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Brief Description

Setup Words

Constructing a Sentence

Verb Formation

Final Thoughts

Practice

What is “subjunctive”?The present subjunctive is a “mood” in Spanish. It is used to

express uncertainty, doubt, emotional reaction, or future actions. The subjunctive conjugation of a verb is usually used in the second part of a sentence. For example, I may say, “I

want you to study.” You may or may not do it, so the word “to study” would be conjugated in the present subjunctive. The subjunctive is the opposite of the indicative mood, which has

all of the tenses that you already know. The indicative is used to express what is completely true or false, what is

clear, or what is concrete. This module is only an introduction to the concept of the subjunctive. Its uses are vast!

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Setup Words

• querer (ie) = to want

• sugerir (ie) = to suggest

• recomendar (ie) = to recommend

• insistir en = to insist

• esperar = to hope

• ojalá que = hopefully / it’s hopeful

These words, used in the first clause of a sentence, set up the use of the subjunctive in the second clause. What is said after these words may or may not happen, so the conjugation of the second verb is not the present tense as you know it.

Setup WordsI may want you to do something, but you may not do it.

I may suggest that you read the rest of this, but…

Your parents might recommend that you wash the dishes right away, but you

might not do it at all.

A friend may insist that you go with him, but you might not want to go.

You might hope that something happens, but it may not happen.

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Helpful Links

ColbyThis site is AWESOME! It even has sound. It has the present subjunctive and so many more topics for practice.

Spaleon.comThis site can also be used for other verb tenses.

BowdoinLook for “subjuntivo”. There are many other goodexercises.

Quia.comUnder “subcategory”, look for “subjunctive” or “subjuntivo”.

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Subjunctive in Context

To set up the subjunctive there are threethings that must be in the sentence.

1. One of the setup words

2. The word “que”

3. A subject change

Subjunctive in Context

Sugerimos que ellos duerman más.

Setup word:

we suggest que:

that

ellos:

subject change

“duerman” = they sleep

This is the subjunctive conjugation. They may or may not do it, even though we suggest that they do it.

Subjunctive in Context

Recomiendo que tú hagas la tarea.

Setup word:

I recommend que:

that

tú:

subject change

“hagas” = you do

This is the subjunctive conjugation. You may or may not do it, even though I recommend that you do it.

Subjunctive in Context

Ella quiere que yo viva en España.

Setup word:

she wants que:

that

yo:

subject change

“viva” = I live (subjunctive)

I may or may not do it, even though she wants me to. Note: In English this would be, “She wants me to live in Spain. In Spanish the infinitive is not used, even though it sounds like it should be.

Subjunctive in ContextIn the examples that you see on the next slide, remember that the subjunctive is used in the second half because it may or may not happen. If this sounds strange to you, it’s because we don’t recognize the present subjunctive in our spoken English.

Please also remember that the examples that use “querer” are going to sound different in their English translations than the others. Consider the following example.

I want you to go to the store.

Many students want to say: Te quiero ir a la tienda.

The right translation is: Quiero que vayas a la tienda.

The red example is not Spanish grammar, even though it sounds or looks like it should be. Use the subjunctive after querer with que and a subject change.

Subjunctive in ContextOjalá que entiendas bien esta lección.

(Hopefully you understand this lesson.)

Insistimos en que vosotros regreséis a tiempo.

(We insist that you all come back on time.)

Mi madre quiere que pongamos la mesa.

(My want wants us to set the table.)

¿Sugieres que yo se lo dé a ellos?

(Do you suggest that I give it to them?)

¿Esperáis que los Brown ganen el Super Bowl?

(Do you guys hope that the Browns win the Super Bowl?)

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Forming the SubjunctiveVerb Formation Menu

The Basics

Stem Changing Verbs

Irregular Verbs

Spelling Changes

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Forming the SubjunctiveIn order to conjugate a verb in the present subjunctive, you have to know well the conjugations of the present indicative (the present tense that you already know).

