Subjunctive Notes
1. The subjunctive is not a tense; rather, it’s a mood. _________ refers when an action takes place (past,
present, future), while __________ merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action. The subjunctive
mood is rarely used in English, but it is widely used in Spanish.
So far in Spanish, you have studied the verb tenses in the indicative mood. The indicative mood is used to
express ___________________, ____________, and ______________.
Ex. Ella va a Perú en diciembre.
She is going to Peru in December.
The above sentence merely reports the fact that you are going to Peru in December, so the indicative mood is
used.
Let’s change the above example slightly:
Ex. Dudo que ella vaya al Perú en diciembre.
I doubt that she is going to Peru in December.
In the above sentence, the clause “dudo” introduces the quality of uncertainty, the speaker does have a doubt
so here the subjunctive mood is used in the second clause (vaya).
Subjunctive implies subjectivity. If there exists the possibility that the action about which I am speaking has
not or may not take place it is necessary to use the subjunctive. If, however, it is a realized fact that the action
has taken or definitely will take place the indicative is used. Consider the following examples:
John is going to the store.
John went to the store.
Indicative
Indicative
I want John to go to the store.
I tell John to go to the store.
I hope John goes to the store.
I prefer that John go to the store.
It is necessary for John to go to the store.
It is possible that John will go to the store.
Subjunctive
Subjunctive
Subjunctive
Subjunctive
Subjunctive
Subjunctive
2. How to conjugate:
1. Go to _________ (present tense)
2. Drop the ______
3. Add the ____________ endings
Verbs that end in “ar”
*Think about your rules for formal commands.
Verbs that end in “er/ir”
____e______emos__
____a______amos___
___es_______éis___
e
en
___as_______áis____
a
an
Examples:
Hablar
Hable
Hablemos
Hables
Habléis
Hable
Hablen
Comer
Coma
Comamos
Comas
Comáis
Coma
Coman
Vivir
Viva
Vivamos
Vivas
Viváis
Viva
Vivan
4. Don’t forget the irrefular “yo”s: Hacer, Poner, Salir, Decir, Caer, Traer, Venir, Tener, Ver, Conocer.
Hacer- yo hago
Haga
Hagamos
Hagas
Hagáis
Haga
Hagan
Traer- yo traigo
Traiga
Traigamos
Traigas
Traigáis
Traiga
Traigan
Conocer- yo conozco
Conozca
Conozcamos
Conozcas
Conozcáis
Conozca
Conozcan
5. Super-Irregulars: The following 6 verbs are irregular and need to be memorized.
Saber
Ser
Haber
_sepa____sepamos
___sea_____seamos
__haya_____hayamos
_sepas___sepáis__
sepa
sepan
___seas____seáis__
sea
sean
__hayas____hayáis__
haya
hayan
Dar
Estar
Ir
__dé_____demos_
__esté
___estemos__
__vaya_____vayamos
__des____deis___
dé
den
__estés____estéis____
esté
estén
__vayas____vayáis__
vaya
vayan
** Hand clap- sepa, sea, haya, dé, esté, vaya
6. –ar and –er stem-changing verbs. For verbs that end in ar or er, if they are stem-changing verbs in the
present tense, they are also stem-changing verbs in the subjunctive mood. * Think shoe verbs. They
change in all forms except __________ and __________. Remember that in the present tense, you have
the following changes: o _____, e ______, and e______.
Pensar
Volver
__piense___pensemos_
__vuelva_____volvamos__
__pienses__penséis___
piense piensen
__vuelvas____volváis____
vuelva
vuelvan
7. –ir stem changing verbs. For verbs that end in ir, still make the same present tense change to all forms
except nosotros and vosotros. Nosotros and vosotros however also have changes. * Think preterit stem
changes. o _____ and e  ______.
Pedir
__pida______pidamos_
Sentir
__sienta_____sintamos_
Dormir
_duerma______durmamos
__pidas_____pidáis___
pida
pidan
__sientas____sintáis___
sienta
sientan
_duermas_____durmáis__
duerma
duerman
8. Orthographic Changes: These are spelling changes that help preserve the rules of sound when
pronouncing words. * Think formal commands Verbs that end in car, gar, zar, ger/gir, guir, uir.
car- ______
ger/gir- _______
gar- ______
guir- _______
zar- ______
uir_______
Buscar
Pagar
Empezar
busque____busquemos_
pague_______paguemos_
empiece______empecemos_
busques___busquéis___
busque
busquen
pagues______paguéis___
pague
paguen
empieces_____empecéis___
empiece
empiecen
Escoger
Seguir
Huir
escoja____escojamos_
siga________sigamos__
huya_________huyamos__
escojas___escojáis___
escoja
escojan
sigas_______sigáis___
siga
sigan
huyas________huyáis____
huya
huyan
9. Rules for using the subjunctive:
1. When using the subjunctive there will almost always be __________
Ex. I hope that he calls me.
2. The reason for using the subjunctive will be found in the ________ clause
Ex. I hope that he calls me.
3. The subjunctive is used in the ___________ or subordinate clause
Ex. I hope that he calls me.
4. The subjunctive is used after the conjunction “______”
Ex. I hope that he calls me.
5. There is a subject change between the main clause and the subordinate clause
Ex. I hope that he calls me.
6. *If there is no change in subject an infinitive follows the verb in the main clause.
Ex. I hope that I play. Espero que jugar.
To use the subjunctive you must have:
1. a trigger phrase (see attached sheet)
2. two clauses usually joined by the conjunction “que”
3. A change in subject
USES FOR SUBJUNCTIVE
** Remember: U WEIRDO*S
U- unknown/nonexistent
W- wishing/wanting
E- emotions
I- impersonal expressions
R- recommendations/ advice
D- doubt/denial
O- opposition
*S- subject change
1. Unknown/Nonexistent
- when the speaker doesn’t know “what is” or “what is not”. The speaker may be looking for someone or
something with certain qualities, without having anyone or anything particular in mind. (the antecedent is
unknown)
Trigger phrases:
 No hay nadie que... –
 No hay nada que... – There isn’t anything that...
 Buscar Necesitar- to need
Ex. No hay nadie que confíe en Marcos.
Ex. Yo busco un novio que sea honesto y leal.
Ex. Ella necesita un médico que hable español.
There isn’t anyone that confides in Mark.
I am looking for a boyfriend who is honest and loyal.
She needs a doctor who speaks spanish.
2. Wishing/Wanting
- when the speaker expresses a desire, hope, or a wish/want
Trigger phrases:
 Querer- to want
 Preferir Esperar- to hope
 insistir en- to insist
 necesitar ojalá- God willing; I strongly hope
Ex. Quiero que tú trabajes mañana.
Ex. Ellos insisten que nosotros comamos.
I want you to work(that you work) tomorrow.
They insist that we eat.
3. Emotions
-The subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause alter certain expressions of feelings. However, there of
course has to be a subject change.
Trigger phrases:

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



me gusta que- I like that
me molesta queme frustra que- It frustrates me that
me sorprende que- It surprises me that
Me preocupa queSiento que- I feel that
Me irrita que-
Ex. Me sorprende que vengan mis amigos a la fiesta.
Ex. Me molesta que tú llegues tarde.
It surprises me that my friends come to the party.
It bothers me when you arrive late.
**If the clause states a fact or belief then the indicative is used.
Ex. Pienso que mi novia va a romper conmigo. I think that my girlfriend is going to break up with me.
**If there is no change in subject then an infinitive is used.
Ex. Me molesta llegar tarde.
It bothers me when I arrive late.
4. Impersonal expressions
- There are many expressions that convey a level of uncertainty that require the use of subjunctive.
Trigger phrases:
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

es necesario que- it’s necessary that
es posible quees imposible que- it’s impossible that
es probable que- it’s probable that
es importante que-
Es mejor que- it’s better that
Es buena idea que-
It’s important they bring a jacket.
It is necessary that he writes it./ He needs to write it.
Ex. Es importante que ellos traigan una chaqueta.
Ex. Es necesario que él la escriba.
5. Recommendations/Advice
-Use subjunctive to express advice or recommendations you have for someone
* recomendar que- to recommend that
* aconsejar que* sugerir que- to suggest that
Ex. Te recomiendo que tú pruebes el pescado.
Ex. Ellos sugieren que estudiemos para la clase de español.
I recommend that you try the fish.
They suggest we study for Spanish class.
6-7. Doubt/Denial/Opposition
- The subjunctive is used in situations of doubt or with certain negative expressions.
Trigger phrases:
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no es verdad que- It’s not true that
no es cierto queno creer que- to not believe that
no estar de acuerdo (en) que- to not agree that
negar quedudar que- to doubt that
Ex. Ella no cree que Juan tenga el dinero.
Ex. Yo dudo que él sea honesto.
She doesn’t believe that John has the money.
I doubt that he is honest.
** If phrases express affirmation then the indicative is used.
Ex. Ella cree que Juan tiene el dinero.
Ex. Yo no dudo que él es honesto.
**Trigger phrases for indicative:

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


Es verdad que- It’s true that
Creer queEs cierto que- It’s certain that
Estar de acuerdo (en) queNo dudar que- to not doubt that
She believes that John has the money.
I don’t doubt that he is honest.