The Subjunctive

in Spanish

N.Jones
The Subjunctive
The subjunctive is an important difference between Spanish andlish Eng
and particular care must
be taken in order to use it correctly. It is generally described as a "mood" and not a tense. This
does not necessarily help the learner. However, this helps us to understand that in certain
instances the use of the subjunctiv
e gives some idea as to the feelings of the speaker regarding a
subject. Nevertheless, there are many instances where the subjunctive must be used and you
have to learn all of these. As the subjunctive has practically disappeared from English we cannot
rely on our own intuition as to when the subjunctive may be used. Basically, you have to sit down
and learn it.

Formation of the Subjunctive

Take the first person singular of the present tense, remove "o" the and add the appropriate
endings depending on whether it is an-ar verb or an-er/ -ir verb. That's all there is to it.

-ar -er -ir

compre beba reciba
compres bebas recibas
compre beba reciba
compremos bebamos recibamos
compréis bebáis recibáis
compren beban reciban

The above verbs are in the present subjunctive. The first thing to notice about them is the
endings. It is almost as if the verbs in the present subjunctive have a sudden identity-ar
crisis:
verbs use the endings of the-er verbs and-er and -ir verbs use the endings of-ar verbs.

Formation exercise
Work out the "I" form of the present subjunctive for these verbs. Firstly work out the first person
of the present tense and then work out the subjunctive.

Infinitive First person of the present tense First person of the present subjunctive
abrir
bailar
caer
salir
leer
poder
traer
aparecer
volver
NB Note that verbs such as llegar add"u"
a to keep the sound, e.g.
llegue.

Of course, as you would expect, some verbs are beyond all and
helpare completely irregular.
Here are some of the most frequent ones:
ir voy vaya
saber sé sepa
estar estoy esté
dar doy dé
ser soy sea
haber he haya
Use of the subjunctive
After "cuando" (or similar expressions) when referring to the future or
ssibility
po

Look at these sentences and translate them into English:

Cuandotenga 17 años voy a aprender a conducir.

Cuandovuelva dile que quiero hablar con él en seguida.
Cuandoseamayor quiero ser periodista.

You will have noticed that in the English

sentences when"
" is followed by a normal present tense.
This is not the case in the Spanish sentences. Instead of the normal present tense tengo,
forms, (
vuelve, soy) there are three unfamiliar forms:tenga, vuelva, sea. This form of the verb is the
subjunctive.

So, how do you use the subjunctive ? You cannot simply use it every time you come across
cuando. Look at these sentences for example:

Cuando erapequeña me gustaba coleccionar sellos.

Cuando hacebuen tiempo vamos a la piscina todos los días.
Cuando cumplílos 16 años me regalaron una moto.

The difference between these sentences and the subjunctive sentences is that the ones
immediately above do not use the present subjunctive and they refer to events that do happen
on a regular basis or that did
happen or have happened.

When I was small I liked ...

When the weather is good we go ...
When I reached the age of 16 they gave me ...

So, the sentences that do use the present subjunctive refer to events that will happen or that
have not yet happened.

NB."Hasta que"meaning"until" works in exactly the same way as "cuando".

Exercise
Complete the following sentences with the correct part of the present subjunctive.

1. Podremos hacerlo cuando (hacer) .................... sol.

2. Podremos hacerlo cuando
(volver) .................... mi padre.
3. Podremos hacerlo cuando (venir) .................... mis amigos.
4. Cuando (estar) .................... en Alemania , no dejes deescribirnos.
5. Cuando (detenerse) .................... el autocar, voy a bajar.
6. No podré dormir hasta que mis padres (llegar).................... .
7. No puedo hacer nada hasta que tú (salir) .................... de aquí.
8. Cuando (cumplir) .................... los 18 años, puedes hacer lo que
quieras.
9. Cuando (descubrir) .....
............... lo que has hecho van a estar furiosos contigo.
10. Cuando (aparecer) .................... tu hermano, dile que me gustaría
hablar con él.
LUZ CASAL ± Piensa en mí

Si tienes un hondo penar, piensa en .mí

Si tienes ganas de llorar, piensa en. mí
Yaves que venero tu imagen divina
,
tu párvula boca que siendo ntaniña
me enseñó a pecar.

Piensa en mí cuando ____________________,

cuando ____________________,
también piensa en mí
.
Cuando ____________________,
quitarme la vida, no lo quiero para nada,
para nada me sirve sín tí.

Piensa en mí cuando ________________

____,
cuando ____________________,,
también piensa en mí,
cuando ____________________,
quitarme la vida, no lo quiero para nada,
para nada me sirve sin tí.

Piensa en mí cuando ____________________,

cuando ____________________,
también piensa en mí,
cuando ____________________,
quitarme la vida, para nada, para nada
me sirve sin ti.
The subjunctive after verbs of wanting and requesting
Can you see what these sentences have in common ?

¿ Quieres que yo te lave esto ?

Quiero que usted me devuelva mi dinero.
Quiere que me ayudes

You probably saw that they are all about wanting other people to do things. This is a useful way of
asking people whether they want things done and of getting people to do things without being
too blunt.

Now look at theseexamples and say what happens to the second verb in each sentence:

Quiero que usted repare esto.

I want you to repare this.
Quiero que tú veas la ciudad.
I want you to see the town.
Quiero que limpies tus zapatos.
I want you to clean your shoe
s.
Queremos que hables español.
We want you to speak Spanish.

As you can see, each of the second verbsque

hasin front and is in thepresent subjunctive.

Exercise 1
Express your wishes by changing these statements of what a friend has not donestatements
into
of what you wish your friend would do. Write down the new statements, for example:

No has visitado Sitges. Quiero que visites Sitges.

No has visto la catedral. Quiero que veas la catedral.

1. No has hablado español.

2. No has visitado mi aís.
p
3. No has comido turrón.
4. No has subido a la cumbre.
5. No has visto los cuadros.
6. No has escrito a tus padres.
7. No has bebido horchata.

Exercise 2
Show that you can express wishes about other people by changing these statements of what
people must do into statements of what you wish they would do. Write down the new
statements, for example:

Creo que él tiene que lavar el coche.

Quiero que él lave el coche.

Nos parece que el tendero tiene que cambiar la camiseta.

Queremos que el tendero ca
mbie la camiseta.
1. Me parece que él tiene que hacer sus excusas.
2. Creo que usted tiene que devolver mi dinero.
3. Nos parece que nuestro profesor tiene que hablar más despacio.
4. Creemos que los chicos tienen que encontrarnos a las seis.
5. El opinaque nosotros tenemos que hablar español.
6. El cree que yo tengo que escribirle primero.
7. Ellos creen que nosotros tenemos que contestar cuanto antes.
8. A ti te parece que yo tengo que volver antes de medianoche.

The following expressions of good wishe

s are really the second halves of longer sentences. Can
you guess what the longer sentences were ?

¡ Que lo pases bien !

Have a good time
¡ Que te diviertas !
Enjoy yourself !

The original sentences were:

Quiero que lo pases bien.

Quiero quete diviertas.

This manner of giving good wishes is extremely common in Spanish.

Exercise- Now you can write what these sentences mean, and what the original sentences were:

1. ¡ Que aproveches tu estancia en España !

2. ¡ Que tengas buena suerte !
3. ¡ Que todo te vaya bien !
4. ¡ Que tengas buen viaje !
5. ¡ Que nos veamos el año que viene !
6. ¡ Que Dios nos ayude !
Sufre como yo - Albert Plá

Yo quiero que tú __________ lo que yo sufro

y aprenderé a rezar para lograrlo
yo quiero que te __________ tan inútil
como un vaso sin whisky entre las manos
y que __________ en tu pecho
el corazón
como si __________ de otro
y te __________.

yo te deseo la muerte
donde tú __________
y aprenderé a rezar para lograrlo

yo quiero que tú __________

lo que yo sufro
y aprenderé a rezar para lograrlo

Yo quiero que te __________

a cada hora
como un preso aferrado
a su ventana
y que te __________ las piedras de la calle
el único paisaje de tus ojos.

yo te deseo la muerte
donde tu __________
por dios que y aprenderé a rezar para lograrlo
The Subjunctive - exercise
Translate the following sentences into Spanish:

1. I want you to open the window.

2. I want to buy a car.

3. I don' t want him to go out.

4. I don' t want them to hear me.

5. I want to go to the beach with you.

6. He wants me to help him.

7. He wants to go to the party.

8. My exchange partner wants me to do

her English homework.

