subjunctive review

8/13/2019 Subjunctive Review

1/7

Forming the Spanish present subjunctive

Below you can find the basic rules of forming the present subjunctive. Like any grammatical "rule", there areexceptions and irregularities, but we'll get to those later. In the meantime, get a grasp on the general rules:

Conjugate the verb into the first person singular form (yo)

o escuchar --> escucho

o comer --> como

o escribir --> escribo

Drop the -o ending

o escucho --> escuch_

o como --> com_

o escribo --> escrib_

Add the opposite endings

-AR VERBS "opposite endings" example: escuchar

yo -e escuche

t -es escuches

l, ella -e escuche

nosotros/as -emos escuchemos

vosotros/as -is escuchis

ellos, ellas -en escuchen

-ER & -IR VERBS "opposite endings"example: comer

example: escribir

yo -acoma

escriba

t -ascomas

escribas

l, ella -acoma

escriba


2/7

nosotros/as -amoscomamos

escribamos

vosotros/as -iscomis

escribis

ellos, ellas -ancoman

escriban

Using the Spanish present subjunctive

Like we said at the beginning of the page, the present subjunctive is used when:

the verb in the independent clause is in the present, future, present perfect or imperative tense

the dependent / subjunctive verb refers to an action that takes place at the same time as or after the action of themain verb

Aside from the time issue, take a look at the following table to learn about when to use the subjunctive

Why subjunctive? Example

Expression of doubt. Dudo que venga.(I doubt that he'll come.)

Possible non-reality. Busco unos zapatos que seancmodos.(I'm looking for shoes that are comfortable.)

Expression of permission. El hotel no permite que entrenlos perros.

(The hotel does not allow dogs to enter.)

Expression of emotion. Siento que eststriste.

(I'm sorry that you are sad.)

Expression of a wish. Queremos que llegue.

(We want him to arrive.)

Expression of command. Dile que lavelos platos.

(Tell him to wash the dishes.)

Expression of intent. Te doy mi nmero para que me llames.

(I'm giving you my number so that you call me.)

Negation No es verdad que ella se vaya.

(It's not true that she's leaving.)


3/7

Forming the Spanish present perfect subjunctive

The Spanish present perfect subjunctive has a compound structure that combines the verb "haber" (to have... ) withthe past participle of the main verb of the clause.

subjunctive of the helping verb "haber" + past participle of the main verb

subjunctive of

"haber"

+ past participle

(example: estudiar)translation

yo haya

+ estudiado

I have studied

t hayas You have studied

l, ella haya He/she has studied

nosotros/as hayamos We have studied

vosotros/as hayis You all have studied

ellos, ellas hayan They have studied

Using the Spanish present perfect subjunctive

As we stated at the top of the page, we use the present perfect subjunctive when:

the main verb (in the independent clause) is in the present, future, present perfect or imperative tense

the subjunctive verb (in the dependent clause) refers to an action that has already taken place

Below you can learn about the circumstances that call for the present perfect subjunctive along with a few examples.

Why subjunctive? Example

Expression of doubt. Dudo que haya venido.

(I doubt that he has come.)

Possible non-reality. Busco un libro quehaya tenidobuenas crticas.

(I'm looking for a book that has gotten good reviews.)

Expression of emotion. Me sorpende que hayas idoa Per.(I'm surprises me that have gone to Peru.)

Expression of a wish. Espero que hayas comido.

(I hope you that have eaten.)


4/7

Negation. No es verdad que hayan dichoesto.(It's not true that they have said that.)

Forming the Spanish imperfect subjunctive

Below you can find the basic rules of forming the present subjunctive. Like any grammatical "rule", there areexceptions and irregularities, but we'll get to those later. In the meantime, get a grasp on the general rules:

Conjugate the verb into the third person plural form of the preterite tense

o escuchar --> escucharon

o comer --> comieron

o escribir --> escribieron

Drop the -ron ending

o escucho --> escucha_

o como --> comie_

o escribo --> escribie_

Add the imperfect subjunctive endings. As you can see, there are two sets of imperfect subjunctive endings. Theyare completely interchangeable and equally correct.

or

yo -ra -se

t -ras -ses

l, ella -ra -se

nosotros/as -ramos -semos

vosotros/as -ris -sis

ellos, ellas -ran -sen

Examples:

