Subjunctive
Introducción al presente de subjuntivo
A. You may recall from previous Spanish study that Spanish possesses two moods, or ways of perceiving events. The indicative mood (which includes forms such as the present, preterite, and imperfect) is used to ask questions and report events that the speaker perceives as real and/or certain. On the other hand, the subjunctive mood expresses events that a speaker may hope/wish for, want, desire, doubt, feel strongly about, but that may not necessarily be true. Examine these two sentences. Todos saben que vamos a México. Espero que vayamos a México.
Both sentences report an event (we are going to Mexico). However, in the first sentence this event is stated as a fact that everyone knows (using the present indicative), while in the second sentence it is expressed as a hope (using the present subjunctive) and not as a fact.
¿Qué (no) quiere esta madre que hagan sus hijos?
Así lo veo I PRUÉBALO 1
In the video segment for Así lo veo I, did you notice the subjunctive forms that Ruth used? Listen to the segment again, then write down the forms you hear in the expressions below and what you think they mean.
Expresión con el subjuntivo
como
actitudes que
conducta que proteger a un hijo.
siempre una madre va a
Significado
a mocher will always protect a child.
Throughout Así lo veo, you will learn many different uses of the subjunctive, and you will have several opportunities to see and hear these uses in the video. In this section, however, you will review the forms of the present subjunctive and learn about one particular use that appears in Ruth's segment while she talks about her children.
B. To form the present subjunctive for regular verbs, add the following endings to the stem of the yo form of the present Page 93 indicative. For -ar verbs, add -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en. For -er and -ir verbs, add -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
hablar: hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen
comer: coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman
vivir: viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, viváis, vivan
Verbs that have a spelling change in the yo form (-go, -zco) maintain the spelling change in all of the forms. conocer: conozco, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcáis, conozcan
tener: tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan
Verbs that end in -car, -gar, and -zar also undergo a spelling change.
buscar: busque, busques, busque, busquemos, busquéis, busquen
llegar: llegue, llegues, llegue, lleguemos, lleguéis, lleguen
empezar: empiece, empieces, empiece, empecemos, empecéis, empiecen
Irregular verbs in the subjunctive include the following.
haber: haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
ir: vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan
saber: sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan
ser: sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean
Note the accent marks for the verbs dar and estar.
dar: dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
estar: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
Remember that stem-changing -ir verbs have a stem change in the nosotros and vosotros forms.
dormir: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman
pedir: pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan
divertirse: me divierta, te diviertas, se divierta, nos divirtamos, os divirtáis, se diviertan
El subjuntivo con antecedentes indefinidos o no existentes
A. Like adjectives, adjective clauses describe a noun.
Conocí a una persona interesante. (adjective)
Conocí a una persona que trabaja con estudiantes internacionales. (adjective clause)
In the preceding examples, both the adjective interesante and the adjective clause que trabaja con estudiantes internacionales modify or describe persona. The noun persona is called the antecedent because it precedes the adjective clause, and the information in the adjective clause refers back to it.
B. Antecedents can be definite, indefinite, or nonexistent. Definite antecedents refer to persons or things that the speaker knows, has contact with, and so forth. Indefinite antecedents refer to someone or something the speaker may need or is looking for but may or may not find. Nonexistent antecedents refer to someone or something that the speaker believes does not exist. When the antecedent is definite, Spanish uses the indicative in the adjective clause. However, if the antecedent is either indefinite or nonexistent, the verb in the adjective clause must be in the subjunctive, as in the examples below. Definite Antecedent, Indicative
Soy alguien que quiere tener hijos algún día.
I'm someone who wants to have children some day.
Tengo un esposo que me respeta y que me quiere. I have a husband who respects me and loves me. Conozco a alguien que puede ayudarnos.
I know someone who can help us.
Hay alguien aquí que es médico.
There is someone here who is a doctor.
Así lo veo II
PRUÉBALO 2
Indefinite or Negative Antecedent, Subjunctive
No es alguien que quiera tener hijos.
He's not someone who wants to have kids.
Busco un esposo que me respete y que me quiera. I'm looking for a husband who respects me and loves me. No conozco a nadie que pueda ayudarnos.
I don't know anyone who can help us.
¿Hay alguien aquí que sea médico?
Is there anyone here who is a doctor?