9. They want to go on holiday with us.

10. Do you want me to help you?

The s ubjunctive and verbs of emotion
Here is another example of the use of the subjunctive:

Mis padres esperan que me quede en el instituto el año

que viene.
A mis profesores les gusta que trabaje.
A mi tutor le gusta que sea puntual.

All these sentences talk about the hopes, wishes, desires, likes and fears of one person or a group
of people, with regard to the actions of another person or grouppeople.
of Here are some
common examples:

Siento que no vengas.

Me da pena que lo digas.
¿ Te alegras de que se vaya ?

If you look at the verbs which are followed by a present subjunctive, you will see that they all have
certain things in common. Here they are:

.... esperan que ....

.... les gusta que ....
.... quieren que ....
.... le gusta que ....
Temo que ....
Siento que ....
Me da pena que ....
¿ Te alegras de que ....
No me avergüenzo de que ....
Quiero que ....
Estar enojado de que ….

They all have the following in common:

a. They are all in the present tense.

b. They are all followed by
que.
c. They all convey to the reader or listener an attitude.

These verbs are usually referred to "verbs

as of emotion" because they te
ll us about people's
feelings with regard to events and actions. And verbs of emotion with regard to the actions of
another person or group of people must be followed by a subjunctive.

Exercise 1
When considering your future, remember that other peoplevehaan interest too. Can you
complete these sentences so that they are appropriate for you ?

1. Mis padres esperan que ....

2. Mi madre/madrastra quiere que ....
3. Mi tutor/a quiere que ....
4. Mis profesores esperan que ....
5. Mi profesor de español esp
era que ....
Exercise 2
For each of the following by putting the verb in brackets into the correct form of the subjunctive.

1. Me resulta completamente indiferente que [venir

- tú] o no.
2. ¿ No te extraña que nunca [salir
- ella] de casa ?
3. Le enfadaque su hijo no [estudiar].
4. Siento que no [estar- tú] contenta aquí.
5. Tienen miedo de que [ir
- nosotros] a descubrir su secreto.
6. Mi profesor de español no quiere que [dejar
- yo] de estudiarlo.
7. No le gusta que [salir
- yo] contigo.
8. Esperanque sus padres les [poder
- ellos] ayudar con susdeberes.
9. Estoy muy contento de que te [haber
- ellos] a la fiesta.
10. Mis padres esperan que no [suspender
- yo] ninguna asignatura.
Si ...
Complete the following sentences
saying what you would do. You will need
o use
t the conditional
tense.

1. Si tuviera mucho dinero ...

2. Si fuera primer/a ministro/a ...

3. Si mi hada madrina me concediera tres deseos ...

4. Si pudiera cambiar algo de mi vida ...

5. Si fuera director/a de

6. Si pudierahacer algo para mejorar mis clases de español...

7. Si fuese posible viajar en el tiempo ...

8. Si tuviera que definir la felicidad ...

9. Si descubriera que mi mejor amigo/a fuera drogadicto/a ...

10. Si tuviera que organizar una excursión para

i grupo
m de español ...
The imperfect subjunctive - another use for it !!!
Another use for the imperfect subjunctive is to say sentences along the lines
"What
of if ... ?", e.g.
And what if it were to rain = ¿ Y si lloviera ?

Exercise

Translate the following sentences into Spanish:

1. What if my parents didn't want me ?

2. What if the doctor advised them to get rid of me ?

3. What if my mother were worried about me ?

4. What if they decided to kill me ?

5. What if I were imagining itlla?

6. What if it were all a bad dream ?

7. What if they loved me after all ?

8. What if i was born the most beautiful baby in the world ?

9. What if they bought me a Ferrari F40 for my 18th birthday ?

Sequence of tens es in the subjunctive
Only specific combinations of tenses are permitted in the subjunctive. The most common
combinations in every day speech are present indicative followed by present subjunctive; and the
past tenses, with the exception of the perfect ten
se, are almost always followed by an imperfect
or pluperfect subjunctive. The following chart illustrates the most expected combinations:

