Using the Subjunctive

Noun Clauses

There are four reasons to use the subjunctive:

1. If the person in the main clause is trying to get the person in the dependent clause to do something or is trying to keep him from doing something, you need the subjunctive in the dependent clause (after the “que”):

He suggests that you eat. -- Sugiere que comas.

He recommends that you eat. – Recomienda que comas.

. . . in most sentences where one person is trying do get another to do something, the sentence structures are different:

He wants you to eat. – Quiere que comas. Literally, “He wants that you eat.”

He asks you to eat. – Te pide que comas. Literally, “He asks that you eat.”

He prohibits you from eating. – Prohíbe que comas.

Literally, “He prohibits that you eat.”He permits you to eat. – Permite que comas.

Literally, “He permits that you eat.”

2. If there’s emotion in the main clause, you need the subjunctive in the dependent clause.

Juan is glad that you eat. – Juan se alegra de que comas.Juan is afraid that you eat. – Juan tiene miedo de que comas.Juan likes that you eat. -- A Juan le gusta que comas.It surprises Juan that you eat. – A Juan le sorprende que comas.

3. If doubt or denial is expressed in the main clause, you need the subjunctive in the dependent clause.

Juan doubts that you eat. – Juan duda que comas.Juan denies that you eat. – Juan niega que comas.Juan doesn’t believe that you eat. – Juan no cree que comas.It isn’t certain that you eat. – No es cierto que comas.

Conversely, if you take away doubt (express certainty or belief), you use the indicative. So if you say the opposite of each of the above sentences, you use the indicative in the dependent clause.

Juan doesn’t doubt that you eat. – Juan no duda que comes.Juan doesn’t deny that you eat. – Juan no niega que comes.Juan believes that you eat. – Juan cree que comes.

4. When you have (no) es + adjective + que, you need the subjunctive after the “que.”

It’s (not) necessary that you eat. – (No) Es necesario que comas.

It’s (not) important that you eat. – (No) Es importante que comas.

It’s (not) good that you eat. – (No) Es bueno que comas.

It’s (not) possible that you eat. – (No) Es posible que comas.

There’s an important exception to this rule. Remember rule #3, where you use subjunctive if you have doubt or denial and indicative if you express certainty or belief? Well, if your es + adjective + que expresses certainty or belief, you use indicative:

It’s certain that you eat. – Es cierto que comes.

It’s true that you eat. – Es verdad que comes.

It isn’t doubtful that you eat. – No es dudoso que comes.

Relative Clauses• When the antecedent mentioned in the main clause has

yet to be experienced by the speaker or is only hypothetical, the subordinate clause will be in the subjunctive.

*Busco un secretario que sepa español.(I am looking for a secretary that knows Spanish.)*Conozco a un secretario que sabe español.

*Aquí hay alguien que puede hacer el trabajo.(Here, there is someone that is able to do the work.)*Aquí no hay nadie que pueda hacer el trabajo.(Here, there is no one that is able to do the work.)

Cuando me gradúe ….

Escribe 2 frases:

- Por ejemplo:

Yo tomaré cursos que me ayude en mi profesión

- NOTA: el primer frase es en el futuro

Busco un compañero que…

• Escribe 2 frases:

- Por ejemplo:

Busco un compañero que me respete y sea guapo y alto.

Quiero una casa que…

Escribe 2 frases:

- Por ejemplo:

Quiero una casa que tenga un gran cubierta y esté en un buen comunidad.

Warm up 4.3¿Indicativo o subjuntivo?

¿Qué significa?

1. Es dudoso ….

2. Es posible ….

3. Es obvio ….

4. Es importante ….

5. Es evidente ….

6. No es cierto ….

7. No es verdad ….

Busco una persona que …

Espero que ella …

Dudo que nosotros ….

Es triste que el perro …

Es importante que …