Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
Introduction
The question of when to use the Subjunctive Mood instead of the Indicative Mood
can be tricky for non-native Spanish learners because we have very few examples of
the subjunctive in the English language. In Spanish, however, in sentences
containing two clauses joined by que (independent and subordinate clauses), the
subjunctive is used frequently. The four most common uses are:
1)to express statements of volition (will, hope, desire, or influence on others),
2)statements of doubt, negation, or possibility,
3)expressions of emotion or feelings,
4)impersonal expressions of desire, influence, uncertainty, or emotion.
In this section, we will practice using subjunctive verbs in expressions of WILL,
HOPE, DESIRE or INFLUENCE on others. We will also practice how to conjugate
verbs ending in –car, -gar, and –zar since they have a spelling change in the
subjunctive mood.
How to Form Present Subjunctive Verbs with Spelling Changes
-CAR/-GAR/-ZAR
Verbs that end in –CAR (like buscar), -GAR (like pagar) and –ZAR (like empezar)
have a small spelling change to preserve their pronunciation. But before you panic,
remember that you already know these spelling changes because they look just like
the Ud. commands that you learned in 7.3.
Verbs ending in –CAR change to –que
Verbs ending in –GAR change to –gue
Verbs ending in –ZAR change to –ce
BUSCAR ---------> busque
PAGAR ----------> pague
EMPEZAR -------> empiece
Verbs like buscar: sacar, practicar, explicar, marcar, pescar, tocar, secar(se)
Verbs like pagar: pegar, llegar, apagar, averigüar, jugar
Verbs like empezar: comenzar, almorzar, cruzar, abrazar, avanzar
Present Subjunctive in Expressions of Volition (WILL)
Remember, as we learned in 8.1a, a sentence in the subjunctive mood should
have 2 parties and 2 clauses joined by QUE. It will also contain what we call a
“subjunctive indicator” in the main or independent clause. The subjunctive indicator
shows you, or indicates, that you need to put the 2nd clause in the subjunctive mood.
In expressions of will, hope, desire, or influence, the first party (the subject in
the 1st clause) imposes his influence or desire on another party. The subject
basically tells another person what he/she wants that person to do. We use the
subjunctive mood instead of the indicative because it is not certain whether the 2nd
party will follow through with the desire or wish, or not.
Subjunctive Indicators
The following table shows some of the most common verbs of volition or influence
that, when followed by que, usually require the subjunctive in the second clause:
Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
SOME COMMON VERBS OF VOLITION THAT GOVERN SUBJUNCTIVE
aconsejar
to advise hacer
to make pedir
to ask
causar
to cause impedir
to not allow preferir
to prefer
decir
to tell insistir en
to insist querer
to want
dejar
to let mandar
to order rogar
to beg
desear
to wish necesitar
to need sugerir
to suggest
esperar
to hope obligar a
to obligate suplicar
to beg
exigir
to demand oponerse a
to oppose urgir
to encourage
Examine the following sentences side-by-side:
INDICATIVE
SUBJUNCTIVE
No quiero que Enrique vaya a la iglesia.
Enrique va a la iglesia.
Tú me pides que yo corrija la tarea.
Ella corrige la tarea todos los días.
El clima impide que tú viajes.
Tú viajas a San Marcos con frecuencia.
Uds. esperan que no ganemos.
Nosotros ganamos todos los partidos.
The sentences on the left are simple sentences with only one clause. In the
sentences on the right, the same verb has been embedded in a subordinate clause
following a verb of volition or influence (underlined for you). As a result, the
subjunctive form is required.
Remember!
It's the verb in the main clause (such as querer, pedir, impedir, or esperar in the
examples above) that determines whether the subordinate verb will be subjunctive
or not. Querer, pedir, impedir, and esperar are subjunctive indicators which cause
the other verbs to "go subjunctive."
Be careful. Just because a sentence contains que doesn’t mean there will be a
subjunctive in the sentence. For examples: Yo tengo que ver a mis abuelos. Papá
dice que vamos a visitar a los abuelos. Both sentences contain “que” but neither is
exerting an influence on another party. They are making simple statements of fact,
and therefore, use the indicative.
Present Subjunctive in Impersonal Statements
An impersonal statement is just what its name implies: a sentence that makes a
general statement without a recognizable grammatical subject. These sentences
begin with "It is…" Impersonal expressions act just like verbs of volition telling the
2nd party what should be done. They act as subjunctive indicators the same as if a
person were imposing his/her will or influence on you. Some easy impersonal
expressions follow:
Es necesario
It’s necessary
Es importante
It’s important
Es deseable
It’s desirable, It’s good
Es bueno
It’s good
Es malo
It’s bad
Es mejor
It’s better, It’s best
Es una lástima
It’s a shame, It’s too bad
Es lógico que
It’s logical
Ojalá
Hopefully, God willing
Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
Examples:
Es importante que aprendas el subjuntivo para hablar bien el español.
It’s important for you to learn the subjunctive to speak well.
Es una lástima que tengas que irte.
It’s too bad that you have to leave.
Ojalá que no salgan sin mí.
I hope (hopefully) they don’t leave without me.
These general statements act as the 1st clause and 1st party of the sentence.
