Uses of the Present Subjunctive
SUBJUNCTIVE — DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
Quiero estudiar. I want to study.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
Quiero que estudies. I want you to study.
Blunder
Blunder
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
Preferimos comer aquí. We prefer to eat here.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
Preferimos que coma aquí. We prefer that he eat here.
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
(Ella) espera ser médico. She hopes to be a doctor.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
(Ella) espera que (él) sea médico. She hopes he will be a doctor.
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
Espero poder ir a la fiesta. I hope I can go to the party.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
Espero que puedas ir a la fiesta. I hope you can go to the party.
AVOID THE
✗
Ella espera que (ella misma) pueda ser médico.✗
Preferimos que (él) come aquí.Expressing Attempt to Control an Action
The present subjunctive is used to indicate an attempt to control the actions of others.
ENGLISH PATTERN subject verb direct object infinitive SPANISH PATTERN (subject) indirect object verb que
subjunctive verb
The subject has one of several different intentions:
] To make a request
Te pido que me acompañes. I’m asking you to go with me.
Les ruego que me dejen ir. I beg you all to let me go.
Me suplica que lo perdone. He begs me to forgive him.
Le implora que tenga paciencia. He begs her to be patient.
] To give advice
El consejero me recomienda The counselor recommends that
que estudie un idioma. I study a language.
Yo te sugiero que vayas a casa. I suggest that you go home.
El médico le aconseja que pierda The doctor advises her to lose
peso. weight.
AVOID THE
Do not use the infinitive to indicate requests or to give advice.
✗
Pido a ti acompañarme.✗
Sugiero a ti ir a casa.] To make a demand
El jefe nos exige que trabajemos. The boss demands that we work.
La maestra le manda a él que The teacher orders him to sit
se siente. down.
El oficial les ordena a ellos que The officer orders them to march.
marchen.
Mi madre me dice que la ayude. My mother tells me to help her.
This construction is an alternative to the infinitive construction de- scribed on pages 99–100. Both patterns are correct.
AVOID THE
Do not leave out the indirect object pronoun.
✗
El jefe exige que trabajemos.✗
La maestra manda a él que se siente.✗
El oficial ordena a ellos que marchen.] To prohibit an action
Sus padres les prohíben que Their parents forbid them to
se casen. marry.
El guardia nos impide que The guard stops us from entering.
entremos.
This construction is an alternative to the infinitive construction de- scribed on pages 99–100. Both patterns are correct.
AVOID THE
Do not leave out the indirect object pronoun.
✗
Sus padres prohíben que se casen.✗
El guardia impide que entremos.Blunder
Blunder
Blunder
Expressing Feelings About a Fact
The subjunctive is used when there is an expression of personal feeling or emotion about a fact.
Es fantástico que estés aquí It’s fantastic that you’re here
conmigo. with me.
Es una lástima que te vayas. It’s a shame that you’re leaving.
Me alegro mucho de que te I’m so glad you feel better.
sientas mejor.
Siento mucho que no te guste. I’m sorry you don’t like it.
When expressing emotion, if the second verb indicates an action per- formed by the subject of the first verb, an infinitive construction after a preposition is used instead of the subjunctive after que (see page 97).
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
Estoy contenta de estar aquí. I’m glad I’m here.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
Estoy contenta que estés aquí. I’m glad you’re here.
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT
Siento no poder visitarte. I’m sorry I can’t visit you.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS
Siento que no puedas visitarme. I’m sorry you can’t visit me.
AVOID THE
✗
Estoy contenta que estoy aquí.✗
Siento que no puedo visitarte.Expressing Doubt
The subjunctive is used when there is an expression of doubt, possibil- ity, impossibility, probability, or improbability in the present or future.
INDICATIVE
Creo que Julia viene mañana. I think Julia is coming tomorrow.
SUBJUNCTIVE
No creo que Julia venga mañana. I don’t think Julia is coming tomorrow.
INDICATIVE
Estoy segura de que es Martín. I’m sure it’s Martín.
SUBJUNCTIVE
No estoy segura de que sea Martín. I’m not sure it’s Martín.
INDICATIVE
Es cierto que es su novio. It’s certain that he’s her boyfriend.
SUBJUNCTIVE
Es imposible que sea su novio. It’s not possible that he’s her boyfriend.
INDICATIVE
No hay duda de que es un buen There’s no doubt that it’s a good
curso. course.
SUBJUNCTIVE
Dudo que sea buen curso. I doubt it’s a good course.
