Exhaustive Guide to Spanish Subjunctive, Commands, and Urban Life in the City, and Environment

Formal (Usted/Ustedes) Commands

• Formal commands are used to give orders or advice to people addressed as usted ($Ud.$) or ustedes ($Uds.$).

• Formation Process: To form formal commands, drop the final "-o" from the first-person singular (yo) of the present indicative and add the opposite vowel endings.

• Endings for -ar verbs:

  • Add $-e$ for usted commands.

  • Add $-en$ for ustedes commands.

• Endings for -er and -ir verbs:

  • Add $-a$ for usted commands.

  • Add $-an$ for ustedes commands.

• Irregular yo Form Consistency: Verbs with irregular "yo" forms in the present indicative maintain that irregularity in the formal command. Examples include:

  • Conducir (conduzco) \u2192 conduzca, conduzcan

  • Conocer (conozco) \u2192 conozca, conozcan

  • Decir (digo) \u2192 diga, digan

  • Hacer (hago) \u2192 haga, hagan

  • Ofrecer (ofrezco) \u2192 ofrezca, ofrezcan

  • O\u00edr (oigo) \u2192 oiga, oigan

  • Poner (pongo) \u2192 ponga, pongan

  • Salir (salgo) \u2192 salga, salgan

  • Tener (tengo) \u2192 tenga, tengan

  • Traducir (traduzco) \u2192 traduzca, traduzcan

  • Traer (traigo) \u2192 traiga, traigan

  • Venir (vengo) \u2192 venga, vengan

  • Ver (veo) \u2192 vea, vean

• Stem-changing Verbs: Verbs maintain their stem changes in formal commands.

  • e:ie: No pierda la llave; Cierren la puerta.

  • o:ue: Vuelva temprano; Duerman bien.

  • e:i: Sirva la sopa; Repitan las frases.

The Present Subjunctive: Formation and Use

• Indicative vs. Subjunctive: The indicative is used to state facts and express real/definite actions. The subjunctive expresses attitudes toward events and actions viewed as uncertain or hypothetical.

• Formation Rules: Like formal commands, the present subjunctive is formed by dropping the "-o" from the "yo" form of the present indicative and adding the subjunctive endings.

• Subjunctive Endings (Regular):

  • -ar verbs: $-e$, $-es$, $-e$, $-emos$, $-\u00e9is$, $-en$.

  • -er and -ir verbs: $-a$, $-as$, $-a$, $-amos$, $-\u00e1is$, $-an$.

  • Note: The "yo" form and the Ud./\u00e9l/ella form are identical in the present subjunctive.

• Irregular Verbs in the Present Subjunctive:

  • dar: d\u00e9, des, d\u00e9, demos, deis, den.

  • estar: est\u00e9, est\u00e9s, est\u00e9, estemos, est\u00e9is, est\u00e9n.

  • ir: vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vay\u00e1is, vayan.

  • saber: sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sep\u00e1is, sepan.

  • ser: sea, seas, sea, seamos, se\u00e1is, sean.

• The Subjunctive of Hay: The form for the impersonal "there is/are" is haya.

• General Uses: The mood is triggered by expressions of: 1) will and influence, 2) emotion, 3) doubt, disbelief, and denial, and 4) indefiniteness and nonexistence.

• Sentential Structure: Typically consists of a main clause (trigger), a connector (que), and a subordinate clause (subjunctive).

Subjunctive with Verbs of Will and Influence

• Verbs of will and influence are used when someone wants to affect the actions or behavior of others.

• Common Verbs: aconsejar (to advise), desear (to wish), importar (to be important), insistir en (to insist on), mandar (to order), necesitar (to need), pedir (e:i) (to ask for), preferir (e:ie) (to prefer), prohibir (to prohibit), querer (e:ie) (to want), recomendar (e:ie) (to recommend), rogar (o:ue) (to beg), sugerir (e:ie) (to suggest).

• Impersonal Expressions: Expressions like es bueno que, es importante que, es mejor que, es necesario que, es malo que, and es urgente que act as triggers.