Indicative tense of main verb Subjunctive tenses permissible in

dependent clause
Present present subjunctive or perfect
future subjunctive
Imperatives
Perfect
Future perfect
Imperfect Imperfect subjunctive or pluperfect
Preterite subjunctive
Conditional
Pluperfect
Perfect conditional
The subjunctive in main clauses (i.e. before "que ")
There are a few instances when the subjunctive will appear in the main clause before "que". We
have already seen this in the imperative. The other instances are:

1. Orders and wishes:

¡ Que te diviertas !
Have a good time !
Que no te retrases para la cena esta noche.
Don't be late for dinner tonight

2. Preceded byojalá (I hope - when followed by the present subjunctive - If only - when
followed by the imperfect subjunctive) and quién (If only - when followed by the imperfect
subjunctive).Así, used jokingly, paraodies a typical gypsy curse:

¡ Ojalá fuera millonario !

If only I were a millionaire.
¡ Quién fuera millonario !
If only I were a millionaire.
¡ Ojalá no llueva !
I hope it doesn't rain !
¡ Así se te pegue mi catarro !
I hope you get my co ld !

3. Subjunctive after words meaning "perhaps", "possibly"

There are several commonly used words meaning "perhaps":
acaso, tal vez, quizá(s), a lo mejor.

i. Tal vez and quizá(s) may be used with either the subjunctive or the indicative. However, it
is important to remember that if the event is still in the future only the future indicative or the
present subjunctive may be used, not the present indicative:

Quizá venga / vendrá mañana

Perhaps she'll come tomorrow

ii. Acaso followed by the subjunctiveis rather literary in the meaning "perhaps": Acaso sea
verdad que ... = Perhaps it is true that ... . However, it is very common in all styles followed by the
indicative, particularly in order to add a sarcastic note to questions:

¿ Acaso no saben los críticos que esta novela la escribí cuando tenía dieciséis años ?
Don't the critics know that I wrote this novel when was
I sixteen ?

iii. A lo mejor does not take the subjunctive. Furthermore it is largely confined to spoken
language:

A lo mejor se ha olvidado de ella.

Maybe he has forgotten her.

4. Some common phrases

which are un explainable! You
just have to learn them!!!

i. "O sea que" meaning "in other words":

Ha dicho que tiene que trabajar, o sea que no quiere venir.
He said he had to work, in other words he doesn't want to come.

ii. In the phrases que

" yo sepa / que yo recuerde" meaning "as far as I know / remember":
Que yo recuerde es la primera vez que le ha visto.
As far as I remember it's the first time I've seen him.

¿ Ha llegado Pepe ? No que yo sepa.

Has Pepe arrived ? Not as far as I know.

iii. A few miscellaneous phrases:

Acabáramos
Now I see what you're getting at.
Otro gallo nos cantara si le hubiéramos hecho caso
It would have been another story if we had listened to him
¡ Cómo tiras el dinero ! Ni que fueras millonario ...
The way you throw money about anyone would think you were a millionaire

Exercise

Translate the following sentences into Spanish:

1. Don't forget to write !

2. Leave me alone !

3. I hope they can come to the

party !

4. I hope you break your leg !

5. If only all my friends were as generous as you !

6. Perhaps they will return the

magazinetomorrow.

7. Perhaps we can visit the art gallery tomorrow.

8. She says she's got a headache, in other words she won't

be coming to the cinema tonight.

9. As far as I remember he was tall.

10. As far as I know there will be a train strike next week.

Polite commands (usted / ustedes) + negative commands
ALLpolite commands and all negative commands innish
Spa use the subjunctive:

Exercise- Look at the road signs below. Select the correct verb and make the correct POLITE
negative command.

1. (girar) ____________________ a la izquierda. = No gire a la derecha.

2. (girar) ____________________ a la derecha

.

3. (adelantar) ____________________ aquí.

4. (aparacar) ____________________ aquí.

5. (parar) ____________________ aquí.

