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How to form the present subjunctive
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Yo form –o, + opposite ending
Stem-changing –ar, -er verbs
 stem-changing in all forms except the nosotros and vosotros.
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Stem-changing –ir verbs
 stem-changing in all forms including the nosotros and vosotros, where e
changes to i and o to u.
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Verbs ending in –car, -gar, -zar have a spelling change in all forms.
 –car changes to -que; -gar to -gue; -zar to -ce.
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Some verbs are irregular, just as they are in formal commands.
 These verbs are dar, ir, ser, haber, estar, saber
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Some verbs have spelling changes in their yo forms, which in turn
causes a spelling change in all forms of the subjunctive.
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-cer/cir—reducir
-ger/gir—proteger
-guir—seguir
-uir—instituir
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There must be a change in subject and an expression
that triggers the subjunctive.
Subject 1 + present indicative (something that
triggers the subjunctive) + que + subject 2 + present
subjunctive.
Example: Es necesario que ustedes protejan el medio
ambiente.
When there is no change in subject, “que” is not used
and the second verb is in the infinitive.
Example: Es necesario proteger el medio ambiente.
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Wish, want, will
Emotion
Impersonal expressions
Request, recommend
Doubt, denial,
Ojalá
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Subjunctive is used with verbs that express wishes.
There must be a subject change and “que” must be
used. When there is no subject change, the infinitive is
used and there is no “que”
dejar exigir insistir en oponerse a prohibir rogar (o->ue) suplicar recomendar (e->ie) –
aconsejar –
desear –
esperar –
mandar –
pedir (e-> i) –
permitir –
querer (e->ie) sugerir (e->ie) –
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Me
Te
Le
Nos
Os
Les
alegrar
asustar
enojar
procupar
sorprender
gustar
molestar
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alegrarse de
asustarse de
enojarse de
preocuparse de
esperar
ojalá
temer
tener miedo de
sentir
estar + feeling + de
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Es necesario
Es importante
Es bueno
Es malo
Es mejor
Es (im)probable
Es (im)posible
Es interesante
Es una lástima
Es peligroso
Es raro
Es ridículo
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Whether there is a change in subject or not, some expressions trigger the
subjunctive:
dudar
no creer
negar (e—ie)
no es cierto
no es seguro
no es verdad
no estar seguro
quizá(s)/tal vez/acaso
(*At the
beginning of a sentence.)
Whether there is a change in subject or not, some expressions trigger the
indicative:
no dudar
creer
no negar (e—ie)
es cierto
es seguro
es verdad
estar seguro
quizá(s)/tal vez/acaso
(*At the end
of a ssentence.)
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When there is a change in subject, some conjunctions trigger
the present subjunctive only when there is doubt expressed.
If something is expressed as a routine activity in the
present, or an activity in the past, then it triggers the
indicative and not the subjunctive.
If something is expressed as a command, a future activity, or
an activity contingent on another, then the subjunctive is
used.
If there is no change in subject, then the infinitive is used
with después de and hasta. These conjunctions are:
cuando
en cuanto
después de que
tan pronto como
hasta que
aunque
mientras
a menos que
 *con tal de que
 *en caso de que
 *para que
 *antes de que
(*When there is no change of subject, drop the que
and use the infinitive)
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If you want to say that something or someone does not exist, the subjunctive is used.
Expressions that trigger the subjunctive:
No hay ... que No hay nada que ...
No hay ningún/ninguna que
No hay nadie que ...
Words and expressions that trigger the subjunctive if you are uncertain of existence.
Buscar/Querer/Necesitar ... que
(if these verbs are followed by “the”, there is no doubt of existence and the indicative is
used.)
¿Hay algo/alguien que ...?
¿Conoces a alguien que ...?
¿Tienes algo que ...?
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How to form the imperfect subjunctive
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Ellos/ellas/ustedes form of the preterite
Drop the –ron
Add endings
ra
ras
ra
´ramos
rais
ran
When to use
same as the present subjunctive, but speaking of the
past
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(if + present tense) + future tense
(if + imperfect subjunctive) + conditional
Examples:
Si voy a la tienda, compraré pan.
Si fuera a la tienda, compraría pan.