spanish subjunctive mood (present tense)

Affirmative Informal Commands

Use the "El/Ella/Usted" form of present tense for regular verbs.

Regular Verb Example: hablar

hablar → habla

Regular Verb Example: comer

comer → come

Regular Verb Example: vivir

vivir → vive

Tú Form Method

Find the "Tú" form of present tense, then remove the "s".

Tú Form Example: hablar

hablar → hablas → habla

Tú Form Example: comer

comer → comes → come

Tú Form Example: vivir

vivir → vives → vive

Irregular Informal Affirmative Commands

Commands that do not follow regular conjugation patterns.

Irregular Command: venir

venir → ven

Irregular Command: decir

decir → di

Irregular Command: salir

salir → sal

Irregular Command: hacer

hacer → haz

Irregular Command: tener

tener → ten

Irregular Command: ir

ir → ve

Irregular Command: poner

poner → pon

Irregular Command: ser

ser → sé

Negative Commands

Find the "Yo" form of present tense, drop the -o, add opposite ending, and add "No" before the verb.

Negative Command Example: hablar

hablar → hablo → hables → no hables

Negative Command Example: comer

comer → como → comas → no comas

Negative Command Example: vivir

vivir → vivo → vivas → no vivas

Subjunctive Mood

Used to express wishes, emotions, or uncertainty.

Forming the Subjunctive

Take 'yo' form of present tense, drop the -o, and add opposite endings.

Subjunctive Example: hablar

hablar → hablo → hable

Subjunctive Example: comer

comer → como → coma

Subjunctive Example: vivir

vivir → vivo → viva

Subjunctive Formula

First subject + Indicative verb + QUE + Second subject + Subjunctive verb.

DISHES

A mnemonic for irregular verbs in Subjunctive.

DISHES: D

Dar → dé, des, dé, demos, den

DISHES: I

Ir → vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayan

DISHES: S

Ser → sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean

DISHES: H

Haber → haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayan

DISHES: E

Estar → esté, estés, esté, estemos, estén

DISHES: S

Saber → sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepan

WEIRDO

An acronym for when to use subjunctive.

WEIRDO: W

Wishes, desires, wants

WEIRDO: E

Emotions, feelings

WEIRDO: I

Impersonal observations/expressions

WEIRDO: R

Requests/recommendations

WEIRDO: D

Doubt/denial/disbelief

WEIRDO: O

Ojalá (let's hope)

Practice Tips

Look for expressions of uncertainty or emotion and memorize irregular commands and verbs.