In the video segment for this section of the lesson, Gustavo talks about the kind of person he is not. Part of what he says appears below. Do you think he uses the indicative or the subjunctive? Why? Listen to him again and complete the phrase with the verb you hear.
<<... no soy alguien que le
a diario a su mamá o una vez a la semana.>>>
¿Cómo es esta pareja? Termina las siguientes oraciones.
Es una pareja que...
No es una pareja que...
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El subjuntivo después de expresiones impersonales con ser
When impersonal expressions (such as es posible que, es bueno que, es importante que) communicate doubt, emotion, uncertainty, urgency, or anything except truth or certainty, the subjunctive is used in the dependent clause. Consider the following examples.
Es verdad (cierto) que Ernesto viene de una familia muy unida.
It is true (certain) that Emesto comes from a close-knit family.
Es fantástico que Emesto venga de una familia muy unida.
It's great/fantastic that Ernesto comes from a close-knit family.
Notice how in the first example, the main clause es verdad que (or es cierto que) expresses certainty. For this reason, the indicative is used. In the second example, the main clause expresses emotion or a feeling about something, therefore the subjunctive is used in the dependent clause.
Así lo veo III
PRUEBALO 3
Go back and listen to what Ernesto says when he talks about a family being unida. Complete the sentence with what he says. *Y cuando es una familia muy unida,
Es probable que esta familia...
B. The following examples show common impersonal expressions with ser that take the subjunctive.
To express doubt and uncertainty:
Es dudable que... (It's doubtful that ...)
Es increible que... (It's incredible that...)
(No) Es posible que... (It's [not possible that...)
(No) Es probable que... It's [not] probable that...)
To express emotions and feelings about something: Es bueno/malo que... (It's good/bad that...)
Es fácil/difícil que... (It's easy/hard that...)
Es extraño que... (It's strange that...)
Es mejor que... (It's better that...)
Es triste que... (It's sad that...
Es dudable que existan familias sin problemas. It's doubtful that there are families without problems.
Es increible que lleven casados treinta años. It's incredible that they've been married for thirty years.
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Es posible que el concepto de la familia esté cambiando. It's possible that the concept of family is changing.
Es probable que haya más padres solteros ahora que hace cincuenta años.
It's probable that there are more single parents today than fifty years ago.
Es bueno que su familia lo apoye en todo.
It's good that his family supports him in everything.
Es difícil para los padres que sus hijos vivan tan lejos. It's hard for parents that their children live so far away.
Es extraño que no nos llame nunca.
It's strange that she doesn't ever call us.
Es mejor que ya no trabajen juntos.
It's better that they no longer work together.
Es triste que mi abuelo no se acuerde de nada.
It's sad that my grandfather doesn't remember anything.
Es triste que algunos ancianos...
To express wishes, recommendations, and indirect commands:
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Es deseable que... (It's desirable that ...)
Es importante que... (It's important that...)
Es necesario/preciso que... (It's necessary that ...)
Es preferible que... (It's preferable that...)
Es recomendable que... (It's recommended that ...)
Es deseable que llegues a la cita unos minutos antes. It's desirable that you arrive at the appointment a few minutes early.
Es importante que se lo digas en persona. It's important that you tell it to him/her in person.
Es necesario que lo encontremos lo antes posible. It's necessary that we find him as soon as possible.
Es preferible que no hagas eso.
It's preferable that you don't do that.
Es recomendable que nos avisen si hay algún cambio. It's recommended that you all advise us if there's a change.
Más usos del subjuntivo: En oraciones independientes;
con el hecho de que
A. In Lección 3, you were introduced to the forms of the present subjunctive and worked with uses of the subjunctive and the indicative in adjective clauses, as in these examples.
Tengo un esposo que me respeta.
I have a husband who respects me.
Busco un esposo que me respete.
I'm looking for a husband who will respect me.
In addition, you worked with both the subjunctive and indicative in clauses following impersonal expressions.
Es verdad que Ernesto viene de una familia muy unida.
It's true that Ernesto comes from a close family.
Es fantástico que Ernesto venga de una familia muy unida.
It's fantastic that Ernesto comes from a close family.
In both sets of examples above, the verb following que is in the indicative in the first sentence, but the subjunctive is used in the second. Do you remember why?