• Subject Change Requirement: Subjunctive is only used in the subordinate clause if the subjects of the two clauses are different (e.g., Mi mam\u00e1 prefiere que yo saque la basura).

Vocabulary: Housing, Rooms, and Domestic Chores

• Las viviendas (Housing):

  • las afueras (suburbs)

  • el alquiler (rent)

  • el ama de casa (housekeeper)

  • el barrio (neighborhood)

  • el edificio de apartamentos (apartment building)

  • el/la vecino/a (neighbor)

  • alquilar (to rent); mudarse (to move houses)

• Los cuartos (Rooms):

  • el altillo (attic); el balc\u00f3n (balcony); el s\u00f3tano (basement); el patio (yard/patio); el pasillo (hallway); la sala (living room).

• Los electrodom\u00e9sticos (Appliances):

  • la cafetera (coffee maker); el congelador (freezer); el horno de microondas (microwave); la lavadora/secadora (washer/dryer); el lavaplatos (dishwasher).

• Los quehaceres dom\u00e9sticos (Household Chores):

  • barrer el suelo (to sweep the floor); quitar el polvo (to dust); pasar la aspiradora (to vacuum); planchar la ropa (to iron clothes); sacudir los muebles (to dust furniture).

The Subjunctive with Expressions of Emotion

• Subjunctive is required in the subordinate clause when the main clause verb expresses emotion (hope, fear, joy, pity, surprise).

• Triggers: alegrarse (de) (to be happy), esperar (to hope), gustar (to like), molestar (to bother), sentir (e:ie) (to be sorry), sorprender (to surprise), temer (to fear), tener miedo (de) (to be afraid of).

• Impersonal Emotional Expressions: es extraño (it's strange), es una l\u00e1stima (it's a shame), es rid\u00edculo (it's ridiculous), es terrible (it's terrible), es triste (it's sad).

• Ojal\u00e1: Means "I hope" or "I wish" and triggers the subjunctive even without the connector "que."

The Subjunctive with Doubt, Disbelief, and Denial

• Subjunctive is used when the main clause implies negation or uncertainty and involves a subject change.

• Expressions of Doubt/Denial: dudar (to doubt), negar (e:ie) (to deny), no creer (not to believe), no estar seguro/a de (not to be sure), no es cierto/verdad (it's not true/certain), es imposible/improbable (it's impossible/improbable).

• Cultural Nuance: In Spanish, es probable implies uncertainty and triggers the subjunctive, whereas in English, "it is probable" often suggests high certainty.

Vocabulary: Nature, Animals, and the Environment

• La naturaleza (Nature):

  • el bosque tropical (rainforest); el valle (valley); el volc\u00e1n (volcano); el sendero (trail); la piedra (stone).

• Los animales: el ave/p\u00e1jaro (bird); el pez/peces (fish); la vaca (cow).

• El medio ambiente (Environment):

  • el calentamiento global (global warming); el cambio clim\u00e1tico (climate change); la deforestaci\u00f3n (deforestation); el reciclaje (recycling).

• Verbs: cazar (to hunt); conservar (to conserve); contaminar (to pollute); cuidar (to take care of); proteger (to protect); reducir (to reduce).

The Subjunctive with Conjunctions and Adverbial Clauses

• Certain conjunctions introduce adverbial clauses describing how, why, when, or where. These conjunctions always require the subjunctive because they express hypothetical situations or conditions.

• Mandatory Subjunctive Conjunctions:

  • a menos que (unless)

  • antes (de) que (before)

  • con tal (de) que (provided that)

  • en caso (de) que (in case)

  • para que (so that)

  • sin que (without)

• Preposition vs. Subordinate Clause: If there is no change of subject, the prepositions antes de, para, and sin are followed by the infinitive, not the subjunctive.

The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses

• Adjective Clause: A subordinate clause that modifies a noun or pronoun (the antecedent) in the main clause.

• Usage Rules:

  • Subjunctive: Used when the antecedent is a person, place, or thing that is uncertain, unidentified, or does not exist (e.g., "un libro que tenga informaci\u00f3n").

  • Indicative: Used when the antecedent is clearly known, certain, or definite (e.g., "el libro que tiene informaci\u00f3n").

