1. Usage of the Present Subjunctive

2. 1. As commands:
¡Coman Uds. en el restaurante El Pueblo!
Eat at El Pueblo Restaurant!
¡Revuelva Ud. la salsa!
Stir the sauce!
¡No hables tú durante la película!
Don’t talk during the movie!
This is the ONLY time the subjunctive
will be used in a simple sentence.

3. 2. The Subjunctive is used in complex sentences.
A complex sentence has a MAIN clause and
a DEPENDENT clause.
Paco will eat when he gets home.
In Spanish 3 conditions MUST be present to
use the subjunctive:
Condition #1. There must be a dependent
clause introduced by the word “que” (that).
It is possible that Paco has a broken ankle.

4. In English “that” is optional. In Spanish it is required!
Conditions #2 The subject of the main clause is
different than the subject of the dependent clause.
It is possible that Paco has a broken ankle.
Condition #3 The verb in the main clause MUST
express doubt, desire, uncertainty, emotion or
a command.
Es posible que Paco tenga un tobillo
roto.

5. If one of these is the main verb AND you have
Verbs/Impersonal Expressions that
take the Subjunctive
esperar
to hope
dudar
to doubt
negar (ie)
to deny
temer
to be afraid
querer
to want
recomendar
to recommend
gustar
to like
preferir
to prefer
mandar
to order/
command
ojalá
I hope
If one of these is the main verb AND you have
conditions a AND b, then you need the subjunctive.

6. Impersonal Expressions that take the Subjunctive
es probable
es dudoso
it’s doubtful
it’s probable
es mejor
es improbable
it’s better
it’s improbable
es posible
es necesario
it’s possible
it’s necessary
es imposible
es fácil
it’s impossible
it’s easy
es importante
es difícil
it’s difficult
it’s important

7. Es posible que yo tome álgebra. #2. #3. #1. #2.
If one of these is the MAIN Expression AND you have Conditions #1 AND #2, then you need the subjunctive.
Example:
Es necesario que yo corra en el maratón.
#2 # #1. #2
Example:
Es posible que yo tome álgebra.
#2. #3. #1. #2.

8. If the main verb of the sentence does NOT
express doubt, desire, uncertainty, emotion
or a command, then use the Indicative!
Es cierto que mis padres van al gimnasio.

9. es seguro es claro it is sure it is clear es hecho es evidente
Expressions that do NOT take Subjunctive
es seguro
es claro
it is sure
it is clear
es hecho
es evidente
it is a fact
it is evident
es cierto
no hay duda
it is certain
there is no doubt
es verdad
no es dudoso
it is true
it is not doubtful

10. Example:
Es cierto que Paco tiene un tobillo hinchado.
It is certain that Paco has a swollen ankle.
Es dudoso que Paco tenga un tobillo hinchado.
It is doubtful Paco has a swollen ankle.

11. BUT If there is no change of subject (ie.“que”) in the
sentence, then use the INFINITIVE.
Es necesario que tú uses muletas con un tobillo
roto.
BUT
Es necesario usar muletas con un tobillo roto.