06. Advanced Subjunctive (El Subjuntivo Avanzado)
06. Advanced Subjunctive (El Subjuntivo Avanzado)¶
Learning Objectives¶
- Understand the uses and situations for the subjunctive (Subjuntivo)
- Master present/past/imperfect subjunctive conjugations
- Learn trigger expressions that require subjunctive
- Understand the criteria for choosing indicative vs subjunctive
- Apply subjunctive in real conversations
Table of Contents¶
- Subjunctive Overview
- Present Subjunctive
- Past Subjunctive
- Subjunctive Triggers
- Conditionals and Subjunctive
- Practice Exercises
1. Subjunctive Overview¶
1.1 What is the Subjunctive?¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Mood Comparison β
β β
β Indicative Subjunctive β
β βββ Facts, certainty βββ Wishes, doubt, emotions β
β βββ Objective statement βββ Subjective attitude β
β βββ Reality βββ Hypothetical, uncertain β
β β
β Examples: β
β SΓ© que viene. (I know he's coming) - Indicative β
β Espero que venga. (I hope he comes) - Subjunctive β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
1.2 Subjunctive Tense System¶
Subjunctive Tenses:
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Present Subjunctive (Presente de Subjuntivo) β
β β Present/future uncertain situations β
β Espero que llegue pronto. (I hope he arrives soon) β
β β
β Past Subjunctive (Imperfecto de Subjuntivo) β
β β Past/hypothetical situations, polite requests β
β Si tuviera tiempo, viajarΓa. (If I had time, I would travel)β
β β
β Present Perfect Subjunctive (PretΓ©rito Perfecto de Subjuntivo) β
β β Completed uncertain past situations β
β Espero que haya llegado. (I hope he has arrived) β
β β
β Pluperfect Subjunctive (Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo) β
β β Past hypothetical completed situations β
β Si hubiera sabido... (If I had known...) β
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2. Present Subjunctive¶
2.1 Regular Conjugation¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Present Subjunctive Regular β
β β
β -AR verbs -ER verbs -IR verbs β
β (hablar) (comer) (vivir) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β hable coma viva β
β hables comas vivas β
β hable coma viva β
β hablemos comamos vivamos β
β hablΓ©is comΓ‘is vivΓ‘is β
β hablen coman vivan β
β β
β Rule: -AR verbs use -e, -ER/-IR verbs use -a vowels β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2.2 Irregular Conjugations¶
Major Irregular Verbs:
ββββββββββββ¬ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Verb β Present Subjunctive β
ββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β ser β sea, seas, sea, seamos, seΓ‘is, sean β
β estar β estΓ©, estΓ©s, estΓ©, estemos, estΓ©is, estΓ©n β
β ir β vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayΓ‘is, vayan β
β haber β haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayΓ‘is, hayan β
β saber β sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepΓ‘is, sepan β
β dar β dΓ©, des, dΓ©, demos, deis, den β
β ver β vea, veas, vea, veamos, veΓ‘is, vean β
ββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β Stem-changing verbs (eβie, oβue, eβi patterns maintained) β
β pensar β piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, pensΓ©is, piensen β
β poder β pueda, puedas, pueda, podamos, podΓ‘is, puedan β
β pedir β pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidΓ‘is, pidan β
ββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
2.3 Usage Examples¶
Wishes/Hopes:
- Espero que tengas un buen dΓa.
(I hope you have a good day.)
- OjalΓ‘ llegue a tiempo.
(I hope he arrives on time.)
Emotions:
- Me alegra que estΓ©s aquΓ.
(I'm glad you're here.)
- Siento que no puedas venir.
(I'm sorry you can't come.)
Doubt/Uncertainty:
- No creo que sea verdad.
(I don't think it's true.)
- Dudo que lo sepa.
(I doubt he knows it.)
Commands/Requests:
- Quiero que vengas conmigo.
(I want you to come with me.)
- Te pido que me ayudes.
(I ask you to help me.)
