Made easy
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Noun Clause
Adjective Clause
Adverb Clause
“If” Clause
Santa Claus …Just kidding.
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A clause is a part of a sentence with a
conjugated verb.
There can be either 1 or 2 clauses in a sentence.
My mother listens to Jazz.
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This is a main clause because there is no other
conjugated verb.
My mother feels that I need to practice more.
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The underlined phrase represents the main clause.
The second phrase, in red, represents the dependant
clause (the second conjugated verb).
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1. The main clause cannot have a subjunctive
conjugation.
2. The verb can be in any tense.
3. The tense of the main clause verb will
dictate the tense of the dependant clause verb.
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Just as it sounds the dependant clause
“depends” on the main clause situation.
If the main clause verb sequence is not a
subjunctive indicator then the dependant
clause verb (if there is one) will be an indicative
“regular” verb conjugation.
If the main clause verb sequence is a
subjunctive indicator then the dependant
clause verb must be subjunctive.
MAIN CLAUSE
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Present
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Present / Present Subjunctive
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Past / Past Subjunctive
Regular Present
Present Progressive
Present Perfect
Commands
Past
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DEPENDANT CLAUSE
Imperfect
Preterit
Past Perfect
Future
Conditional
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Present / Present Subjunctive
Past / Past Subjunctive
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These are the main clause verb indicators.
1. Wishing / wanting
2. Emotion
3. Impersonal expressions
4. Request
5. Doubt
6. Orders / Ojalá
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Mi hermano espera que me vaya.
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Espera – Emotion = Subjunctive Indicator
Vaya = subjunctive conjugation.
Mi hermano sabe que me voy.
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Sabe – Not in WEIRDO = Indicative “Regular” verb
conjugation.
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1. Write verb in yo form of present tense.
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Drop the –o.
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Add the opposite vowel.
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-ar – e
er/ir – a
Add the correct ending (if necessary)
Uncertainty, things that may not exist,
refutable statements
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An adjective clause simply means that there is
a noun after the verb in the main clause.
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In a noun clause, you have the verb + que +
verb.
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Example: Tengo un perro que come pizza.
Example: Quiero que tú vayas a la tienda.
You will almost never see past subjunctive
with these!
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Typically these words or phrases will require
subjunctive in an adjective clause.
1. indefinite articles – un, una, unos, unas
2. Verbs that indicate actions that haven’t
happened yet.
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Necesitar, Querer, Buscar
3. No verb negatives – refutable statements.
No hay nadie, no hay nada, no conocer a, etc
 Example: no hay nadie en esta clase que hable
inglés. This is subjunctive because it can be refuted.
There may actually be someone in the class who can
speak English.
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1. If you see Tener (even if it is with an
indefinite article)
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2. Hay (again even if it is with an indefinite
article).
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Example: Tengo un perro que come mucho.
The dog exists because you stated that you have one.
Hay un hombre que le conoce a Sra. Lorena.
There is a man. He exists.
3. Conocer – Same reason as above.
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Conozco a una mujer que quiere casarse conmigo.
If you know her, she exists.
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A conjunction is simply a word or set of words
that link the main clause to the dependant
clause.
Some are always subjunctive while others
depend on the main clause verb.
You can have both present and past
subjunctive.
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Para que – so that
A fin de que – in order that / so that
A menos que – unless
Antes de que – before
Con tal de que – provided that
En caso de que – in case
Sin que - without
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A menos que and con tal de que are followed by the
present subjunctive if the action of the dependent
clause occurs at the same time as the action in the
main clause.
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He’ll study math provided that you return his book to him.
Estudiará las matematicas con tal de que devuelves su
libro.
They are followed by the present perfect subjunctive
if the dependent action occurs before the action of
the main clause.
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He’ll study math provided that you have returned his book
to him.
Estudiará las matematicas con tal de que hayas devuelto su
libro.
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Como – how
Aunque – although / even though
Según – according to
Donde – where
Mientras – while
De manera que – so that
De modo que – so that
If you have subjunctive, the English translation
will be “ever”.
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However, wherever
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Después de que – after
Cuando – when (whenever)
Hasta que – until
Tan pronto como – as soon as
En cuanto – as soon as
Luego que – as soon as
Así que – as soon as
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1. If the main clause verb is in the future tense.
Future formation:
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2. If the verb is in present tense but represents
an impending action.
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Infinitive plus é, ás, á, emos, án
Can also be ir + a
Querer, pensar, etc
3. All commands
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Ella me dirá la verdad cuando regrese.
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She will tell me the truth whenever she returns.
 Since we don’t know if she will return, subjunctive is
used.
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Quiero irme tan pronto como él llegue.
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I want to leave as soon as he arrives.
 If he never arrives, you may not want to leave.
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Explíqueles la situación después de que entren.
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Explain the situation to them after they enter.
 If they never enter, you can’t explain it to them.
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This one is easy.
You can only have Past subjunctive after the
word “si” if a conditional tense verb is present.
Otherwise you must use regular tenses.
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Si yo tuviera mucho dinero, compraría una
casa grande.
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Yo te prestaría el DVD si supiera donde estaba.
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If I had a lot of money, I would buy a big house.
I would lend you the DVD if I knew where it was.
Si ella hubiera comprendido el subjuntivo,
habría recibido una buena nota.
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If she had understood the subjunctive, she would
have received a good grade.
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Si puedo ir, iré.
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Voy a la tienda si tengo tiempo suficiente.
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I’ll go to the store if I have enough time.
Haga la tarea si quieres.
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If I can go, I will.
Do the homework if you want.
You must have a past tense sentence to use an
If clause in subjunctive.