The Subjunctive

The Subjunctive

Understanding the Subjunctive

  • The subjunctive is a mood used in Spanish to talk about various states of unreality such as doubt, possibility, necessity, or action that hasn’t yet occurred.
  • It differs from the indicative which is used to express statements of fact.

Regular Verb Conjugation in the Subjunctive

  • For -AR verbs, the ending in the present subjunctive are -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.
  • In the case of -ER and -IR verbs, the endings are -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
  • Example with Hablar (to speak): hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen.
  • Example with Comer (to eat): coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman.

Irregular Verbs in the Subjunctive

  • Some verbs have an irregular present subjunctive form, for example, ser (to be): sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean.
  • Important to understand and memorize these forms.

Using Subjunctive in Dependent Clauses

  • The subjunctive is often found in statements where the main clause expresses a wish, emotion, doubt, possibility, or necessity.
  • You will need to use the subjunctive in the dependent clause in such constructions.
  • Example: Es importante que tú estudies (It’s important that you study).

Subjunctive with Unknown or Non-Existent Elements

  • Use the subjunctive mood when referring to unknown, indefinite or non-existent people, animals or things.
  • Example: Busco un libro que tenga información sobre este tema (I’m looking for a book that has information on this subject).

Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses

  • The subjunctive is used in clauses introduced by certain conjunctions used to express duration, manner, condition, etc. such as a menos que (unless), antes de que (before), en caso de que (in case), para que (so that), mientras que (while).
  • Example: Para que tú puedas salir, tienes que terminar tu trabajo (So that you can go out, you have to finish your work).

Remember, the subjunctive can appear daunting at first but with regular practice it will become familiar and allow you to express more complex ideas and emotions in Spanish.