Subjunctive

  • The subjunctive mood conveys hypothetical situations and subjectivity. It does not refer to real actions, but rather doubts, feelings, advice, suggestions, requests, etc.

  • There are four types: Present, imperfect, present perfect, and past perfect.

Indications of Subjunctive (WEIRDO)

Wishes/will/desire

Impersonal

Requests/Recommendations

Doubt

Ojala

Querer

Es malo

Recomendar

Dudar

Ojala (que)

Pedir

Es bueno

Sugerir

No Creer

Tal Vez

Preferir

Es necessario

Aconsejar

No Pensar

Quizas

1) Present:

  • First take the first person, singular present form (“Yo [verb])

  • Drop the -o

  • Add the opposite vowel endings (ar —> e, es, e, emos, eis, en) and (er/ir —> a, as, a, amos, ais, an)

  • Examples:

    • Tener: Tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengan

    • Vivir: Viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, vivan

    • Comer: Coma, comas, coma, comamos, coman

Irregulars

Dar

Ir

Ser

Haber

Estar

Saber

DĂ©

Vaya

Sea

Haya

Esté

Sepa

DĂ©s

Vayas

Seas

Hayas

Estés

Sepas

DĂ©

Vaya

Sea

Haya

Esté

Sepa

Demos

Vayamos

Seamos

Hayamos

Estemos

Sepamos

Den

Vayan

Sean

Hayan

Estén

Sepan

Phrases that indicate subjunctive

1) ESCAPA A

  • No que = indicative (Antes de,sin, and para are followed by infinitives)

  • Yes que = subjunctive

2) CAMELoT

  • Don’t use infinitive after this

  • If the event will take place int he future, is uncertain or doubtful, use subjunctive

  • If the event happens or happens regularly, use indicative.

3) HD3

  • No que =indicative (Despues de and hasta are followed by infinitive)

  • Yes que = follow CAMELoT rules