Uses of the Subjunctive
•Uncertainty
•what might be
•doubt
•denial
Uses of the Indicative
•certainty
•what is
•statement of fact
•simple recounting of details
No creo que Juan vaya a la fiesta.
I.
Creo que Juan va a la fiesta.
Subjunctive in noun clauses: a noun clause is a clause used as a direct
object, subject of the verb or the object of a preposition.
•Necesito que me dé un mapa de Colombia.
•Necesito un mapa de
(noun clause-direct object)
Colombia. (noun-direct object)
The noun clause has its own subject and verb and is most often connected to the
main clause with que.
II.
Subjunctive to express volition: verbs of volition (will) express the wishes,
preferences, suggestions, requests and implied commands of the speaker. When
the verb in the main clause is a verb of volition the verb in the dependent clause
is in the subjunctive. In other words the subject of the first clause tries to
influence the behavior of the subject in the second clause.
Verbs that are used to express volition:
*aconsejar (to advise)
*decir (to say, tell)
desear ( to desire)
insistir en (to insist upon)
mandar ( to demand, command)
necesitar (to need)
*pedir (e>i) (to ask, order, request)
permitir (to permit)
prohibir (to prohibit)
querer (e>ie) (to want)
*recomendar (e>ie) to recommend
sugerir (to suggest)
If there is NO change of subject for the two verbs, there is NO noun clause…so
you will use the infinitive NOT the SUBJUNCTIVE!
Yo quiero ir. I want to go.
Deseo pasar la clase. I want to pass the class.
Sofia insiste en montar a caballo. Sofia insists upon horseback riding.
BUT, if the subject changes:
Carmen quiere que yo _____________________________ a la fiesta. (ir)
¿Necesitan que ella______________________________ (llevar) los libros?
Mi novia desea que yo ____________________________ (recoger) las maletas.
*Aconsejar/pedir/decir/recomendar require the use of an indirect object pronoun
which refers to the subject of the dependent clause.
*Le aconsejo que ________________________________ (nadar) en la piscina.
(since le is used the subject of the second clause is él/ella/usted)
Nos piden que ___________________________ (hacer) más ejercicio.
(since nos is used the subject of the second clause is nosotros)
Te recomiendo que ___________________________ (salir) temprano.
(since te is used the subject of the second clause is tú)
** decir/escribir: when verbs of communication are used in the main clause and
simply reporting information, the indicative is used (statement of facts)
**Juan le dice a Ana que llegamos mañana. Juan tells Ana that we are arriving
tomorrow. (because he is NOT telling her to arrive tomorrow but simply
informing her that WE are arriving tomorrow.)
** Les escribo que volvemos el domingo. I am writing them that we are returning
on Sunday. (statement of fact).
III.
Subjunctive with impersonal expressions: Use subjunctive in the dependent
clause with impersonal expressions in the main clause (the subject of which is
translated to the English word IT) UNLESS the impersonal expressions shows
certainty)
Some impersonal expressions:
Es bueno
Es indispensable
Es común
Es lástima (a shame)
Es difícil (hard, difficult)
Es malo
Es dudoso (doubtful)
Es mejor (better)
Es extraño (strange)
Es necesario
Es fácil (easy)
Es posible
Es importante
Es preciso (essential)
Es imposible
Es increíble (incredible)
Es probable
Es urgente
Es malo que Ud. ________________________________ (tener) un resfriado.
Es bueno que Paco ______________________________ (poder) ir.
Es posible que Ana ______________________________ (llegar) a tiempo.
Es dudoso que nosotros __________________________ (salir) a las ocho.
BUT, if the impersonal expression is one that shows certainty THEN, we use the
indicative.
Es verdad
Es evidente
Es obvio
Es cierto
Es seguro
no es dudoso
Es verdad que ella es muy honrada.
Es evidente que el jefe está en el edificio.
Es seguro que ella viene para reparar el problema.