subjunctive

SUBJUNCTIVE TENSE (Present Subjunctive)

W.E.I.R.D.O. — The Triggers of the Subjunctive

• W — Wishes / Wants

  • Used for desire, intention, preference.
    • Example: Quiero que tú vengas. (I want you to come.)
    • Example: Ella desea que estudiemos. (She wishes that we study.)

• E — Emotions

  • Feelings about actions or situations.
    • Example: Me alegra que estés aquí. (I’m happy that you’re here.)
    • Example: Temo que ellos no puedan venir. (I fear that they cannot come.)

• I — Impersonal Expressions

  • Form: Es + adjective + que + subjunctive
    • Example: Es necesario que practiques. (It is necessary that you practice.)
    • Example: Es importante que hable. (It is important that he/she speaks.)

• R — Recommendations / Requests

  • Someone telling or asking someone else to do something.
    • Example: Te aconsejo que descanses. (I advise you to rest.)
    • Example: El profesor pide que escuchen. (The teacher asks that they listen.)

• D — Doubt / Denial

  • Lack of certainty or belief.
    • Example: Dudo que él tenga razón. (I doubt that he is right.)
    • Example: No creo que sea verdad. (I don’t believe it is true.)

• O — Ojalá

  • Expresses hope or a strong wish.
  • “Ojalá” ALWAYS triggers the subjunctive.
  • It may appear with or without "que."
    • Example: Ojalá que llegue temprano. (I hope he/she arrives early.)
    • Example: Ojalá llueva mañana. (I hope it rains tomorrow.)

How to Form the Subjunctive

1. Take the present tense "yo" form
2. Remove the -o
3. Add opposite endings:
   • -AR verbs: e, es, e, emos, en
   • -ER / -IR verbs: a, as, a, amos, an

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

• ser → sea
• ir → vaya
• haber → haya
• saber → sepa
• estar → esté
• dar → dé

Irregular “Yo-Go” Forms (stem stays)

• hacer → haga
• tener → tenga
• poner → ponga
• salir → salga
• venir → venga
• decir → diga
• traer → traiga
• oír → oiga

GENERAL SPANISH GRAMMAR RULES

Gender (Masculine / Feminine)

• Most -o nouns → masculine
• Most -a nouns → feminine
• Common exceptions:
  • Masculine: el día, el mapa, el planeta, el problema
  • Feminine: la mano, la radio, la foto (fotografía)

Number (Plural Formation)

• If a noun ends in a vowel → add +s
  • Example: libro → libros
• If a noun ends in a consonant → add +es
  • Example: mujer → mujeres

Adjective Agreement

• Adjectives must match gender + number:
  • Example: el chico alto / las chicas altas

Stem-Changing Verbs (Boot Verbs)

• Happen in: yo, tú, él, ellos (not nosotros).

Types of Stem-Changing (Boot Verbs):

• e → ie (cerrar → cierro)
• o → ue (dormir → duermo)
• e → i (pedir → pido)

In the subjunctive for -IR verbs:

• e → i (sentir → sintamos)
• o → u (dormir → durmamos)

PRETERITE TENSE (Completed Past)

When to Use the Preterite

• Completed actions
• Exact time frames
• One-time events
• Sudden actions
• Actions in a sequence:
  • Example: Fui al parque, compré comida y regresé. (I went to the park, bought food, and returned.)

Regular Endings

• -AR verbs: é, aste, ó, amos, aron
• -ER / -IR verbs: í, iste, ió, imos, ieron

Completely Irregular Preterite Stems

• These verbs use special stems and no accent marks:
• Endings (same for all irregulars): e, iste, o, imos, ieron

Verbs with “J” Stems

• dije, dijiste, dijo, dijimos, dijeron
• traj- → trajeron
• conduj- → condujeron
  • (Note: No ‘i’ is used in ellos form.)

-CAR, -GAR, -ZAR Verbs (ONLY in YO form)

• buscar → busqué
• llegar → llegué
• empezar → empecé

Double-Vowel Verbs

• leer → leyó, leyeron
• oír → oyó, oyeron
• (Note: Accents on all forms except ellos.)

IMPERFECT TENSE (Repeated / Ongoing Past)

When to Use the Imperfect

• Habitual actions (“used to”)
• Descriptions
• Background information
• Weather, age, time
• Feelings
• Ongoing past action interrupted
  • Example: Yo caminaba cuando empezó a llover. (I was walking when it started to rain.)

Regular Endings

• -AR verbs: aba, abas, aba, ábamos, aban
• -ER / -IR verbs: ía, ías, ía, íamos, ían

Three Irregular Imperfect Verbs

• ir → iba, ibas, iba, íbamos, iban
• ser → era, eras, era, éramos, eran
• ver → veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veían

FUTURE TENSE (Will / Shall)

When to Use the Future

• Things that will happen
• Future plans
• Predictions
• Present probability
  • Example: Estará en casa → She must be at home.

Regular Future Endings

• Add to the infinitive: é, ás, á, emos, án
  • Example:
  • hablaré
  • comerás
  • vivirá

Irregular Future Stems

• Add the future endings to these stems: