1. The Spanish Subjunctive: An Introduction
(El subjuntivo español: una introducción)
Quiero que Ud. pase por el Control de Agricultura.

2. The Spanish Subjunctive
Until now, you have been using verb tenses (present, preterit, and imperfect) in the indicative mood (or mode). The indicative is used to express real, definite, or factual actions or states of being.
In this chapter, you will learn about the subjunctive mode. It is used to express the hypothetical or subjective, such as a speaker’s attitudes, wishes, feelings, emotions, or doubts. Unlike the indicative, which states facts, the subjunctive describes reality subjectively, or refers to actions or states that are not yet reality at all (and maybe never will be).

3. The Spanish Subjunctive
Notice the following examples:
Creo que Luis va a Cartagena.
I believe that Luis is going to Cartagena. (Certainty: indicative)
No creo que Luis vaya a San Andrés.
I don’t think that Luis is going to San Andrés. (Uncertainty: subjunctive)

4. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
Before we learn usage, we must learn the forms we will be working with. Think of it as learning the mechanics or “nuts and bolts” before assembling the tool.
For all but six verbs in Spanish, we can apply a simple three-step process with which to construct the forms.
Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):
hablo
como
vivo

5. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):
hablo
como
vivo
If we are careful to begin with this step, verbs with irregular stems and yo forms will be included and will not be considered irregular in the subjunctive:
conocer → conozco
oír → oigo
tener → tengo
decir → digo
pedir → pido
traer → traigo
dormir → duermo
perder → pierdo
venir → vengo
hacer → hago
querer → quiero
ver → veo

6. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
Step 2: Take off the final o of the yo form:
habl o
com o
viv o
Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:
For -ar verbs: Add -er verb endings.
habl e
habl
emos
habl es
habl
éis
habl e
habl en
Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

7. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:
For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.
com a
com
amos
com as
com
áis
com a
com an
viv a
viv
amos
viv as
viv
áis
viv a
viv an
Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

8. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
Stem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem changes as in the present indicative.
recordar (o  ue)
recuerde
recuerdes
recordemos
recordéis
recuerden
perder (e  ie)
pierda
pierdas
perdamos
perdáis
pierdan
Remember, however, that stem changes do not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms.

9. The forms of the subjunctive
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
preterit
dormir 
dormí
dormiste
durmió
dormimos
dormisteis
durmieron u
These changes occur only in stem-changing -ir verbs.
The same changes occur in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the subjunctive.
duerma
duermas
durmamos
durmáis
duerman
present
subjunctive

10. The forms of the subjunctive
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
preterit
mentir 
mentí
mentiste
mintió
mentimos
mentisteis
mintieron i
mienta
mientas
mintamos
mintáis
mientan
present
subjunctive

11. The forms of the subjunctive
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
preterit
servir 
serví
serviste
sirvió
servimos
servisteis
sirvieron i
sirva
sirvas
sirvamos
sirváis
sirvan
present
subjunctive

12. The forms of the subjunctive
2/24/2019
The forms of the subjunctive
The following spelling changes occur in all forms of the present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives end in -car, -gar, and -zar.
-car c  qu
-gar g  gu
-zar z  c
buscar
llegar
empezar
busque
llegue
empiece
busques
llegues
empieces
busque
llegue
empiece
busquemos
lleguemos
empecemos
busquéis
lleguéis
empecéis
busquen
lleguen
empiecen

13. The forms of the subjunctive
There are only six truly irregular verbs, that is, verbs to which we cannot apply our three-step process.
When listed in the following order, the initial letters of each verb form the acronym DISHES, a useful memory device.
dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
Dar 
Ir 
Ser 
Haber 
Estar 
Saber 
vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan
sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean
haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan

14. The usage of the subjunctive
The subjunctive normally occurs in the subordinate clause of a two-part sentence (hence the term subjunctive) and generally is preceded by the relator que or an adverb such as cuando, donde, etc.
Normally, the main clause has a different subject and verb than the subordinate clause.
main clause
subordinate clause
Yo quiero que Juan vaya a la fiesta. S1 V1 S2 V2

15. The usage of the subjunctive
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject of the main clause is the same as that of the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not used, especially with verbs of volition, such as querer, and verbs that express emotion.
main clause
subordinate clause
Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta. S1 V1 S1 V2
Although there are two different verbs . . .
. . . there is only one subject.

16. The usage of the subjunctive
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject of the main clause is the same as that of the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not used, especially with verbs of volition, such as querer, and verbs that express emotion.
In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .
Yo quiero ir a la fiesta. S AV
INF
. . . utilizing a subject,
auxiliary verb,
and infinitive.

17. The usage of the subjunctive
The verb or expression in the main clause determines whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative in the subordinate clause.
Three simple principles can be applied in almost every case.
If the main clause expresses . . .
1. Cause or prevention.
2. Personal bias or emotion.
3. Falseness or unreality.
. . . the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.

18. The usage of the subjunctive
1. Cause or prevention: When the subject in the main clause uses a verb that tends to cause or prevent something in the subordinate clause, the subjunctive is always used in the subordinate clause.
(Notice that que unites the two clauses.)
Benjamín quiere que Antonio ponga la mesa.
(indicative: pone)
Yo insisto en que tú hagas el trabajo.
(indicative: haces)
Prohibimos que los clientes fumen en la oficina.
(indicative: fuman)

19. The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that might be used to cause or prevent.
Cause
querer insistir recomendar mandar
pedir permitir aconsejar obligar
necesitar sugerir
ser importante, imprescindible, permisible, necesario, innecesario, preferible, mejor, urgente
Prevention
impedir prohibir no permitir

20. The usage of the subjunctive
2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not always) used in the subordinate clause.
NOTE: It is in this area of Spanish that the subjunctive is most quickly falling into disuse, and is being replaced by the indicative.
Nevertheless, for instructional purposes, we will always use the subjunctive in these cases.

21. The usage of the subjunctive
2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not always) used in the subordinate clause.
Me alegro de que tú saques buenas notas.
(indicative: sacas)
¡Qué lástima que ellos no sepan su número de teléfono!
(indicative: saben)
Lamento que hayas perdido tu dinero.
(indicative: has perdido)
Me gusta que Alfredo te ayude.
(indicative: ayuda)

22. The usage of the subjunctive
But, again, just as with verbs of volition, if there is no change of subject, a single clause with infinitive is used rather than the subjunctive.
Me alegro de sacar buenas notas.
Lamento haber perdido mi dinero.
Me gusta ayudarte.

23. The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that express personal bias or emotion.
gustar alegrarse (de) apenar
asombrar sorprender entristecer
temer esperar sentir
ser triste ser una lástima ser maravilloso
ser bueno, terrible, horroroso, fantástico, etc.
estar alegre, contento, triste, etc.
ojalá

24. The usage of the subjunctive
3. Falseness or unreality: If the main clause indicates that something is true or indeed exists, the indicative is used in the subordinate clause.
Es verdad que los niños comen demasiado.
Estoy seguro que Alonso tiene su pasaporte.
By contrast, if the main clause indicates doubt, falseness or unreality, the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.
No creemos que vaya a nevar mañana.
Mis amigos dudan que yo pueda pilotear el avión.
No hay nadie que sepa la verdad.

25. The usage of the subjunctive
But, once more, if there is no change of subject, one clause with an infinitive can be used in many cases.
No estoy seguro de tener mi pasaporte.
(No estoy seguro de que yo tenga mi pasaporte.)
No creo saber la verdad.
(No creo que yo sepa la verdad.)
Dudo poder pilotear el avión.
(Dudo que yo pueda pilotear el avión.)

26. The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that express truth or falseness.
Truth
creer estar seguro jurar
afirmar confirmar asegurar
ser cierto ser indudable ser evidente
ser obvio ser verdad ser (estar) claro
Falseness
no creer negar no estar seguro
dudar no poder creer
ser (im)posible ser (im)probable
no ser verdad no ser cierto

27. The usage of the subjunctive
Finally, the subjunctive is always used after the following phrases (and a few other similar ones). When listed in the order shown below, they form the acronym ESCAPA, a useful memory device. E
en caso de que
(in case) S
sin que
(without, unless) C
con tal (de) que
(provided that) A
antes (de) que
(before) P
para que
(so that, in order that) A
a menos que
(unless)

28. FIN