El subjuntivo
with conjunctions of time
• El subjuntivo is used after certain conjunctions
of time to show that you are not sure when
or if something will happen.
• You use the indicative (not subjunctive) with
the same conjunctions of time when the main
clause refers to the present or the past.
• Use the indicative when you are certain about
the outcome of the action. Use the
subjunctive when you are not sure.
Cuando
When
En cuanto
As soon as
Hasta que
Until
Tan pronto
como
As soon as
• TRIGGERS FOR SUBJUNCTIVE:
Main clause/Independent clause (conjunction)
Dependent clause
FUTURE
(conjunction)
SUBJUNCTIVE
COMMAND
(conjunction)
SUBJUNCTIVE
CONTINGENCY
(conjunction)
SUBJUNCTIVE
(poder, someone can do this,
or is going to do this)
•
•
•
•
TRIGGERS FOR INDICATIVE (not subjunctive):
Main clause/Independent clause
(conjunction)
PRESENT
(conjunction)
PAST
(conjunction)
INDICATIVE
• HABITUAL
(conjunction)
• TRUTH
(conjunction)
Dependent clause
INDICATIVE
INDICATIVE
INDICATIVE
SUBJUNTIVO (not sure of outcome)
INDICATIVO (certain of outcome)
FUTURE
Bucearán hasta que anochezca.
They will scuba dive until it gets dark.
(whenever that may be)
COMMAND
Avísame cuando sepas.
Let me know when you find out.
(whenever that may be)
Will/can
Vas a comer tan pronto como lleguen.
You are going to eat as soon as they
arrive. (whenever that may be)
PAST
Bucearon hasta que anocheció.
They scuba dived (were scuba diving)
until it got dark. (it definitely got dark)
HABITUAL/PRESENT
Siempre me avisas cuando sabes.
You always let me know when you find
something out. (speaking with certainty)
PAST
Comimos tan pronto como llegaron.
We ate as soon as they arrived. (They
definitely arrived)
Can/ contingency (as long as)
Puedes ir al cine en cuanto termines la
tarea.
You can go to the movies when you finish
your homework (whenever that may be)
Poder, tener que, buscar
Yo salí de mi casa en cuanto supe las
noticas.
I left my house as soon as I found out the
news (all definitely happened)
Remember, words that change in the present
tense, indicative YO form will change throughout
the subjunctive:
Conocer  conozca,
Amanecer  amanezca, ETC
REGLA (for now anyway): If the first half of the
sentence has a subjunctive trigger AND is in
either the future tense or the present tense
indicative, use the present tense subjunctive.
If the first half of the sentence is in the past
tense indicative (preterite/imperfect) USE the
SAME TENSE (preterite/imperfect).
1. Diremos la verdad tan pronto como
____________________. (saber)
2. Saldré con mi novio cuando lo
___________________ (ver)
3. Comiste en cuanto____________________ de la
casa. (llegar)
4. Busqué mi llavero tan pronto como
_____________________. (abrir) el coche.
5. Correremos por el sendero hasta que
nos___________________. (comer) un cocodrilo
1.Vamos a caminar por el sendero hasta que
______________________ (ver) la montaña.
2.Máximo y Pedro van a visitar el zoológico tan
pronto como ____________________(poder).
3.Josefina y Andrea siempre hablan hasta que
________________________________(amanecer).
4.Carmía y yo bucearemos cuando
_______________________________(obtener, like
tener!) dinero.
5.Normalmente estudiamos cuando
__________________________(tener) tiempo.
6.Puedes pasar tiempo con tus amigos en cuanto
________________________(limpiar) tu
habitación.
7.Viajé a México cuando
_______________________(recibir) unos boletos
de regalo.
8.Escríbeme una carta tan pronto como
__________________(aprender) a escribir en
árabe.
Ejemplo: comer / encontrar un abrelatas: Yo comeré tan
pronto como encuentre un abrelatas.
9. Ella/ Ir de compras / aprender a manejar el coche
__________________________________________________
_______________________
10. Mi hermana/ Buscar un trabajo / saber sus planes del
verano (saber is irregular!)
__________________________________________________
_____________________________
11.Tú /Ayudar a la gente sin hogar / tener tiempo
__________________________________________________
______________________
12. Mis amigos y yo / Practicar el español / entender la
tarea
________________________________________________
_____________________________
13. Tú / Darme un libro / usar tu tarjeta de Barnes and
Noble.
________________________________________________
_____________________________
14. Ustedes / Poder descansar / terminar los quehaceres.
________________________________________________
_____________________________
15. I will help you as soon as I find my book.
_______________________________________
__________________________
16.We can begin when the TV program finishes.
_______________________________________
__________________________
17.We’ll dance until the sun comes up!
_______________________________________
__________________________
1.It’s sad that he has no friends.
_______________________________________
__________________________
2.I doubt that you work hard to get good grades.
_______________________________________
__________________________
3. It’s true that I wash dishes.
_______________________________________
__________________________
4.It’s not true that he takes care of the dog.
__________________________________________
_______________________
5.It’s a shame that the city has so much pollution.
__________________________________________
_______________________
6.I don’t think that the humpback whale spends
time with the sharks.
__________________________________________
_______________________
7.Let’s leave when she finishes her project.
__________________________________________
_______________________
8.I want to play soccer until the doctor tells me no.
__________________________________________
_______________________
9.We swam in the fresh water lake until our parents
called us.
__________________________________________
_______________________