First: Use the “yo” form of the verb in the present tense.

hablo como vivo

Next: Drop the ‘o’

habl_ com_ viv_

Last: Add an opposite ending. This means for -ar verbs, use -er endings, and for -er/-ir verbs, use -ar endings.

hable coma viva

Forming the SubjunctiveSubjunctive Verb Endings

-ar Verbs

-e -emos

-es -éis

-e -en

-er Verbs

-a -amos

-as -áis

-a -an

-ir Verbs

-a -amos

-as -áis

-a -an

Forming the SubjunctiveExamples of Regular Verbs

caminar

camine caminemos

camines caminéis

camine caminen

compartir

comparta compartamos

compartas compartáis

comparta compartan

comprender

comprenda comprendamos

comprendas comprendáis

comprenda comparendan

Forming the SubjunctiveIt doesn’t really mater what the “yo” form of the present is. If there is a stem change or other spelling change in it, the change will be seen in the subjunctive. Consider the following.

Present Indicative

me acuesto

digo

me divierto

duermo

entiendo

pongo

prefiero

río

vengo

Present Subjunctive

me acueste

diga

me divierta

duerma

entienda

ponga

prefiera

ría

venga

Infinitive

acostarse (ue)

decir

divertirse (ie)

dormir (ue)

entender (ie)

poner

preferir (ie)

reírse (i)

venir

Verb Menu

Forming the Subjunctive-ar and -er stem changing verbs still have no stem change for nosotros and vosotros in the present subjunctive. However, certain -ir verbs do. Note the following.

acostarse (ue)

me acueste

te acuestes

se acueste

nos acostemos

os acostéis

se acuesten

preferir (ie / i)

prefiera

prefieras

prefiera

prefirimos

prefiráis

prefieran

poder (ue)

pueda

puedas

pueda

podamos

podáis

puedan

Forming the SubjunctiveA note about -ir verbs

Stem changing verbs ending in -ir have multiple stem changes. They are the only verbs that have stem changes in the preterit and present participle. Whenever you see two choices after an infinitive the first is for the present indicative and four conjugations of the subjunctive. The second is for the nosotros / vosotros form of the subjunctive, the preterit, and the present participle. See the following examples.

present indicative

me divierto nos divertimos

te diviertes os divertís

se divierte se divierten

preterit

me divertí nos divertimos

te divertiste os divertisteis

se divirtió se divirtieron

present subjunctive

me divierta nos divirtamos

te diviertas os divirtáis

se divierta se divierten

present participle

divirtiendo

divertirse (ie / i)

Forming the SubjunctiveHere are some other -ir stem changing verbs that have changes in the present indicative, present subjunctive, preterit, and present participle.

dormir (ue / u) = to sleep

medir (i / i) = to measure

mentir (ie / i) = to lie

morir (ue / u) = to die

pedir (i / i) = to aks for

preferir (ie / i) = to prefer

reírse (i / i) = to laugh

servir (i / i) = to serve

vestirse (i / i) = to get dressed

Verb Menu

Forming the SubjunctiveSpelling Changes for Pronunciation

Words ending with -gar / -car / -zar will have spelling changes in the present subjunctive in order to maintain pronunciation.

For example, what is the subjunctive of “pagar”?

If you follow the earlier steps, you would say “page”.

The problem with that is that the hard “G” sound is lost. The word should sound like “PA-gay”. The combination of “ge” makes it “PA-hey”.

A similar problem arises with -car verbs. “ce” sound like “say”, but the sound should be “kay”.

Forming the SubjunctiveSpelling Changes for Pronunciation

To solve this problem verbs that end with -gar have “gue” in their endings. You may remember a similar change in the first conjugation of the preterit. However, in the subjunctive the spelling change is throughout all of the conjugations.

pagar

pague paguemos

pagues paguéis

pague paguen

Forming the SubjunctiveSpelling Changes for Pronunciation

To solve this problem with -car verbs “que” is in their endings. Again, you may remember a similar change in the first conjugation of the preterit. However, in the subjunctive the spelling change is throughout all of the conjugations.

clasificar

clasifique clasifiquemos

clasifiques clasifiquéis

clasifique clasifiquen

Forming the SubjunctiveSpelling Changes for Pronunciation

The problem with -zar verbs is that the letters “ze” are never combined in Spanish. Whenever that happens, the z changes to c.

bostezar

bostece bostecemos

bosteces bostecéis

bostece bostecenVerb Menu

Forming the SubjunctiveThe following verbs are irregular in the subjunctive. Only the “yo” form of the subjunctive is shown, but the other conjugations will follow the same pattern as the regular verbs.

