2. When to Use the Subjunctive
Subjunctive is used when the situation
is not factual, but rather when the
action is subjective or hypothetical.
In Spanish, the speaker simply needs
to recognize when the action is real
and objective (He brings me the towel)
and when it is subjective (I hope that
he brings me the towel) to know which
endings to use.
3. When to Use Subjunctive
If the answer to the following two
questions is yes, the subjunctive mood
should be used:
1. Is there a possibility that this action
has not occurred or is not now
occurring?
2. Is the action or event contained in a
dependent clause?
4. When to Use Subjunctive
In Spanish, just as in English, there
are 3 grammatical moods:
1. The Imperative (Commands)
2. The Indicative (Describes real or
objective actions or events)
3. The Subjunctive (Describes
subjective or hypothetical actions or
events)
5. When to Use Subjunctive
In English, very few structural changes
are employed to signify a change in
mood.
In Spanish, mood changes
necessitate different verb endings.
Correctly using the subjunctive is one
of the most non-intuitive aspects of
Spanish for English-speaking
students.
6. When to Use Subjuctive
WEIRDO
W – wishes, hopes, and desires
E – emotions
I – impersonal expressions
R – requests
D – doubts
O – opinions
7. Wishes, Hopes, and Desires
When the verb in the independent
clause is a verb such as desear (to
wish), querer (to want), esperar (to
hope), or preferir (to prefer), the
dependent clause uses the
subjunctive.
Example: I prefer that you not watch
that show.
Prefiero que no veas ese programa.
8. Emotions
When verbs such as alegrarse (to be
happy), sorprenderse (to
surprise), sentir (to regret), or temer
(to fear), are used in the independent
clause, the subjunctive is used in the
dependent clause.
Example: I am afraid that he won’t
return on time.
Temo que no vuelva a tiempo.
9. Impersonal Expressions
Use subjunctive after the following
conjunctions, if doubt or anticipation is
implied:
A menos que – unless
A pesar de que – in spite of
Antes de que – before
Aunque - although
10. Impersonal Expressions
Después de que – after
En caso de que – in case
En cuanto – as soon as
Hasta que – until
Para que – so that
11. Requests
When using verbs such as aconsejar
(to advise), pedir (to ask for), or
recomendar (to recommend) in the
independent clause, use the
subjunctive in the dependent clause.
Example: They advised me to leave.
Me aconsejaron que saliera.
12. Doubts
When doubt is expressed by verbs in
the independent clause such as dudar
(to doubt), no creer (to
disbelieve), or negar (to deny), then
use the subjunctive in the dependent
clause.
Example: They don’t believe I know.
No creen que sepa.
Example: We deny that it is the truth.
Negamos que sea la verdad.
13. Opinion
Use subjunctive in the dependent
clause after the following
expressions, provided that
doubt, uncertainty, or emotion is
suggested or implied:
Quizás, acaso, tal vez – perhaps
Es bueno – It is good
Es difícil – It is hard
14. Opinion
Es dudoso – It is doubtful
Es importante – It is important
Es imposible – It is impossible
Es incierto – It is uncertain
Es malo – It is bad
Es mejor – It is better
Es necesario – It is necessary
Es posible – It is possible
15. Opinion
Es una lástima – It is a pity
Example: Perhaps she is visiting this
fall.
Quizás visite este otoño.
Example: It is good that she knows.
Es bueno que ella sepa.
16. Present Subjunctive
While the present indicative mood is
used to describe an actual
situation, the present subjunctive
mood expresses
uncertainty, feelings, desires, and
hypothetical situations.
To form the present subjunctive, drop
the –o from the first person singular
form of the present indicative and add
the subjunctive endings.
17. Present Subjunctive
In the subjunctive, -ar verbs take –e
and –er/-ir verbs take –a.
-ar endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -en
-er/-ir endings: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -an
Example: I will go to the movies when
I have money.
Iré al cine cuando tenga dinero.
18. Irregulars
There are only 6 irregular verbs total
in the subjunctive tense.
Dar – to give
Dé Demos
Des
Dé Den
19. Irregulars
Estar – to be (temporary)
Esté Estemos
Estés
Esté Estén
Haber – to have (auxiliary)
Haya Hayamos
Hayas
Haya Hayan
20. Irregulars
Ir – to go
Vaya Vayamos
Vayas
Vaya Vayan
Saber – to know (facts/information)
Sepa Sepamos
Sepas
Sepa Sepan
22. Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect or past subjunctive is
used in situations where the verb in
the independent clause is in the past
or conditional tense.
This tense is used to express
something that might have been or
would have been.
23. Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive tense is
formed by:
1. Taking the verb’s third person plural
(ellos) form of the preterite tense (-ar
verb ending is –aron and –er/-ir verb
ending is –ieron),
2. Dropping the –ron from the end, and
3. Adding the endings on the next slide.
24. Imperfect Subjunctive
The following are the endings for all
–ar, -er, and –ir verbs:
-ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -ran
Example: I doubted that he killed the
cat.
Dudaba que matara el gato.
25. Imperfect Subjunctive
There are no irregularities in the
imperfect subjunctive tense because
any irregularities in conjugation will
already be reflected in the third person
plural preterite form.
The imperfect subjunctive expresses
the same set of situations as the
present subjunctive (WEIRDO) in the
past.
26. Present Perfect Subjunctive
The present perfect subjunctive is
used to express the English term “may
have”.
It is formed by having the subjunctive
conjugation of the verb Haber (to have
– auxiliary) together with the past
participle.
28. Present Perfect Subjunctive
Example: We may have thought that
we used to know all the answers.
Hayamos pensado que sabíamos
todas las contestas.
29. Pluperfect Subjunctive
The pluperfect (or past perfect)
subjunctive is used to express the
English “might have”.
It is formed by having the imperfect
subjunctive conjugation of Haber (to
have – auxiliary) together with the past
participle.
