18 Sep, 2009 in
Uncategorized by
Julio Foppoli
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.
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I want to work. |
Quiero trabajar (No subjunctive here) |
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I want YOU to work. |
Quiero que (tú) trabajes (Subjunctive) |
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She hopes to pass the exam. |
Espera pasar el exámen. (No subjunctive here) |
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She hopes that YOU pass the exam. |
Espera que (tú) pases el exámen. (Subjunctive) |
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We want to stay here. |
Queremos permanecer aquí (No subjunctive here) |
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We want THEM to stay here. |
Queremos que (ellos) permanezcan aquí. (Subjunctive)
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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.
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Verbo: comprar |
Verbo: comer |
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quiere que (yo) compre |
quiere que (yo) coma |
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quiere que (tú) compres |
quiere que (tú) comas |
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quiere que (usted-él-ella) compre |
quiere que (usted-él-ella) coma |
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quiere que nosotros compremos |
quiere que nosotros comamos |
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quiere que (vosotros) compréis |
quiere que (vosotros) comáis |
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quiere que (ustedes) compren |
quiere que (ustedes) coman |
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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:
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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)
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Quiero que vengas a la fiesta I want you to come to the party. |
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Espero que pasen el exámen. I hope they will pass the test. |
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Estoy contento que tenga dinero. I am happy that she has money. |
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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;
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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;
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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.
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decir (to tell) pedir (to ask) exigir (to demand) recomendar (to recommend) |
escribir (to write) mandar (to order) aconsejar (to advise) |
Published on 18 Sep, 2009 in
Uncategorized by
Julio Foppoli