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The subjunctive normally appears in dependent or subordinate clauses. For example, in the sentence Busco un esposo que me respete, Busco un esposo is the main or independent clause because it can stand alone as a complete sentence, and que me respete is the dependent or subordinate clause because it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. In many cases, the dependent clause in Spanish begins with the conjunction (or relative pronoun) que, or an adverbial phrase such as cuando, tan pronto como, para que, and so forth. You will learn more about some of these uses later on in this lesson. C. The subjunctive also occurs in certain independent clauses introduced by adverbs of probability such as quizá(s)* and tal vez, both of which mean maybe or perhaps. With both of these adverbs, the subjunctive and the indicative can be used, as in the following examples.
Quizás/Tal vez llego tarde porque hay mucho tráfico a esas horas.
Maybe I'll be late because there's a lot of traffic at that time.
¿No ha llegado todavía? Quizás/Tal vez no sepa que tenemos una reunión.
Hasn't he arrived yet? Maybe he doesn't know we have a meeting.
The use of the indicative in the first example communicates a greater degree of certainty on the part of the speaker. In the second example, however, the subjunctive is used to communicate a conjecture or possibility without having firsthand information.
Así lo veo l PRUÉBALO 1
Complete this sentence that Yolanda says in Así lo veo I with the correct form of ser. Then listen to verify your answer, and explain why she used the mood (indicative or subjunctive) that she uses.
<Quizás el compromiso moral, con respeto del matrimonio,
un poquito más fuerte.>>>
D. The subjunctive also appears in independent clauses containing ojalá (que), which can be translated as I hope or I wish. Spanish allows ojalá with or without que, but in either case, the subjunctive is always used.
Ojalá nos casemos en el verano.
I hope we get married in the summer.
Ojalá no cambie de opinión. I hope she doesn't change her mind.
*Both spellings-quizá and quizás-are correct. Quizás, however, is more common.
Así lo veo I
PRUÉBALO 2
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Another use of the subjunctive that occurs in the video segment is following the expression el hecho de que... (the fact that ...). Do you recall how Yolanda completed the following sentence? If not, listen to it again.
<< ... para mí no es muy importante el... el hecho de que
o no regido por un papel... >>
These examples illustrate the use of the subjunctive following el hecho de que.
El hecho de que Pedro sonría no significa que esté contento.
The fact that Pedro is smiling doesn't mean he's happy.
El hecho de que Adela estudie no quiere decir que saque buenas notas en los exámenes. The fact that Adela studies doesn't mean that she'll get good grades on the exams.
Notice in the examples above that, in addition to using the subjunctive after el hecho de que, it's also used after the clause no significa que... (or no quiere decir que...) because it expresses skepticism about Pedro being happy or that Adela will get good grades on the exams. You will learn more about this use of the subjunctive later on. In this section, however, you only need to focus on using the subjunctive after el hecho de que, and in independent clauses that begin with quizás, tal vez, and ojalá.
El subjuntivo y el indicativo en cláusulas adverbiales
Like adverbs, adverbial clauses modify a verb or verb phrase by indicating how, when, in what way, and so forth, as in the following examples.
Pienso casarme pronto. (adverb) I plan to get married soon.
Pienso casarme tan pronto como termine mis estudios. (adverbial clause)
I plan to get married as soon as I finish my studies.
In the previous examples, both the adverb pronto (soon) and the adverbial phrase tan pronto como termine mis estudios (as soon as I finish my studies) modify the verb phrase Pienso casarme by indicating when. In addition to tan pronto como, other adverbial conjunctions of time include the following.
cuando
when
después (de) que
after
en cuanto
as soon as
hasta que mientras (que)
until
while, as long as
The subjunctive is used in adverbial clauses of time when the event in the adverbial clause has not yet occurred or is hypothetical.
Así lo veo II PRUÉBALO 3
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An example of this use of the subjunctive occurs when Padre Aguilar is talking about marriage. Listen to him again and complete the phrase with the verb you hear. Can you explain why the subjunctive is used in this context?
<Cuando un hombre y otro hombre
procrear juntos...>>
If the event or situation described in the adverbial clause already exists and/or has already taken place in the past, the indicative is used. The following examples contrast the subjunctive and indicative in temporal adverbial clauses. See if you can explain why the indicative or the subjunctive is used in each example.
Estos dos van a casarse cuando...