Present Indicative

doy

estoy

he

voy

sé

soy

Present Subjunctive

dé

esté

haya

vaya

sepa

sea

Infinitive

dar

estar

haber

ir

saber

serVerb Menu

Things to Keep in MindIf there is no subject change, then there is no subjunctive.

I want to go with you. Quiero ir contigo.

I want you to go with me. Quiero que vayas conmigo.

The second example uses the subjunctive because there is a subject change.

I can, I should, I need to, I have to, I want to, I’m going to, etc.

All of these are followed by an infinitive in Spanish if there is no subject change.

Don’t over think this. You knew how to do this in Spanish I.

Things to Keep in MindIf there is no subject change, then there is no subjunctive.

Using a phrase with “hope” in it can be tricky.

Ellos esperan que tú hagas bien. They hope that you do well. (subjunctive)

Ellos esperan que yo haga bien. They hope that I do well. (subjunctive)

How would you say, “They hope that they do well.”?

There’s no subject change, right? Could the same sentence be said in English, “They hope to do well.”?

They hope that they do well. = Ellos esperan hacer bien. (infinitive)

Things to Keep in MindThere is no future subjunctive.

Again, using esperar (to hope) or ojalá (hopefully) can be tricky.

Ella espera que vengan. She hopes that they (will) come. (subjunctive)

Ojalá que él aprenda. Hopefully he (will) learn. (subjunctive)

Even though in English we would use the future tense, it isn’t used in these cases in Spanish. You can see that the two sentences above have two possible translations. Basically, if everything else tells you that you should use the subjunctive (setup verb / que / subject change) you should use it. But don’t forget...

We hope that we’ll be able to go. Esperamos poder ir. (infinitive)

If there is no subject change, don’t use the subjunctive.

Things to Keep in MindBe careful with “querer”.

As mentioned on previous slides, when a subjunctive sentence that uses “querer” is translated into English, the subjunctive verb is an infinitive. This confuses many students. In fact, it’s probably the #1 mistake that students make with the subjunctive. Note the following.

Quiero que ellos estudien más. I want them to study more.

Queremos que los niños se acuesten ahora. We want the kids to go to bed now.

¿Queréis que yo os lo dé? Do you guys want me to give it to you?

Sus padres quieren que ella saque la basura. Her parents want her to take out the trash.

Mi mamá quiere que sepamos la verdad. My mom wants us to know the truth.

Él quiere que tú seas simpático. He wants you to be nice.

Ellos no quieren que ella vaya. They don’t want her to go.

Mi papá quiere que yo ponga la mesa. My dad wants me to set the table.

Things to Keep in MindBe careful with “querer”.

It may help to think that you’re saying, “I want that they study.” or “We want that the kids go to bed.” It sounds a little funny, but it may keep you from using the infinitive when the subjunctive should be used.

The examples below are WRONG. I’m showing them to you so that you can see how, to many, it makes sense to write sentences this way.

Los quiero estuiar. (I want them to study.)

Queremos los niños asostrarse. (We want the kids to go to bed.)

¿Me queréis dároslo? (Do you guys want me to give it to you?

These sentences are right: Quiero que ellos estudien.

Queremos que los niños se acuesten.

¿Queréis que yo os lo dé?

Things to Keep in MindBe careful with “querer”.

It’s not always wrong to use an infinitive after querer.

Remember: If there is no subject change, there is no subjunctive.

I want to call them. Quiero llamarlos.

She wants to come. Ella quiere venir.

They want to have fun. Ellos quieren divertirse.

We want to laugh. Queremos reírnos

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