El Presente Subjuntivo Sarah Cogan p.4

The Subjunctive Mood and the Present Tense The Present is a tense; it is used to describe the time in which an action or event happened. The Subjunctive is a mood; it reflects how the speaker or writer feels about the action or event. Therefore, the Present Subjunctive is how the speaker feels about something in the present.

When Is It Used? Why? The Subjunctive is used to express doubt and uncertainty. “Dudo que usted vaya a Chile este verano.” I doubt that you went to Chile this summer. Here we see that the verb tense changed because the author had doubts about the event described. This is where we implement the subjunctive. “No dudo que usted va a Chile este verano.” I don’t doubt you went to Chile this summer. In this example, the subjunctive wasn’t used because the author is certain about what he’s saying.

Other Cases: Some Examples in English: I want him to go to the store. I hope he will go to the store. The speaker isn’t certain that the subject will be going to the store. It’s good that he went to the store. It’s important that he goes to the store. The speaker is expressing opinion about the subject going to the store; in other words, it isn’t a fact being stated.

WEIRDO! Wish Emotion Impersonal expression Recommendation Doubt/Denial To remember the cases in which the subjunctive is used: Wish Emotion Impersonal expression Recommendation Doubt/Denial Ojalá These are all used when whatever being said isn’t explicitly factual. (I hope you clean your room, I doubt he’s passing physics, etc.)

Endings -AR Verbs: -e -emos -es -e -en -ER/IR Verbs: -a -amos -as *No accents in any form! (when regular) -ER/IR Verbs: -a -amos -as -a -an

Conjugating Let’s practice with HABLAR. -Step 1; take off the ending in the present yo form. Hablo - o = Habl -Step 2; Add the appropriate conjugation for the pronoun! for Yo: ----> Yo Hable for Ellos: ----> Ellos Hablen

Stem Changers :( Be aware that since you are taking the verb from the present “yo” form, there will be some stem changers that you have to watch out for! Some Examples of Stem Changers: Conocer ---> Yo Conozco ---> (Remove “o”) Conozc ---> (Add ending) Conozca Tener ---> Yo Tengo ---> (Remove “o”) Teng ---> (Add ending) Tenga Pensar ---> Yo Pienso ---> (Remove “o”) Piens ---> (Add ending) Piense

Be Careful With “Nosotros” In the “nosotros” form the stem changer verb is a bit more simplified. For example: Contar (“Cuento”): Contemos Dormir (“Duermo”): Durmamos Perder (“Pierdo”): Perdamos (Remember, just like stem changers in the present, there’s no trick to remembering these other than memorization.)

....Also Irregulars :(( There are seven irregulars to watch out for! Remember “HISSED,” or... Haber: haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayan Ir: vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayan Saber: sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepan Ser: sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean *Estar: esté, estés, esté, estemos, estén *Dar: dé, des, dé, demos, den

Practicar! Comer: Yo coma Nosotros comamos Tu comas Ella coma Ellos coman Dormir: Yo duerma Nosotros durmamos Tu duermas Ella duerma Ellos duerman Estar: Yo esté Nosotros estemos Tu estés Ella esté Nosotros estén Volver: Yo vuelva Nosotros vuelvamos Tu vuelvas Ella vuela Ellos vuelvan

Forming a Sentence Forming a sentence in the subjunctive: There are two clauses that will have different subjects, and will be separated by a “que” The subjunctive verb will follow the “WEIRDO” clause. Some examples: Quiero que no tengas frío. Es una lástima que se hayan perdido.

Step By Step Practice: We’ll be constructing the sentence in Spanish. Let’s try doing “I doubt you swim every day.” 1.) The first clause will be a “WEIRDO” statement. Something like “I wish,” “I want,” or “It’s doubtful.” In this case “Dudo” (I doubt.) 2.) Since we’ve taken care of the first subject, it’s time to switch to the second clause, which is separated by a “que.” So now we have “Dudo que.” 3.) Conjugate in the subjunctive. “to swim” ---> “nadar” which would become “nades” (you swim in Subj.) which would give us “Dudo que nades” 4.) Tack on the rest of whatever you’re trying to say. For us, “cada dia.” “Dudo que nades cada dia.”

Sources http://www.studyspanish.com/verbs/lessons/pressubj_reg.htm Extra Practice: Study Spanish