The Subjunctive
Overview of how to begin to use the subjunctive
Spanish has 3 moods
Indicative
expresses or indicates facts
all the tenses you have learned so far
Imperative
tells someone to do something
all the commands you have learned so far
Subjunctive
expresses a potential fact – stresses the speakers feelings about the fact
Present and past tenses (only the present is learned this year)
First you need to learn how to conjugate verbs in the Present Subjunctive
Note: You first go to the “yo” form of the present indicative tense and then use
the opposite endings. (5 verbs don’t end with “o” – ser, estar, dar, saber, ir)
The subjunctive is used very frequently in Spanish. It is used in the dependent clause
when you have a change of subject and the speaker express demands, wishes and regrets
Remember #1 you must have a change of subject and the subjunctive occurs after the
word “que”. Example: Espero que Juan estudie mucho.
Speaker says “espero” (you may use the present indicative or the future)
Clause begins with “que”
Subject of the clause is “Juan” – different from the first part of the sentence.
I want Fred to win the lottery. Quiero que Fred gane la lotería. (I want that Fred wins ....)
I insist that you come to my house. Insisto en que vengas a mi casa.
Terms which often require the use of the subjunctive
Impersonal
Will/influence
es bueno
aconsejar
es importante
desear
es mejor
importar
es necesario
insistir en
es malo
mandar
es urgente
necesitar
es extraño
pedir
es una lástima
preferir
es ridículo
prohibir
es terrible
querer
es triste
recomendar
rogar
Ojalá*
sugerir
emotion
alegrarse (de)
esperar
gustar
molestar
sentir
sorprender
temer
tener miedo (de)
*“May Allah grant” (Allah was the god of the Moors and this expression is used
frequently. It is always followed by the subjunctive.
Example: Ojalá que no llueva hoy. I hope (May Allah grant that it does not rain today!)
Ojalá never changes you only use this form.