The Spanish Subjunctive: An Introduction

(El subjuntivo español: una introducción)Quiero que Ud.

pase por el Control de Agricultura.

The Spanish SubjunctiveUntil now, you have been using verb tenses (present, preterit, and imperfect) in the indicative mood (or mode). The indicative is used to express real, definite, or factual actions or states of being.

In this chapter, you will learn about the subjunctive mode. It is used to express the hypothetical or subjective, such as a speaker’s attitudes, wishes, feelings, emotions, or doubts. Unlike the indicative, which states facts, the subjunctive describes reality subjectively, or refers to actions or states that are not yet reality at all (and maybe never will be).

The Spanish SubjunctiveNotice the following examples:

Creo que Luis va a Cartagena. I believe that Luis is going to

Cartagena. (Certainty: indicative)

No creo que Luis vaya a San Andrés. I don’t think that Luis is going to San

Andrés. (Uncertainty: subjunctive)

hablo como vivo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctiveBefore we learn usage, we must learn the forms we will be working with. Think of it as learning the mechanics or “nuts and bolts” before assembling the tool.

For all but six verbs in Spanish, we can apply a simple three-step process with which to construct the forms.

If we are careful to begin with this step, verbs with irregular stems and yo forms will be included and will not be considered irregular in the subjunctive:

conocer → conozco

The forms of the subjunctive

hablo como vivo

decir → digo

hacer → hagoperder → pierdoquerer → quiero

pedir → pido traer → traigooír → oigo tener → tengo

venir → vengover → veo

dormir → duermo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctive

habl com vivStep 2: Take off the final o of the yo form:

Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:For -ar verbs: Add -er verb endings.

hablhablhabl

hablhablhabl

eese

emoséisen

Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

o o o

The forms of the subjunctiveStep 3: Add the “opposite” endings:

For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.comcomcom

comcomcom

aasa

amosáisan

vivvivviv

vivvivviv

aasa

amosáisan

Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

recordar (o ue)recuerderecuerdesrecuerderecordemosrecordéisrecuerden

perder (e ie)pierdapierdaspierdaperdamosperdáispierdan

Remember, however, that stem changes do not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms.

The forms of the subjunctiveStem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem changes as in the present indicative.

dormir dormimosdormisteisdurmieron

dormídormistedurmió

u

duermaduermasduerma

durmamosdurmáisduerman

The forms of the subjunctiveYou may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The same changes occur in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the subjunctive.

These changes occur only in stem-changing -ir verbs.

mentir mentimosmentisteismintieron

mentímentistemintió

i

mientamientasmienta

mintamosmintáismientan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

sirvamossirváissirvan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

servir servimosservisteissirvieron

servíservistesirvió

i

sirvasirvassirva

-car c qu

The forms of the subjunctiveThe following spelling changes occur in all forms of the present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives end in -car, -gar, and -zar.

-gar g gu -zar z cbuscarbusquebusquesbusquebusquemosbusquéisbusquen

llegarlleguellegueslleguelleguemoslleguéislleguen

empezarempieceempiecesempieceempecemosempecéisempiecen

Dar Ir Ser Haber Estar Saber

dé, des, dé, demos, deis, denvaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan

sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, seanhaya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayanesté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, esténsepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan

There are only six truly irregular verbs, that is, verbs to which we cannot apply our three-step process.

The forms of the subjunctive

When listed in the following order, the initial letters of each verb form the acronym DISHES, a useful memory device.

Yo quiero que Juan vaya a la fiesta.

main clause subordinate clause

S1 V1 S2 V2

The usage of the subjunctiveThe subjunctive normally occurs in the subordinate clause of a two-part sentence (hence the term subjunctive) and generally is preceded by the relator que or an adverb such as cuando, donde, etc.Normally, the main clause has a different subject and verb than the subordinate clause.

S1 V1 S1 V2

The usage of the subjunctiveIf there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject of the main clause is the same as that of the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not used, especially with verbs of volition, such as querer, and verbs that express emotion.

Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta.

main clause subordinate clause

Although there are two different verbs . . .. . . there is only one subject.

In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .

S AV INF

The usage of the subjunctiveIf there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject of the main clause is the same as that of the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not used, especially with verbs of volition, such as querer, and verbs that express emotion.

Yo quiero ir a la fiesta.

. . . utilizing a subject, auxiliary verb, and infinitive.

1. Cause or prevention.

3. Falseness or unreality.2. Personal bias or emotion.

The usage of the subjunctiveThe verb or expression in the main clause determines whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative in the subordinate clause.

Three simple principles can be applied in almost every case.If the main clause expresses . . .

. . . the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.

Benjamín quiere que Antonio ponga la mesa.

Yo insisto en que tú hagas el trabajo.

Prohibimos que los clientes fumen en la oficina.

(Notice that que unites the two clauses.)

(indicative: pone)

(indicative: haces)

(indicative: fuman)

The usage of the subjunctive1. Cause or prevention: When the subject in the main

clause uses a verb that tends to cause or prevent something in the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is always used in the subordinate clause.

Causequerer insistir recomendar mandarpedir permitir aconsejar obligarnecesitar sugerir

ser importante, imprescindible, permisible, necesario, innecesario, preferible, mejor, urgente

Preventionimpedir prohibir no permitir

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that might be used to cause or prevent.

NOTE: It is in this area of Spanish that the subjunctive is most quickly falling into disuse, and is being replaced by the indicative.

Nevertheless, for instructional purposes, we will always use the subjunctive in these cases.

The usage of the subjunctive2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the

main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not always) used in the subordinate clause.

Me alegro de que tú saques buenas notas.

¡Qué lástima que ellos no sepan su número de teléfono!

Lamento que hayas perdido tu dinero.

Me gusta que Alfredo te ayude.

(indicative: sacas)

(indicative: saben)

(indicative: has perdido)

(indicative: ayuda)

The usage of the subjunctive2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the

main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not always) used in the subordinate clause.

Me alegro de sacar buenas notas.

Lamento haber perdido mi dinero.

Me gusta ayudarte.

The usage of the subjunctiveBut, again, just as with verbs of volition, if there is no change of subject, a single clause with infinitive is used rather than the subjunctive.

gustar alegrarse (de) apenarasombrar sorprender entristecertemer esperar sentir

ser triste ser una lástima ser maravillososer bueno, terrible, horroroso, fantástico, etc. estar alegre, contento, triste, etc.

ojalá

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that express personal bias or emotion.

Es verdad que los niños comen demasiado. Estoy seguro que Alonso tiene su pasaporte.

No creemos que vaya a nevar mañana. Mis amigos dudan que yo pueda pilotear el avión. No hay nadie que sepa la verdad.

The usage of the subjunctive3. Falseness or unreality: If the main clause

indicates that something is true or indeed exists, the indicative is used in the subordinate clause.

By contrast, if the main clause indicates doubt, falseness or unreality, the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.

No estoy seguro de tener mi pasaporte.

No creo saber la verdad.

Dudo poder pilotear el avión.

(No estoy seguro de que yo tenga mi pasaporte.)

(No creo que yo sepa la verdad.)

(Dudo que yo pueda pilotear el avión.)

The usage of the subjunctiveBut, once more, if there is no change of subject, one clause with an infinitive can be used in many cases.

Truthcreer estar seguro jurarafirmar confirmar asegurarser cierto ser indudable ser evidenteser obvio ser verdad ser (estar) claro

Falsenessno creer negar no estar segurodudar no poder creerser (im)posible ser (im)probableno ser verdad no ser cierto

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that express truth or falseness.

ESCAPA

en caso de quesin quecon tal (de) queantes (de) quepara quea menos que

(in case)(without, unless)(provided that)(before)(so that, in order that)(unless)

The usage of the subjunctiveFinally, the subjunctive is always used after the following phrases (and a few other similar ones). When listed in the order shown below, they form the acronym ESCAPA, a useful memory device.

FIN