3. Past Subjunctive¶
3.1 Conjugation Forms¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Past Subjunctive (Imperfecto de Subjuntivo) β
β β
β Two forms (-ra / -se) β
β (Same meaning, -ra form more common) β
β β
β hablar β
β -ra form -se form β
β hablara hablase β
β hablaras hablases β
β hablara hablase β
β hablΓ‘ramos hablΓ‘semos β
β hablarais hablaseis β
β hablaran hablasen β
β β
β comer: comiera/comiese, comieras/comieses... β
β vivir: viviera/viviese, vivieras/vivieses... β
β β
β β» Stem derived from 3rd person plural preterite β
β hablaron β habla- β hablara β
β comieron β comie- β comiera β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
3.2 Irregular Verbs¶
Past Subjunctive Irregulars:
ββββββββββββ¬ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Verb β Past Subjunctive (-ra form) β
ββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β ser/ir β fuera, fueras, fuera, fuΓ©ramos, fuerais, fueran β
β estar β estuviera, estuvieras, estuviera... β
β tener β tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera... β
β poder β pudiera, pudieras, pudiera... β
β poner β pusiera, pusieras, pusiera... β
β saber β supiera, supieras, supiera... β
β hacer β hiciera, hicieras, hiciera... β
β decir β dijera, dijeras, dijera... β
β querer β quisiera, quisieras, quisiera... β
β venir β viniera, vinieras, viniera... β
ββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
3.3 Usage Situations¶
1. Past uncertain situations:
- Esperaba que viniera. (I was hoping he would come.)
- No creΓa que fuera posible. (I didn't think it was possible.)
2. Polite requests (quisiera):
- Quisiera un cafΓ©, por favor. (I would like a coffee, please.)
- Quisiera hablar con el gerente. (I would like to speak with the manager.)
3. Hypothetical/conditionals:
- Si pudiera, te ayudarΓa. (If I could, I would help you.)
- Si fuera rico, viajarΓa mucho. (If I were rich, I would travel a lot.)
4. "como si" (as if):
- Habla como si supiera todo. (He talks as if he knew everything.)
- ActΓΊa como si no pasara nada. (He acts as if nothing happened.)
4. Subjunctive Triggers¶
4.1 WEIRDO Rule¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β WEIRDO Mnemonic β
β β
β W - Wishes (hopes/desires) β
β querer que, desear que, esperar que, ojalΓ‘ (que) β
β β
β E - Emotions β
β alegrarse de que, sentir que, temer que, molestar que β
β β
β I - Impersonal expressions β
β es importante que, es necesario que, es posible que β
β β
β R - Recommendations (advice/commands) β
β recomendar que, sugerir que, aconsejar que, pedir que β
β β
β D - Doubt/Denial β
β dudar que, no creer que, no pensar que, negar que β
β β
β O - OjalΓ‘ (hope) + conjunctions β
β para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
4.2 Detailed Examples¶
Wishes:
- Quiero que estudies mΓ‘s. (I want you to study more.)
- Deseo que seas feliz. (I wish you to be happy.)
- Espero que llueva maΓ±ana. (I hope it rains tomorrow.)
- OjalΓ‘ venga pronto. (I hope he comes soon.)
Emotions:
- Me alegro de que estΓ©s bien. (I'm glad you're well.)
- Siento que no puedas venir. (I'm sorry you can't come.)
- Temo que sea demasiado tarde. (I fear it's too late.)
- Me molesta que hables asΓ. (It bothers me that you talk like that.)
Impersonal:
- Es importante que llegues a tiempo.
(It's important that you arrive on time.)
- Es necesario que estudies. (It's necessary that you study.)
- Es posible que llueva. (It's possible it will rain.)
- Es mejor que te vayas. (It's better that you leave.)
Recommendations:
- Te recomiendo que descanses. (I recommend you rest.)
- Sugiero que lo pienses bien. (I suggest you think it over.)
- Te pido que me ayudes. (I ask you to help me.)
- Ordeno que salgas. (I order you to leave.)
Doubt/Denial:
- Dudo que lo sepa. (I doubt he knows it.)
- No creo que sea verdad. (I don't think it's true.)
- Niego que haya dicho eso. (I deny having said that.)
