1. What is the subjunctive?
• The subjunctive is not a tense; it is a mood.
• The subjunctive is used when reporting something
that is not necessarily real, or that depends on
something else. The subjunctive signals that it may
or may not happen or be true.
• INDICATIVE=certainty/objectivity (present, preterite,
imperfect, future, conditional, compound tenses)
• SUBJUNCTIVE=possibiliby/subjectivity
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2. Examples of the subjunctive being used in English:
1) The doctor recommends that she drink 4 glasses of water a day.
Normally, the conjugation is "She drinks"; but the Subjunctive form drops
the "s".
2) The State requires that you be 18 years old to buy cigarettes.
Normally, the conjugation is "you are".
3) "If I were King, I would eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream daily." Normally,
the conjugation is "I was“
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3. The basics of subjunctive
• Must have a subjunctive TRIGGER (i.e. verb or expression of
wishing wanting/will or influence, emotion, doubt)
• Sentence has 2 clauses (part of sentence w/ subject & verb).
• Each clause has different subject. (subject in the first part of the
sentence cannot be the same as the other subject)
• ‘QUE’ connects the two parts
• 1st verb in present indicative
• 2nd verb in SUBJUNCTIVE
Los profesores quieren que los estudiantes escriban apuntes.
Yo espero que los Patriotas ganen el Super Tazón.
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4. TRIGGERS OF SUBJUNCTIVE
• The subjunctive (el subjuntivo) is used mainly
in multiple clause sentences which express will,
influence, emotion, doubt, or denial.
Yo recomiendo que tú hagas más ejercicio.
Ellos están contentos de que sea viernes.
Tú dudas que ella conozca a Tom Brady.
No es cierto que nosotros descansemos mucho.
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5. How to form present subjunctive
1) Take the ‘yo’ form present
2) Drop the –o
3) Add opposite endings
If –ar verb, add:
-e -emos
-es, -éis
-e -en
Ir –er/-ir verb, add:
-a -amos
-as -áis
-a -an
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6. • Verbs with irregular yo forms show that same
irregularity throughout the forms of the present
subjunctive.
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7. • Verbs that have stem changes in the present
indicative have the same changes in the present
subjunctive. Only –ir verbs undergo stem
changes in the nosotros & vosotros forms.
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8. Verbs that end in –car, –gar, and –zar undergo spelling changes in
the present subjunctive.
sacar: saque, saques, saque, saquemos, etc.
jugar: juegue, juegues, juegue, etc.
almorzar: almuerce, almuerces, almuerce, etc.

****The present subjunctive form of hay is haya.
Ella espera que haya una solución.
She hopes there is a solution.
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9. • Only a handful of completely irregular verbs in
subjunctive. Same as FORMAL COMMANDS
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10. Práctica
Completa con el subjuntivo
1. Ella quiere que yo _____________________(hablar) más.
2. Ellos desean que tú_______________________ (decir) la verdad.
3. Yo mando que nosotros______________________(salir) a tiempo.
4. Los padres insisten en que los hijos no ________________________(ir) lejos.
5. Esperamos que ella_________________________(saber) cómo llegar.
6. La profesora quiere que los estudiantes____________________ (hacer) la tarea.
7. Ud. prefiere que nosotros_______________________(leer) más.
8. Recomiendo que el hombre___________________(estar) aquí antes de las 8.
9. Yo propongo que tú _______________________(escribir) los apuntes.
10. Quieren que yo ______________________________(explicar) la respuesta.
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11. Verbs of will & influence/WISHING WANTING VERBS
• A clause is a group of words that contains both a
conjugated verb and a subject (expressed or implied).
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12. • When the subject of the main clause of a sentence
exerts influence or will on the subject of the 2ND
(subordinate) clause, the verb in the 2nd (subordinate)
clause must be in the subjunctive.
1st CLAUSE CONNECTOR 2nd/SUBORDINATE CLAUSE
Yo quiero que tú vayas al médico.
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13. The verbs & expressions below of
WISHING/WANTING or Will & Influence will
TRIGGER the need for subjunctive in the 2nd
clause.
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14. Examples of sentences with Verbs of Will & Influence and
the subjunctive.
Necesito que consigas estas El médico siempre me recomienda
pastillas en la farmacia. que deje de fumar.
I need you to get these pills at the The doctor always recommends that I
pharmacy. quit smoking.
Insisto en que vayas a la sala de Se oponen a que salgas si estás
emergencias. enfermo.
I insist that you go to the emergency They object to your going out if you’re
room. sick.
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15. • If there is no change of subject in the sentence,
then the 2nd verb will be in the INFINITIVE.
Quiero ir a Bogotá en junio. Prefiero que vayas en agosto.
I want to go to Bogota in June. I prefer that you go in August.
*In order for subjunctive to be used, the subject in the
2nd clause must be different from subject in 1st
clause.
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16. Verbs of emotion
• When the main clause expresses an emotion
like hope, fear, joy, pity, or surprise, the verb in
the subordinate (2nd) clause must be in the
subjunctive if its subject is different from that of
the main clause.
Me alegro de que te recuperes Tus padres tienen miedo de
pronto. que necesites una
operación.
I’m happy that you recover quickly. Your parents are afraid that
you you need an operation.
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18. The subjunctive is also used with expressions of emotion that begin
with ¡Qué…! (What a…!/It’s so…!)
¡Qué pena que él no vaya!
What a shame he’s not going!

The expression ojalá (I hope; I wish) is always followed by the
subjunctive. The use of que with ojalá is optional.
Ojalá (que) no llueva.
I hope it doesn’t rain.
Ojalá (que) no te enfermes.
I hope you don’t get sick.
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19. • The infinitive, not the subjunctive, is used with
verbs and expressions of emotion if there is no
change of subject in the sentence.
No me gusta llegar tarde. Es mejor que lo hagas ahora.
I don’t like to be late. It’s better that you do it now.
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20. Verbs of doubt or denial
• When the main clause implies doubt,
uncertainty, or denial, the verb in the
subordinate clause must be in the
subjunctive if its subject is different from that
of the main clause.
No cree que él nos quiera Dudan que eso sea un buen
engañar. tratamiento.
She doesn’t believe that he They doubt that would be a
wants to deceive us. good treatment.
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22. The subjunctive is also used after quizá(s) and tal vez (maybe;
perhaps) when they signal uncertainty, even if there is no change
of subject in the sentence.
Quizás vengan a la fiesta.
Maybe they’ll come to the party.
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23. • Anuncios para practicar el subjuntivo
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24. The indicative is used to express actions, states, or facts the
speaker considers to be certain.
The subjunctive expresses the speaker’s attitude toward events,
as well as actions or states that the speaker views as uncertain.
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