INDICATIVE
Sé que está en su casa. I know she’s at home.
SUBJUNCTIVE
Tal vez / Quizá(s) no esté en Maybe she’s not at home.
su casa.
AVOID THE
Use the indicative to indicate certainty, the subjunctive to indicate uncertainty.
✗
No creo que Julia viene mañana.✗
Creo que Julia venga mañana.Expressing the Time of a Future Action
The subjunctive is used after certain expressions that indicate the time of future action.
] cuando and mientras when they refer to a future action
Te llamo / Te voy a llamar / I’ll call you when you’re not busy.
Te llamaré cuando no estés ocupada.
Te lo digo cuando llegues a casa. I’ll tell you when you get home.
Mis primos visitarán todos los My cousins will go to all the
museos mientras estén aquí. museums while they’re here.
When cuando or mientras indicates simultaneous action, it is fol- lowed by a verb in the indicative.
Siempre me llamas cuando estoy You always call me when I’m
ocupada. busy.
En la mañana, mientras Claudio In the morning, while Claudio
prepara el desayuno, Natalia prepares breakfast, Natalia
lee el periódico. reads the newspaper.
AVOID THE
✗
Te lo digo cuando llegas a casa.✗
Siempre me llamas cuando esté ocupada.] en cuanto and tan pronto como
Vamos a empezar en cuanto We’re going to start as soon as
vengan los otros. the others get here.
Ella se casará tan pronto como She will get married as soon as
se gradúe. she graduates.
] antes que and después que
Ricardo se graduará antes que Ricardo will graduate before his
su hermana empiece a estudiar. sister begins her studies.
Vamos de vacaciones después We’re going on vacation after
que Ricardo se gradúe. Ricardo graduates.
When expressing “before” or “after,” if the second verb indicates ac- tion to be performed by the subject of the first verb, an infinitive construction after a preposition is used instead of the subjunctive after que (see page 97).
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT(antes de )
Comeremos antes de irnos. We’ll eat before we leave.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS(antes que )
Comeremos antes que se vaya él. We’ll eat before he leaves.
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT(después de )
Ella va a lavar los platos después She’s going to wash the dishes
de comer. after she eats.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS(después que )
Ella va a lavar los platos después She’s going to wash the dishes
que comamos. after we eat.
AVOID THE
✗
Comeremos antes que nos vamos.✗
Comeremos antes que se va él.] hasta que
Margarita va a estudiar hasta que Margarita is going to study until
tenga su doctorado. she gets her doctorate.
Blunder
Blunder
Expressing Conditions Required for the Occurrence of an Action
The subjunctive is used after certain expressions that indicate the con- ditions necessary for the occurrence of some other action.
] siempre y cuando
Nos pagarán siempre y cuando They’ll pay us if and when we
terminemos el trabajo. finish the job.
] siempre que
El niño puede ver televisión The boy can watch television
siempre que haga sus tareas as long as he does his
primero. homework first.
] con tal (de) que
Te enseño a tocar la guitarra I’ll teach you to play the guitar
con tal de que me ayudes con provided you help me with the
la computadora. computer.
When using con tal, if the second verb indicates action to be per- formed by the subject of the first verb, an infinitive construction is used after a preposition instead of the subjunctive after que (see page 97).
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT(con tal de )
Iré contigo con tal de no tener I’ll go with you as long as I don’t
que volver sola. have to come back alone.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS(con tal (de) que )
Iré contigo con tal de que I’ll go with you as long as you
vuelvas conmigo. come back with me.
AVOID THE
✗
Nos pagarán siempre y cuando terminamos.✗
El niño puede ver televisión siempre que hace sus tareas.✗
Iré contigo con tal que no tengo que volver sola.] a menos que
Te llamaré a menos que no I’ll call you unless my cell phone
funcione mi celular. doesn’t work.
] en caso (de) que
Llévate el paraguas en caso Take your umbrella in case
de que llueva. it rains.
Les voy a dar mi número en caso I’m going to give you all my
de que necesiten algo. number in case you need anything.
Expressing Avoidance of Interference
The present subjunctive is used after sin que to indicate the avoidance of interference with the action of the first verb.
Voy a leer la novela en clase sin I’m going to read the novel in
que la maestra se dé cuenta. class without the teacher noticing it.
Ella va a salir con el chico sin que She’s going to go out with the guy
su madre lo sepa. without her mother knowing about it.
When using sin, if the second verb indicates action performed by the subject of the first verb, an infinitive construction is used instead of the subjunctive (see page 97).
