El presente del Subjuntivo

The Indicative

Up to now you have been using verbs in the indicative mood, which is used to talk about facts or actual events.

The Indicative

Aprendo francés para mi viaje.

The Subjunctive

Spanish has another way of using verbs called the subjunctive mood.

The Subjunctive

We use it to say what one person does or doesn’t want, tell, suggest, or recommend someone else to do.

The Subjunctive

We form the present subjunctive of most verbs the same way we form negative tú commands, Usted and Ustedes commands..

The Subjunctive

We drop the -o of the present-tense indicative yo form and add the subjunctive endings.

The Subjunctive

For -ar verbs:e, es, e, emos, éis, enFor -er/-ir verbs:a, as, a, amos, áis, an

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

As with commands, if there is a stem change all forms will change in the subjunctive except for the nosotros and vosotros forms.

Sembrar – to plant

siembro

siembres

siembre

sembremos

sembréis

siembren

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

As in negative commands, irregular verbs that add a “g” to the stem in the present-tense yo form also have a “g” in the present subjunctive.

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

caersedecirhacerponersalir

tenertraer

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

hacer hag-o haga

tener teng-o tenga

Tener – to have

tenga

tengas

tenga

tengamos

Tengáis

tengan

The Subjunctive

The present subjunctive has the same spelling changes in any verb with an irregular yo form. (just like negative tú commands, Usted and Ustedes commands.

CONOCER – to know

conozca

conozcas

conozca

conozcamos

conozcáis

conozcan

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

Also verbs ending in –car, -gar, and –zar have a spell change in order to maintain the original sound.

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

buscar busco busque

pagar pago pague

cruzar cruzo cruce

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

D – Dar (Dé, des, dé, demos deis den)

I – IR (vaya, vayas vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan)

S – Ser (Sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean)

H – Haber (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan)

E – Estar (esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén)

S – Saber (sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan)

When to use Subjunctive

1. A sentence that includes the subjunctive form has two parts connected by the word que.

For example:

The Subjunctive

Quiero que tú superes los obstáculos.

I want you to overcome obstacles.

2. A verb of Volition(what may or may not happen):

W – Wishes, WantsE – Emotions, feelings, thoughts I – Impersonal ExpressionsR – Requests, RecommendationsD – Doubt, Denial, DisagreementO – Ojalá (I hope to God)

The Subjunctive

Sugiero que bebas agua antes de correr.

I suggest that you drink water before running.

The Subjunctive

El entrenador exige que los atletas estiren los músculos.

The trainer demands that the athletes stretch their muscles.

The Subjunctive Es necesario que protejas el medio

ambiente. It’s necessary that you protect the

environment. Es importante que los jóvenes

solucionen los problemas. It’s important that the young people

solve problems.

3. A change of subject

Note that the subjunctive sentences have two parts, each with a different subject, connected by the word que:

2 Clauses

Ella sugiere que yo aprenda francés

Independent clause(stands on its own)Subject > Verb

Separated by the word “que”

Dependent clause (can’t stand on its own)Begins with the word “que.”

Indicative Verb

Subjunctive Verb

The Subjunctive

The first subject uses the present indicative verb (of volition) + que and the second subject uses the present subjunctive verb (what should happen).

The Subjunctive

Verbs that are often follewed by que + subjunctive:

Decir Insistir en Necesitar Permitir Preferir (e > ie)

Prohibir Querer (e > ie) Recomendar (e > ie) Sugerir (e > ie)

PRACTICE

Es necesario que tú _________ (hacer) la tarea.

Mi madre quiere que yo _______ (sacar) buenas notas.

Es preciso ________(beber) mucha agua todos los días.

Ojalá que la actividad no _______(ser) plantar árboles

hagas

saque

bebas

sea