4.3 Conjunctions + Subjunctive¶
Conjunctions that always require subjunctive:
βββββββββββββββββββ¬ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Conjunction β Example β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β para que β Te lo digo para que lo sepas. β
β (so that) β (I tell you so you know.) β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β antes de que β LlΓ‘mame antes de que salgas. β
β (before) β (Call me before you leave.) β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β sin que β SaliΓ³ sin que nadie lo viera. β
β (without) β (He left without anyone seeing him.) β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β a menos que β IrΓ© a menos que llueva. β
β (unless) β (I'll go unless it rains.) β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β con tal de que β Lo harΓ© con tal de que me pagues. β
β (provided that) β (I'll do it provided you pay me.) β
βββββββββββββββββββΌββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ€
β en caso de que β En caso de que no venga, llΓ‘mame. β
β (in case) β (In case he doesn't come, call me.) β
βββββββββββββββββββ΄ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
5. Conditionals and Subjunctive¶
5.1 Conditional Types¶
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
β Conditional Types β
β β
β Type 1: Realizable condition (indicative) β
β Si + present indicative, future/present indicative β
β Si llueve, no salgo. (If it rains, I won't go out.) β
β Si estudias, aprobarΓ‘s. (If you study, you'll pass.) β
β β
β Type 2: Hypothetical/unreal condition (subjunctive) β
β Si + past subjunctive, simple conditional β
β Si tuviera dinero, comprarΓa un coche. β
β (If I had money, I would buy a car.) β
β β
β Type 3: Past hypothetical condition (subjunctive) β
β Si + pluperfect subjunctive, conditional perfect β
β Si hubiera estudiado, habrΓa aprobado. β
β (If I had studied, I would have passed.) β
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
5.2 Type 2 Conditional Examples¶
Present/future hypothetical situations:
Si fuera rico, viajarΓa por todo el mundo.
(If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)
Si pudiera volar, irΓa a verte ahora mismo.
(If I could fly, I would go see you right now.)
Si tuviera mΓ‘s tiempo, aprenderΓa japonΓ©s.
(If I had more time, I would learn Japanese.)
Si no lloviera, irΓamos a la playa.
(If it weren't raining, we would go to the beach.)
5.3 Type 3 Conditional Examples¶
Past hypothetical situations:
Si hubiera sabido, te habrΓa ayudado.
(If I had known, I would have helped you.)
Si hubieras venido, habrΓas visto a MarΓa.
(If you had come, you would have seen MarΓa.)
Si no hubiera llovido, habrΓamos ido al parque.
(If it hadn't rained, we would have gone to the park.)
Mixed conditional (past condition β present result):
Si hubiera estudiado medicina, ahora serΓa mΓ©dico.
(If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.)
6. Practice Exercises¶
Exercise 1: Indicative vs Subjunctive Choice¶
Choose the correct form.
1. Creo que (viene / venga) maΓ±ana.
β viene (creer + affirmative = indicative)
2. No creo que (viene / venga) maΓ±ana.
β venga (no creer = subjunctive)
3. SΓ© que (estΓ‘ / estΓ©) aquΓ.
β estΓ‘ (saber = certainty = indicative)
4. Espero que (tienes / tengas) suerte.
β tengas (esperar = hope = subjunctive)
5. Es verdad que (llueve / llueva).
β llueve (es verdad = fact = indicative)
6. Es posible que (llueve / llueva).
β llueva (es posible = uncertainty = subjunctive)
Exercise 2: Complete Subjunctive Conjugations¶
Fill in the blanks.
1. Quiero que tΓΊ _______ (venir) a la fiesta.
β vengas
2. Esperamos que ellos _______ (llegar) a tiempo.
β lleguen
3. Si yo _______ (tener) dinero, viajarΓa.
β tuviera
4. Me alegro de que tΓΊ _______ (estar) bien.
β estΓ©s
5. Es importante que nosotros _______ (estudiar).
β estudiemos
6. Si ella _______ (saber), te lo habrΓa dicho.
β hubiera sabido
Exercise 3: Sentence Composition¶
Create sentences using subjunctive for the given situations.
1. Tell a friend you hope they're well
β Espero que estΓ©s bien. / Deseo que te mejores.
2. Hope it doesn't rain tomorrow
β OjalΓ‘ no llueva maΓ±ana.
3. Say you'd buy a big house if you were rich
β Si fuera rico, comprarΓa una casa grande.
4. Ask someone to arrive early
β Te pido que llegues temprano.
5. Doubt whether she will come
β Dudo que ella venga.
Next Steps¶
References¶
- Real Academia EspaΓ±ola (RAE)
- Practice Makes Perfect: Spanish Verb Tenses
- SpanishDict Subjunctive Guide