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT(sin )
Quiero practicar sin molestar I want to practice without
a nadie. bothering anyone.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS(sin que )
Quiero practicar sin que nadie I want to practice without
me escuche. anybody listening to me.
Expressing Purpose of Action
The present subjunctive is used after para que and a fin de que to indi- cate the purpose of the action of the first verb.
Felipe le va a mandar un boleto Felipe is going to send a ticket
a su madre para que ella lo to his mother so she can visit
visite. him.
Te doy la dirección de mi amigo I’ll give you my friend’s address
a fin de que puedas localizarlo so that you can contact him
cuando llegues. when you arrive.
When expressing purpose, if the second verb indicates action per- formed by the subject of the first verb, an infinitive construction is used instead of the subjunctive.
INFINITIVE—SAME SUBJECT(para )
Su mamá trabaja para poder His mother works so she can
estudiar. study.
SUBJUNCTIVE—DIFFERENT SUBJECTS(para que )
Su mamá trabaja para que él His mother works so he can study.
AVOID THE
✗
Su mamá trabaja para que (ella misma) pueda estudiar.✗
Su mamá trabaja para que él puede estudiar.Commands
The present subjunctive is used in the formation of some commands. Review the forms in the chart on page 163.
Object pronouns are attached to the end of affirmative commands. An accent mark must be added to the stressed syllable of the verb.
Cómalo. Eat it.
Abríguese. Put your coat on. (Wrap yourself up.)
Dígaselo. Tell it to him.
Váyanse de aquí. Get out of here.
AVOID THE
Do not attach object pronouns to the verb in negative commands.
✗
no cómalo✗
no siéntense✗
no déseloAffirmative commands of the verbs ir and irse in the nosotros form use the indicative instead of the subjunctive.
Vamos al cine. Let’s go to the movies.
Vámonos. Let’s go. / Let’s leave.
As an alternative to the nosotros command for other verbs, vamos a plus the infinitive can be used.
Comamos. i
Let’s eat.
y
Vamos a comer. t
Sentémonos aquí. i
Let’s sit here.
y
Vamos a sentarnos aquí.t
Negative commands of the verbs ir and irse use the subjunctive.
No vayamos al cine. Let’s not go to the movies.
No nos vayamos. Let’s not leave.
Blunder
Blunder
Exercises
A Write the appropriate form—infinitive, indicative, or subjunctive—of the verb in parentheses.1. Buscamos una casa que (tener) cuatro
dormitorios.
2. Conozco a una persona que (hablar) cinco
idiomas.
3. No hay ningún postre que le (gustar) a él.
4. El profesor nos exige que (escribir)
en español.
5. Por favor, no me (llamar, tú) por la mañana.
6. Voy a buscar trabajo tan pronto como (llegar)
a la ciudad.
7. Estoy segura que (venir, ellos) mañana.
8. Jaime no cree que lo (aceptar, ellos)
en la universidad.
9. Esperamos (ir) a la reunión.
10. Esperamos que (ir, ustedes) a la reunión.
B Express the following in Spanish.1. There’s nobody who cooks like my mother.
2. We’re looking for a manager who speaks Spanish.
3. I hope you come to the party.
4. She advises you to work harder.
5. It’s wonderful that you’re here!
6. He doubts that I can do it.
8. I’ll pick you up unless I have to work.
9. She goes out without his knowing it.
10. They’ll save money so they can travel.
C Write commands for the following situations.1. Tell a child to come with you.
(venir) 2. Tell someone you hardly know to please sit down.
(sentarse) 3. Tell a group of people to stand up.
(levantarse) 4. Suggest to your friends that you go to the movies.
(ir)
D Now write the commands in Exercise C as negative commands.1. 2. 3. 4.
Formation
Present subjunctive of haber past participle The Present Subjunctive of haber
yo haya nosotros(-as) hayamos
tú hayas vosotros(-as) hayáis
usted/él/ella haya ustedes/ellos/ellas hayan Past Participle Formation
-ar verbs -er verbs -ir verbs
Verb stem (infinitive minus -ar/-er/-ir) -ado -ido -ido hablar comer vivir
hablado comido vivido
IRREGULAR PARTICIPLES
abrir abierto poner puesto cubrir cubierto oponer opuesto descubrir descubierto proponer propuesto decir dicho ver visto predecir predicho prever previsto escribir escrito volver vuelto describir descrito devolver devuelto prescribir prescrito revolver revuelto hacer hecho resolver resuelto morir muerto romper roto
177