esté resfriada.
3.
Tenemos miedo de que los billetes cuesten demasiado.
4.
BUT: No me gusta llegar tarde.
Impersonal Expressions: Impersonal expressions are also called Ser
expressions because the all begin with an impersonal form of ser. There is no
particular subject listed. Rather, the expression itself counts as the first subject in
the main clause. The communicative function of an impersonal expression is to
give an opinion.
1.
Here are some common impersonal expressions.
Es bueno
Es malo
Es mejor
Es peor
Es horrible
Es posible
Es imposible
Es probable
Es improbable
Es increíble
Es necesario
Es preciso
Es urgente
Es importante
Es interesante
Es notable
Es raro
2.
It's good
It's bad
It's better
It's worse
It's horrible
It’s possible
It's impossible
It's probable
It's improbable
It's incredible
It's necessary
It's necessary
It's urgent
It's important
It's interesting
It's notable
It's unusual/strange
Examples:
a)
Es importante que tú visites el médico.
b)
Es necesario que yo haga ejercicio.
c)
Es interesante que Miguel no juegue fútbol este año.
d)
Es mejor que nos vayamos ahora.
e)
BUT: Es importante aprender muchas lenguas.
Requests/recommendations : Making requests, recommendations,
suggestions and giving advice generally require the subjunctive because the
request (suggestion, advice, etc) may or may not be fulfilled by the person that it
is directed to. Here are some verbs that indicate requests: pedir, aconsejar,
sugerir, exigir, rogar, recomendar, decir, escribir.
1.
El médico le recomienda que yo tome un antibiótico.
2.
Les aconsejo que uds nunca fumen.
3.
El entrenador me dice que corra dos kilómetros.
**Although not required an indirect object pronoun often goes with these verbs. The pronoun
serves as the subject of the dependent clause. This is because the very function of these verbs
implies the existence of an indirect object. For example, when you give advice you give that advice
to someone.
**The verbs decir and escribir call for the subjunctive only when they imply a command or request,
such as: He tells me to come to dinner, Me dice que yo venga para la cena. vs. He tells me it’s time
for dinner, Me dice que es la hora de cena.
Doubt and denial: When the main clause implies doubt, uncertainty or
denial the subjunctive is used. ¡OJO! Your English brain may consider certain
situations doubtful or uncertain that are NOT so in Spanish. Ignore your English
brain and work from these expressions: dudar, negar, no creer, no pensar, no
estar seguro, no es seguro, no es evidente, no es cierto. Note that when you use the
opposite of any of these expressions you must take away the subjunctive.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Yo dudo que ellos viajen hoy.
Yo no dudo que ellos viajan hoy.
Ellos no piensan que haya suficiente tiempo.
Ellos piensan que hay suficiente tiempo.
Ella niega que él me quiera engañar.
Ella no niega que él me quiere engañar.
BUT: Yo dudo tener tiempo.
Ojalá and obligation: Ojalá literally means God willing and originated
with the Moors who prayed to Allah. Now it is always followed by que and the
subjunctive. Some of the verbs we have already seen can also be considered
verbs of obligation: mandar, insistir, exigir, necesitar, prohibir.
1.
Ojalá que ella no se olvide de la comida para la fiesta.