18 Sep, 2009 in Uncategorized by

Spanish Present Subjunctive

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE – PRESENTE DEL SUBJUNTIVO

Almost 90% of English and Spanish grammar structures are alike or very similar, that is why in many of the lessons in this grammar website you will find that I kept the explanations to a minimum. However, the subjunctive is completely different in use and form in English and in Spanish.

I want to work.

Quiero trabajar (No subjunctive here)

I want YOU to work.

Quiero que (tú) trabajes (Subjunctive)

She hopes to pass the exam.

Espera pasar el exámen. (No subjunctive here)

She hopes that YOU pass the exam.

Espera que (tú) pases el exámen. (Subjunctive)

We want to stay here.

Queremos permanecer aquí (No subjunctive here)

We want THEM to stay here.

Queremos que (ellos) permanezcan aquí. (Subjunctive)


FORM OF THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

We form the Present Subjunctive tense by dropping the -ar, -er, or -ir of the infinitive form. Verbs ending in -ar , dd…-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en to the root of the verb. Verbs ending in -er or -ir dd…-a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an to the root of the verb.

Verbo: comprar

Verbo: comer

quiere que (yo) compre

quiere que (yo) coma

quiere que (tú) compres

quiere que (tú) comas

quiere que (usted-él-ella) compre

quiere que (usted-él-ella) coma

quiere que nosotros compremos

quiere que nosotros comamos

quiere que (vosotros) compréis

quiere que (vosotros) comáis

quiere que (ustedes) compren

quiere que (ustedes) coman

quiere que (ellos) compren

quiere que (ellos) coman

USES OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE

In Spanish, the types of verbs that trigger the subjunctive are ones that express the following: desire, feeling, demand, request, doubt, necessity

1. The subjunctive is used in clauses after verbs which indicate subjective idea or opinion.

For example:

querer (to want)

esperar (to hope )

estar contento (to be happy)

sentir (to regret)

preferir (to prefer)

temer (to fear)

tener miedo de (to be afraid)

mandar (to order)

insistir (to insist)

prohibir (to prohibit)


Quiero que vengas a la fiesta

I want you to come to the party.




Espero que pasen el exámen.

I hope they will pass the test.


Estoy contento que tenga dinero.

I am happy that she has money.


Tengo miedo de que pierdas esto.

I am afraid that you will lose this.

2. The Subjunctive is also used after impersonal expressions that have an element of subjectivity;

es necesario que (it’s necessary)

es imposible que (it is impossible )

es bueno que (it is good)

es mejor que (it is better)

es importante que (it is important)

es posible que (it’s possible)

es probable que (it is probable)

es malo que (it is bad)

es raro que (it is unusual)

es aconsejable que (it is advisable)

3. We also use the subjunctive with expressions of doubt;

no creer (not to believe)

es dudoso (it is doubtful)

es incierto (it is uncertain)

dudar (to doubt)

no estar seguro (not to be sure)

no es cierto (it is not certain)

3. Another use of the subjunctive is with certain verbs which imply a command or an order but it is not certain that the order will be carried out.

decir (to tell)

pedir (to ask)

exigir (to demand)

recomendar (to recommend)

escribir (to write)

mandar (to order)

aconsejar (to advise)

Back to the Grammar Index

Published on 18 Sep, 2009 in Uncategorized by

3 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

  1. MONSTER. - Gravatar

    MONSTER.  |  July 28th, 2010 at 11:10 am #

    Yes, subjunctive is an hard tense, but i'm lucky that romanian has too this tense.
    but you have 4 types of subjunctive and romanian has only 2 types, so another 2 types of subjunctive are a little hard.

  2. Harold - Gravatar

    Harold  |  May 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 am #

    This is my first time to visit your page and I like the contents here. I think I'll have fun visiting your page in the coming days to come. Learning Spanish would be nice.
     

  3. larry - Gravatar

    larry  |  July 21st, 2011 at 7:23 am #

    I would love to learn different languages so for me, this post is just perfect. I hope to see more of these in your next post.

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