El SubjuntivoNo es tan complicado…

En Español

The subjuntivo is not a tense; rather, it is a mood.

Tense refers to when an action takes place (past, present, future), while mood merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action.

The subjunctive mood is rarely used in English, but it is widely used in Spanish.

Further Explanation

In general, the subjunctive is a verb mood that is used to express an action or state of being in the context of the speaker's reaction to it.

Most commonly (although not always), the subjunctive verb is used in a clause that starts with the relative pronoun que (meaning "which," "that" or "who").

Frequently, the sentences that contain a subjunctive verb are used to express doubt, uncertainty, denial, desire, commands or reactions to the clause containing the subjunctive verb.

This VERB has to TRIGGER the subjunctive. It must denote

emotion, denial, uncertainty, volition, influence, desire, etc.

Formula for when subjunctive is used ->

S1 + V1 + QUE + S2 + V2

2nd S

ubje

ct

2nd V

ERB

1 st VERB

1 st SUBJECT

These must be different.

This verb will be in the

subjunctive.

Many common expressions introduce subjunctive clauses:

Es una pena que... "It is a shame that..."

Quiero que... "I want..."

Ojalá... "I hope..."

Es importante que... "It is important that..."

Me alegro de que... "I am happy that..."

Es bueno que... "It is good that..."

Es necesario que... "It is necessary that..."

Dudo que... "I doubt that..."

How to form:

Conjugate to the present tense first person singular form. (ex. hablar --> hablo)

Drop the o (hablo --> habl)

Add the opposite ending (habl --> hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen)

Verb Endings

AR

ER

IR

Singular Plural

1st Person e emos

2nd Person es éis

3rd Person e en

Singular Plural

1st Person a amos

2nd Person as áis

3rd Person a an

Irregulares

SER Singular Plural

1st Person sea seamos

2nd Person seas seáis

3rd Person sea sean

ESTAR Singular Plural

1st Person esté estemos

2nd Person estés estéis

3rd Person esté estén

Más Irregulares

IR Singular Plural

1st Person vaya vayamos

2nd Person vayas vayáis

3rd Person vaya vayan

HABER Singular Plural

1st Person haya hayamos

2nd Person hayas hayáis

3rd Person haya hayan

…Más Irregulares

SABER Singular Plural

1st Person sepa sepamos

2nd Person sepas sepáis

3rd Person sepa sepan

DAR Singular Plural

1st Person dé demos

2nd Person des déis

3rd Person dé den

-CAR / -GAR / -ZARThese verbs change spelling to preserve vowel sound.

TOCAR Singular Plural

1st Person toque toquemos

2nd Person toques toquéis

3rd Person toque toquen

JUGAR Singular Plural

1st Person jugue juguemos

2nd Person jugues juguéis

3rd Person jugue juguen

CRUZAR Singular Plural

1st Person cruce crucemos

2nd Person cruces crucéis

3rd Person cruce crucen

Indicativo = Normal

Straight forward

No emotion

No influence

Business-like…

Just the facts, ma’am.

Subjuntivo = Hippie Dude

Hypothetical…

Doubting…

Unsure…

Emotional…

Under the influence…

Desire…

In Denial… Not based in reality…

Philosophizing…

Subjunctive Triggers of Influence

Querer

Insistir en

Preferir

Mandar

Prohibir

Permitir

Desear

Recomendar

Sugerir

Pedir

Es necesario

Es urgente

Es importante

Es mejor

}+ que + subjunctive

Sugiero que hables con tus padres.

Subjunctive Triggers of Emotion

Alegrarse de

Esperar

Sentir

Temer

Tener miedo de

Me gusta

Te molesta

Le sorprende

Es extraño

Es increible

Es mejor

Es bueno

Es malo

Es ridículo

Es terrible

Es una lástima

Es urgente

¡Qué extraño

¡Qué lástima

}+ que + subjunctive

Me alegro de que vayas a estudiar en México.

Subjunctive Triggers of Doubt & Denial

No creer

Dudar

Negar

No es cierto

No es seguro

No es verdad

Es posible

No es posible

Es probable

No es probable

Es improbable

No es improbable

No estar seguro/a (de)

}+ que + subjunctive

Dudo que hayas estudiado para el examen.

Videos that Explain Usage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlJxXPtv0cE&feature=related (Formation - Irregulars)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTTcm9OAcDo&feature=related (Influence)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOsgpBgQDiA&feature=related (Emotion)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjLJgCkRkjM&feature=related (Doubt and Denial)

Gracias!