Present Subjunctive
Subjunctive form is very important in learning Spanish since subjunctive is used very often in Spanish language and knowing its forms and usage will make it easier for you to sound more native in Spanish.
Formation of the present subjunctive
-AR Verb uses endings of –ER Verb
-AR Verb (-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en)
| Trabajar to work | Singular | Plural |
| 1st Person | Trabaje | Trabajemos |
| 2nd Person | Trabajes | Trabajéis |
| 3rd Person | Trabaje | Trabajen |
-ER/-IR Verb uses ending of –AR Verb
-ER/-IR Verb (-a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an)
| Comer to eat | Singular | Plural |
| 1st Person | Coma | Comamos |
| 2nd Person | Comas | Comáis |
| 3rd Person | Coma | Coman |
Subjunctive is used
- after the specific expressions
always used with…
antes de que before
a menos que unless
sin que without
en caso de que in case that
para que so that
used when the tense in subordinate clause is future
en cuanto as soon as
tan pronto como as soon as
cuando when
hasta que until
después de que after
aunque although
si if
A menos que tengas mucho dinero, no debes viajar.
(Unless you have a lot of money, you should not travel.)
Tan pronto como yo termine mi tarea, iré a la fiesta.
(As soon as I finish my homework, I will go to the party.)
No voy a hablar inglés para que mi amigo pueda practicar español contigo.
(I am not going to speak English so that my friend can practice Spanish with me.)
- When the main clause expresses emotions.
Me alegro de que I am happy that
Temo que I am afraid that
Me gusta que I like that
No me gusta que I don’t like that
Me alegro de que vosotros se caséis por fin.
(I am happy that you guys are finally getting married.)
Temo que ellos se separen.
(I am afraid that they are going to break up.)
Me gusta que me respetes mucho.
(I like that you respect me a lot.)
- When “uncertainty” is shown in sentence
No creo que I don’t believe that
Dudo que I doubt that
No estoy seguro que I am not sure that
Probablemente Probably
Deseo que I hope that
Espero que I hope that
Ojalá I hope that
Espero que tú pases esta clase.
(I hope that I you pass this class.)
Ojalá no llueva mañana.
(I hope it will not rain tomorrow.)
Probablemente yo no le compre algo a ella caro porque no tengo dinero.
(Probably I am not going to buy something expensive because I don’t have money.)
No estoy seguro que este restaurante sea bueno o no.
(I am not sure that this restaurant is good or not.)
- In impersonal structures
Es importante que it is important that
Es dudoso que it is doubtful that
Es probable que it is probable that
Es interesante que it is interesting that
Es posible que it is possible
Es mejor que it is better that
Es necesario que it is necessary that
Es importante que se haga ejercicio todos los días.
(It is important that people do exercise every day.)
Es necesario que hables japonés si vivas allá.
(It is necessary that you speak Japanese when you live there.)
Es mejor que se visite a otro país cuando sea joven.
(It is better that people to visit another country when they are young.)
Es posible que escuchar música cure enfermedad de Alzheimer.
(It is possible that listening to music cure Alzheimer’s disease.)
- When opinion is expressed in the sentence
Recomiendo que I recommend that
Insisto en que I insist that
Pido que I ask that
Sugiero que I suggest that
Ordeno que I order that
Recomiendo que no comas más carne.
(I recommend that you do not eat more meat.)
Sugiero que tomes mucha agua y vegetales.
(I suggest that you take a lot of water.)
- When you describe something indefinite in the future
Quiero un carro que sea rojo.
(I want a car that is red.)
Estoy buscando unos amigos me respeten mucho.
(I am looking for some friends that respect me a lot.)
Me quiero casar con una mujer que cocine muy bien.
(I want to marry a woman who cook well.)