• Personal "a" Nuances:

  • The personal "a" is not used with direct objects that are hypothetical people.

  • However, alguien and nadie always require the personal "a" when functioning as direct objects, regardless of certainty.

• Questions: If seeking information that is uncertain, use the subjunctive. If the respondent knows the information, they reply using the indicative.

Nosotros/as Commands (Let's Expressions)

• Used to give orders or suggestions that include the speaker and others, corresponding to English "Let's."

• Formation: Generally uses the first-person plural form of the present subjunctive (e.g., Crucemos la calle).

• The verb Ir:

  • Affirmative: The indicative form vamos is used (Let's go).

  • Negative: The subjunctive form no vayamos is used (Let's not go).

• The verb Irse:

  • Affirmative: v\u00e1monos (Let's leave).

  • Negative: no nos vayamos (Let's not leave).

• Alternative Affirmative: Vamos a + [infinitive] can also mean "Let's," though context distinguishes it from "we are going to."

• Pronoun Placement:

  • Affirmative commands: Object pronouns are attached to the end. The final -s of the verb ending is dropped when nos or se is attached (e.g., Sent\u00e9monos). A written accent is added to maintain stress.

  • Negative commands: Object pronouns are placed in front of the verb (e.g., No se lo digamos).

Past Participles Used as Adjectives

• Regular Formation:

  • -ar verbs: root + $-ado$.

  • -er and -ir verbs: root + $-ido$.

• Accent Rule: For -er and -ir verbs whose stems end in -a, -e, or -o, a written accent is required: ca\u00eddo, le\u00eddo, tra\u00eddo, o\u00eddo.

• Irregular Past Participles:

  • abierto (abrir), dicho (decir), muerto (morir), puesto (poner), descrito (describir), resuelto (resolver), descubierto (descubrir), roto (romper), escrito (escribir), hecho (hacer), visto (ver), vuelto (volver).

• Usage with Estar: They often describe a condition resulting from an action and must agree in gender and number with the modified noun (e.g., la mesa puesta, los letreros escritos).

Vocabulary: The City, Banking, and Directions

• En la ciudad: la carnicer\u00eda (butcher shop); la helader\u00eda (ice cream shop); la pasteler\u00eda (pastry shop); la zapater\u00eda (shoe store).

• En el banco: la cuenta corriente (checking account); la cuenta de ahorros (savings account); ahorrar (to save); cobrar (to cash).

• C\u00f3mo llegar: la cuadra (block); la esquina (corner); el letrero (sign); doblar (to turn); cruzar (to cross); derecho (straight).

• En el correo: el cartero (mail carrier); la estampilla/el sello (stamp); el sobre (envelope).

Relative Pronouns (Que, Quien, Lo que)

• que: The most frequent; refers to things or people. It is never omitted.

• quien(es): Refers only to people; often used after prepositions or the personal "a."

• lo que: Refers to an idea, a situation, or a past event; translates to "what" or "that which."

Questions & Discussion

• Practice Case study: Subjunctive vs. Indicative Choice:

  • 1. Necesito una persona que pueda cantar bien. (Subjunctive: unknown person)

  • 2. Buscamos a alguien que tenga paciencia. (Subjunctive: looking for unidentified person)

  • 3. \u00bfHay restaurantes aqu\u00ed que sirvan comida japonesa? (Subjunctive: speaker uncertain if they exist)

  • 4. Tengo una amiga que saca fotograf\u00edas muy bonitas. (Indicative: definite specific person)

  • 5. Hay una carnicer\u00eda que est\u00e1 cerca de aqu\u00ed. (Indicative: stating a fact about a known place)

  • 6. No vemos ning\u00fan apartamento que nos interese. (Subjunctive: nonexistence/negation)

  • 7. Conozco a un estudiante que come hamburguesas todos los d\u00edas. (Indicative: known specific person)

  • 8. \u00bfHay alguien que diga la verdad? (Subjunctive: uncertainty of existence)

• Command Exercise:

  • Verbs: estudiar (estudiemos), decir (digamos), levantarse (levant\u00e9monos).