Exercise- Translate the following into Spanish. They all include formal or negative commands
relating to job interview technique.

a) Attend the interview on time. (acudir)

b) Avoid drinking coffee. (evitar)

c) Do not speak without thinking. (hablar)

d) Leave intervals before responding. (dejar)

e) Do not contradict yourself. (contradecirse)

f) Mention your hobbies briefly. (mencionar)

g) Do not forget to sayhank

t you for the interview. (olvidar)
The Subjunctive - Summary Sheet

The subjunctive is used in the following instances:

1. After "cuando", "hasta que", "en cuanto" when refering to the future or possibility.

2. After "querer que" (Also "preferir ue",

q "persuadir que", "rogar que", "pedir que")

3. After verbs of emotion e.g. Estoy contento de que estés aquí

4. Expressions of evaluation e.g. Es justo que haya perdido / Es inútil que les pidamos más

5. Verbs expressing a command e.g. Te prohíbo

e salgas
qu

6. After expressions and verbs expressing doubt e.g. Es posible que me lo dé / Dudo que
venga / No es seguro que lo haya dicho

7. After verbs of saying, thinking and believing when used negatively e.g No creo que sea
verdad

8. After "que" whenthe antecedent is negative or uncertain e.g. Busco un médico que sepa
acupunctura / No hay nadie que piense como yo

9. After superlatives (+ único, último, primero) e.g. Es el mejor cantante que hayamos oído

10. After certain subordinators e.g. "para que

" / "a menos que" / "no es que" etc.

10. After expressions such as "comoquiera que" (however), "dondequiera que" (wherever),
"comoquiera que" (however), etc. e.g. Cuandoquiera que te sientas solo, llámame.

11. Conditional sentences beginning with "if".

(Imperfect subjunctive only) e.g. Si fuera rico,
viajaría por el mundo.

12. Usted(es) commands

13. Negative commands

14. After "quizá(s)", "tal vez", "acaso" (if doubt exists)

15. After "Ojalá" (+ present subjunctive = I hope ...)

(+ imperfect subjunctive = If only ...)
The Subjunctive in brief
Subjunctive
Read through each carto on + highlight the examples of the subjunctive. You must then decide why the subjunctive is used. Which of the WEIRD O
categories applies?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subjunctive
Read through the cartoon + highlight the examples of the
subjunctive. You must then decide why the subjunctive is
used. Which of the WEIRD O categories applies?
______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________
The Subjunctive - Revision Exercises
Hay que com
pletar las siguientes frases:

1. Estoy contento de que nos lo .......... pedido. (Haber)

2. No es seguro que .......... acompañarnos. (Querer)
3. Siento que (vosotros) .......... que iros tan pronto. (tener)
4. Es preciso que nos .......... . (Arrepentir)
5. Prefiero .......... aquí hasta que (él) .......... . (Quedarse
- Llegar)
6. Es posible que lo (ella) .......... mañana por la mañana. (Hacer)
7. Me alegro mucho de que (tú) .......... tenido tanta suerte. (Haber)
8. ¿ Quieres que yo te .......... lo equ
haría ? (Decir)
9. Dudo que .........., aunque el cielo está bastante negro. (Llover)
10. No digo que (él) .......... tan inteligente como tú. (Ser)

Hay que escribir las frases que siguen en castellano:

1. The doctor doesn't want them to go out.
2. If you had written to us sooner, we should have been able to help you.
3. Come when you like
- We're always in.
4. It's odd that he has not rung.
5. We are glad that you can come.
6. They asked me to come and see you.
7. He told me to come and see you.
8. It's possible that the train hasn't left yet.
9. If only my brother were here.
10. Stay here until your aunt and uncle arrive.

Hay que completar las frases que siguen:

1. Es probable que Juan .......... esta noche. (Llegar)
2. Es mejor que ustedes .........
. a casa. (Volver)
3. Puede que todos .......... esperándonos en el hotel. (Estar)
4. Me han dicho que es posible que yo .......... que quedarme
aquí. (Tener)
5. Hace falta que tú .......... a la farmacia. (Ir)
6. Más vale que vosotros .......... ahora.
(salir)
7. No es cierto que mis padres lo .......... hecho. (Haber)
8. Mi profesor siempre dice que es preciso que yo .......... mucho.
(Trabajar)
9. Creo que es imposible que ellos me .......... visto. (Haber)
10. ¿ Es posible que nosotros .......... ado
lleg a París ? (Haber)