Use of the Infinitive instead of the Subjunctive
There are two main situations where you can or should use an infinitive instead of a
subjunctive verb after a verb of volition.
1) Same Subject in Both Clauses. If the subject of the main clause is the same
as that of the subordinate clause, in other words, there is only 1 party, then use
an infinitive. For example, you CANNOT say: Yo quiero que yo duerma. You can’t
impose will or influence on yourself. You would say simply: Yo quiero dormir.
2) Verbs That Can Take an Indirect Object. Many verbs of influence that can
take an indirect object (decir, dejar, obligar, permitir, impedir, etc.) give you the
option of using a subjunctive verb or an infinitive in the subordinate clause. Here are
a few examples:
Subjunctive Version
Infinitive Version
Déjame que salga.
Let me leave.
Déjame salir.
Let me leave.
Les invitamos a que entren.
We invite you to enter.
Les invitamos a entrar.
We invite you to enter.
Nos permiten que comuniquemos.
They let us communicate/speak.
Nos permiten comunicar.
They allow us to speak.
Practice Exercises:
A. Conjugation Practice: Present Subjunctive
Conjugate each infinitive verb into the following forms (a) Ud. command (b) yo form
present subjunctive and (c) first person plural (nosotros) present subjunctive. Refer
to the example as a guide. Remember the spelling changes for –car/-gar/-zar verbs.
Example:
Almorzar
(a) almuerce
(b) almuerce
(c) almorcemos
INFINITIVE
UD. COMMAND
SUBJUNCTIVE-I
SUBJUNCTIVE-WE
1. sacar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
2. llegar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
3. escoger
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
4. abrazar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
5. explicar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
6. corregir
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
7. avanzar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
8. recoger
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
9.
jugar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
10. tocar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
11. apagar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
12. buscar
(a)__________
(b)__________
(c)__________
Hint: Did you notice that the Ud. command (imperative) and the “yo” form
subjunctive looked the same?!
B. Sentence Formation
Use the following components to create subjunctive sentences. Notice that the first
verb is the subjunctive indicator (indicative) which causes the second verb to “go
subjunctive.” Be sure to join both clauses using QUE.
Modelo:
Yo / querer / tú / almorzar.
Yo quiero que tú almuerces._______
1.
Yo / desear / tú / llegar / a tiempo.
_____________________________________________________________
2.
Yo / querer / tú / empezar / la tarea ahora.
_____________________________________________________________
3.
Yo / insistir en / mis amigos / jugar / conmigo.
_____________________________________________________________
4.
Mi madre / exigir / yo / recoger / la ropa en mi dormitorio.
_____________________________________________________________
Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
5.
Mi papá / dejar que / yo / usar / el coche.
_____________________________________________________________
6.
La lluvia / hacer imposible / nosotros / jugar / el partido.
_____________________________________________________________
7.
Ustedes / suplicar / los hijos / apagar / las luces.
_____________________________________________________________
8.
Ustedes / necesitar / nosotros / sacar / libros de la biblioteca.
_____________________________________________________________
9.
Mi colega / me / obligar a / yo / hacer / la presentación.
_____________________________________________________________
10.
El jefe / pedir / el empleado / explicar / el reporte.
______________________________________________________________
C.
Subjunctive vs. Indicative
Circle the appropriate verb in parenthesis. Look for subjunctive indicator
clues in the first independent clause that might make the second clause
subjunctive.
1.
Es importante que (escuchar / escuchemos) al programa.
2.
Yo tengo que (dormir / duerma) ocho horas para no estar cansado.
3.
Ellos desean que nosotros (trabajamos / trabajemos) en casa.
4.
Yo quiero (ir / vaya) a Busch Gardens con mi familia.
5.
Mi familia permite que yo (tengo / tenga) un perro chihuahua.
6.
Es importante (tener / tenga) buenas notas para entrar en la universidad.
7.
Es una regla que (tenemos / tengamos) que quitarnos los zapatos antes de
entrar en la casa.
8.
Mi mamá nos pide que (nos quitamos / nos quitemos) los zapatos antes de
entrar en la casa.
9.
Es necesario que (buscamos / busquemos) el gato perdido en el vecindario.
Spanish 3 Semester 2 Unit 4 Lesson 4
Independent Study: Focus on the Language
Study Sheet
10.
Es necesario (visitar / visite) a los abuelos en la casa de ancianos cada
domingo.
D. Translation
Write sentences imposing your will or influence on others. Remember that the 2nd
verb should go subjunctive if you use a subjunctive indicator. Notice in English the
subjunctive is usually expressed with an infinitive.
1.
I want you to go (that you go) with me to the store.
____________________________________________________________
2.
I need my friend to play the guitar at the party. (I need that my friend...)
____________________________________________________________
3.
I insist that you read the newspaper.
____________________________________________________________
4.
I beg them to work harder. (I beg that they work...)
____________________________________________________________
Verbs that take an Indirect Object have two acceptable ways they can be written.
Write both the infinitive and the subjunctive versions. Go back to your notes to
review if necessary.
5.
Let me play (jugar).
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________
6.
You can’t make me (obligar) sleep.
a. __________________________________________________________
b. __________________________________________________________