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

Dé

Vaya

Sea

Haya

Esté

Sepa

Dés

Vayas

Seas

Hayas

Estés

Sepas

Dé

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

robot