Subjunctive Flashcards
What is the subjunctive?
The Spanish subjunctive mood refers to subjective and hypothetical situations:
Wishes
Emotions/feelings
Impersonal Expressions
Recommendations/Requests/Advice/Demands
Doubt/Denial/Possibilities
Ojalá (Hopefully)
Unknown people/things and their qualities
What are some subjunctive examples?
Ojalá tengas un buen viaje.
I hope you have a good trip.
Les recomendé que vieran esta película.
I recommended them to watch this movie.
Busco una casa que sea grande y accesible.
I’m looking for a house that is big and affordable.
Señora, es necesario que se quede quieta.
Ma’am, you need to stay still.
Me da tristeza que ustedes no se lleven bien.
It makes me sad that you don’t get along.
No creo que David vaya a venir.
I don’t think David is going to come.
Emotions word triggers
to feel sorry sentir
to get angry enojarse
to love encantar
to regret lamentar
to rejoice alegrarse
to surprise sorprender
Wishes word triggers
to ask for pedir
to demand exigir
to desire desear
to hope esperar
to insist insistir
to need necesitar
to want querer
Impersonal Expressions word triggers
it’s easy to es fácil que
it’s fantastic that es fantástico que
it’s good that es bueno que
it’s important that es importante que
it’s incredible that es incredible que
it’s necessary that es necesario que
it’s strange that es extraño que
it’s wonderful that es maravilloso que
Recommendations word triggers
to advise aconsejar
to ask pedir
to insist insistir
to order ordenar
to order mandar
to prefer preferir
to recommend recomedar
to require requerir
to suggest sugerir
to want querer
Doubt/Denial/Possibilities word triggers
to doubt dudar
to not understand no comprender
to not believe no creer
to not be sure no estar seguro
to not seem no parecer
to not think no pensar
Spanish subjunctive formula
- [Indicative verb] + que + [verb in subjunctive]
Yo quería que ustedes me ayudaran. I wanted you guys to help me.
- [Impersonal expression] + que + [verb in subjunctive]
Señora, no es necesario que regrese. Ma’am, you don’t need to come back.
- Ojalá is a conjunction or interjection that triggers the subjunctive in Spanish, and it often omits the word ‘que’:
Ojalá puedan venir. I hope you can come.
The present subjunctive:
Current wishes, demands, emotions, and doubts and describes
unknown people or things in the present
Ex) I hope Juan buys more cookies.
Ex) Come to see me when you finish.
The formula is:
Person AR ER / IR
Yo -e -a
Tú -es -as
Él / Ella -e -a
Nosotros -emos -amos
Ustedes -en -an
Ojalá que Juan compre más galletas.
I hope Juan buys more cookies.
Ven a verme cuando termines.
Come to see me when you finish.
The imperfect subjunctive:
Politeness, past hopes, skepticism, and suggestions
Ex) I was hoping that you had time to help me.
Ex) My friends wanted us to go running.
The formula is:
Person Past subjunctive endings
Yo -ra /-se
Tú -ras /-ses
Él / Ella -ra /-se
Nosotros -ramos /-semos
Ustedes –ran /-sen
Esperaba que tuvieras tiempo de ayudarme.
I was hoping that you had time to help me.
Mis amigos querían que fuésemos a correr.
My friends wanted us to go running.
The present perfect subjunctive:
Current emotions, wishes, or uncertainty about a past action
relevant to the present
I don’t think Luis got upset with you.
I doubt that the kids have cleaned their room.
The formula is:
[Haber in present form] + [Past Participle]
Yo Haya
Tú Hayas
Él / Ella Haya
Nosotros Hayamos
Ustedes Hayan
No creo que Luis se haya enojado contigo.
I don’t think Luis got upset with you.
Dudo que los niños hayan limpiado su cuarto.
I doubt that the kids have cleaned their room.
The past perfect subjunctive:
Express regrets and hypotheses about things that could have
happened
I wish you had told me sooner.
If you had gone, you would have had fun.
The formula is:
[Haber in imperfect form] + [Past Participle]
Yo Hubiera/Hubiese
Tú Hubieras/Hubieses
Él / Ella Hubiera Hubiese
Nosotros Hubiéramos/Hubiésemos
Ustedes Hubieran/Hubiesen
Ojalá me hubieras dicho antes.
I wish you had told me sooner.
Si hubieras ido, te habrías divertido.
If you had gone, you would have had fun.
Indicative versus subjunctive examples:
Indicative:
Tuve un día excelente.
I had an excellent day.
Ella es la hermana de Diego.
That is Diego’s sister.
Mañana vamos al dentista.
Tomorrow, we will go to the dentist.
Subjunctive
Espero que tengas un excelente día.
I hope you have an excellent day.
¿Crees que ella sea la hermana de Diego?
Do you think that is Diego’s sister?
Quiero que vayamos al dentista mañana.
I want us to go to the dentist tomorrow.
