Reference · module 19
The mood for what is not a fact
Everything this module explains, on one page.
Hable, coma, viva
Build the present subjunctive.
- The endings swap over. An -ar verb takes e: hable, hables, hable. An -er or -ir verb takes a: coma, vivas.
- The stem comes from the yo form of the present, which is why an irregular yo carries over: tengo gives tenga, salgo gives salga, conozco gives conozca.
- Six verbs have no yo form to build on: sea, esté, vaya, sepa, haya, dé. That is the whole list worth memorising.
The mistake you are about to make
sepo
sepa
The subjunctive is built on the yo form, so saber suggests sepo. Its yo form is sé, so it is one of the six to learn: sepa.
Quiero que vengas
Use the subjunctive after wanting and asking.
- When one person wants another to do something, the second verb goes into the subjunctive: Quiero que vengas.
- If it is the same person on both sides, there is no que and no subjunctive: Quiero venir. This is the rule that decides most cases.
- The same works for pedir, esperar, necesitar, preferir: Te pido que esperes. Espero que llegue pronto.
The mistake you are about to make
Quiero tú vengas.
Quiero que vengas.
"I want you to come" has no that and no special verb form. Spanish needs both: que, and the subjunctive vengas.
Feelings and doubt
Use the subjunctive after reactions and doubt.
- A reaction takes the subjunctive: Me alegro de que estés aquí. Es una pena que no puedas venir.
- So does doubt, and negation is what creates it: No creo que sea verdad. No es cierto que lo sepa.
- Without the no, the doubt is gone and so is the subjunctive: Creo que es verdad. The same verb, two moods.
The mistake you are about to make
No creo que es verdad.
No creo que sea verdad.
Creo que es verdad is right, so the negative keeps es. The no creates doubt, and doubt takes the subjunctive: sea.
Ojalá and quizás
Express a wish or a maybe.
- ojalá always takes the subjunctive and needs no que: Ojalá venga. It came into Spanish from Arabic and means if only.
- quizás and tal vez take either mood. The subjunctive sounds less sure: Quizás venga is more doubtful than Quizás viene.
- Some conjunctions always take it: para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que. Nothing about them is ever a fact.
The mistake you are about to make
Ojalá viene.
Ojalá venga.
Ojalá reads like "hopefully", which changes nothing after it in English. It always takes the subjunctive: ojalá venga.