Indicative
Mucha gente asistió a la boda cuando se casaron.
Many people attended the wedding when they got married.
Después de que se divorciaron, Carmen se sintió más libre que nunca.
After they got divorced, Carmen felt freer than ever. En cuanto termina el semestre, siempre vamos a la playa.
As soon as the semester ends, we always go to the beach. No me casé con Juan hasta que él dejó de fumar.
I didn't marry Juan until he stopped smoking.
El padre se quedaba en casa mientras los niños eran pequeños.
The father stayed at home while the children were little.
Subjunctive
Mucha gente va a asistir a la boda cuando se casen.
Many people are going to attend the wedding when they get married.
Después de que se divorcien, Carmen va a sentirse más libre que nunca.
After they get divorced, Carmen will feel freer than ever. En cuanto termine el semestre, vamos a la playa. As soon as the semester ends, we're going to the beach. No me caso con Juan hasta que él deje de fumar.
I won't marry Juan until he stops smoking.
El padre se queda en casa mientras los niños sean pequeños.
The father stays at home as long as the children are little.
With the adverbial conjunctions después de que and hasta que, if there is no change in subject between the main and subordinate clauses, Spanish speakers often drop the que and use an infinitive instead of a conjugated verb, as in the following examples.
Después de trabajar tanto, necesito unas vacaciones.
After working so much, I need a vacation.
No puedo ir hasta terminar lo que estoy haciendo.
I can't go until I finish what I'm doing.
El subjuntivo después de expresiones de duda, negación e incertidumbre
A. In Lección 3, you worked with uses of the indicative and the subjunctive after expressions with the verb ser, as in the following examples.
Es cierto que Ernesto vive en casa con sus padres.
It's true that Ernesto lives at home with his parents.
Es dudable que Gustavo vuelva a vivir con sus padres.
It's doubtful that Gustavo will live with his parents again.
In the first example, the main clause es cierto que expresses certainty. For this reason, the indicative is used. However, in the second example, the main clause es dudable que expresses doubt, and the subjunctive is used in the dependent clause.
In addition to expressions with ser that express doubt and uncertainty, such as (no) es probable / posible que, no es verdad que, the subjunctive is used after other expressions of doubt, denial, and uncertainty. Consider the following examples below Creo que Ruth tiene razón. I think Ruth is right.
No creo que Ruth tenga razón.
I don't think Ruth is right.
In the first example, the statement Ruth is right is true in the mind of the speaker. That is, the speaker believes it to be true. In the second example, however, the speaker doubts the truthfulness of the same statement (Ruth is right). Therefore, the subjunctive is used. Generally speaking, the indicative is used when the speaker is fairly certain or knowledgeable that a proposition is true. In contrast, the subjunctive is used when the speaker denies, doubts, or is uncertain about the veracity of a proposition.
Así lo veo III
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PRUÉBALO 4
Do you remember which verb Ruth used in the fragment below? Listen to it again and write down the verb that you hear. <<Puede ser que lo mismo que yo siento por mi esposo.>
Can you explain why she used this form?
Below is a summary of common verbs used to express certainty, which are followed by the indicative, as well as common expressions of doubt and denial, which introduce the subjunctive.
Indicative
creer/pensar (to believe/think)
Creo que se separan pronto.
I believe they're separating soon.
no dudar (to not doubt)
No dudamos que lo puedes hacer. We don't doubt that you can do it. estar seguro/a de (to be sure) Está segura de que Ramón la quiere. She's sure that Ramón loves her.
no negar (to not deny)
No niega que hay problemas.
Subjunctive
no creer / pensar (to not believe/think)
No pienso que se separen.
I don't think they'll separate. dudar (to doubt)
Dudamos que lo puedas hacer. We doubt that you can do it. no estar seguro/a de (to not be sure) No está segura de que Ramón la quiera. She's not sure that Ramón loves her. negar (to deny)
Niega que haya un problema.
He doesn't deny that there are problems. He denies that there is a problem.
parecer (to seem)
Me parece que está embarazada.
It seems to me that she's pregnant.
no parecer (to not seem)
No me parece que esté embarazada.
It doesn't seem (I don't think) she's pregnant.
(no) puede ser (it could/couldn't be)
Puede ser que ya lo sepa.
It could be that he already knows.