3rd person

plural,

preterite

drop the -ronadd the ending

(option 1)

add the ending

(option 2)

hablar hablaron habla-

hablara

hablarashablara

hablramos

hablaris

hablaran

hablase

hablaseshablase

hablsemoshablasis

hablasen

comer comieron comie-comiera

comieras

comiese

comieses


5/7

comiera

comiramos

comieriscomieran

comiese

comisemos

comiesiscomiesen

escribir escribieron escribie-

escribieraescribierasescribiera

escribiramos

escribieris

escribieran

escribieseescribiesesescribiese

escribisemos

escribiesis

escribiesen

Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive follows the same general rules as thepresent subjunctivein terms of when the subjunctiveis necessary. The main difference is timing, as the imperfect subjunctive is used when the main verb is in either thepreterite or imperfect past tenses.1. If the verb in the independent clause expresses wishes, emotions, recommendations, possible non-

realities, doubts, denial, etc. and is in thepreterite, imperfectorconditional tense then the subjunctive verb inthe independent clause will be imperfect subjunctive.Construction:- preterite/imperfect/conditional + imperfect subjunctive

Dudaba que viniera.(I doubted that he was coming.)

Le dije que lavaralos platos.(I told him to wash the dishes.)

Los nios queran que su padre les compraseun perro.(The children wanted their father to buy them a dog.)

Me alegraba de que te casases.(I was happy that you were getting married.)

2. When the independent clause expresses current emotions, doubts, etc. about something that happened inthe past, the verb in the dependent clause will be imperfect subjunctive.Construction:- present + imperfect subjunctive

Nos sorprende que viajaraa Alaska.(It's surprising that he traveled to Alaska.)

Es raro que rompiesecon su novia.(It's strange that he broke up with his girlfriend.)

3. When we want to indicate or hope for unlikely or impossible events using the expression "Ojal" or "Ojalque" (means roughly "If only..."), the verb following it will be imperfect subjunctive.Construction:- Ojal (que) + imperfect subjunctive + rest of sentence

Ojal que hicieracalor en invierno.(If only it were hot in winter.)

Ojal pudiesevolar.(If only I could fly.)

Ojal Sara estudiarams.(If only Sara studied more.)
http://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-present-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-present-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-present-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-present-subjunctive.html


6/7

4. "If" Clauses. We use the imperfect subjunctive to form a conditional sentence in the past when it followsthe word "si" (if) and is combined with theconditional tense.In English, this construction would translate tosomething along the lines of "If this, then that".Construction:- si + imperfect subjunctive + conditional + rest of sentence- conditional + rest of sentence + si + imperfect subjunctive

Si tuvierams dinero, me comprara un coche.

(If I had more money, I would buy myself a car.)

Mara tendra un gato si su marido no tuviesealergia.(Mara would have a cat if her husband didn't have allergies.)

Si Sara estudiarams, sacara mejores notas.(If Sara were to study more she was get better grades.)

Forming the Spanish past perfect subjunctive

The Spanish past perfect subjunctive is a compound verb that combines the imperfect subjunctive of the helping verbhaber with thepast participleof the main verb.* Keep in mind from the lesson on theimperfect subjunctivethat there are two sets of conjugations, which means thatthe past perfect subjunctive also has two sets of conjugations.

past perfect subjunctive of the "haber" + past participle of the main verb

past perfect

subjunctive of

"haber"

+ past participle

(example: estudiar)translation

yo

hubiera

ohubiese

+ estudiado

I had studied

thubieras

o

hubieses

You had studied

l, ella

hubierao

hubiese

He/she had studied

nosotros/as

hubiramos

o

hubisemos

We had studied

vosotros/as

hubieris

o

hubiesis

You all had studied

ellos, ellas hubieran

oThey had studied
http://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-past-participles.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-past-participles.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-past-participles.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-imperfect-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-imperfect-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-imperfect-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-imperfect-subjunctive.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/spanish-past-participles.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.html


7/7

hubiesen

Using the Spanish past perfect subjunctive

1. If the verb in the independent clause expresses wishes, emotions, recommendations, possible non-realities, doubts, denial, etc. and is in thepreterite, imperfectorconditional tense and the subjunctive verb

refers to something that has or should have already taken place, then the verb in the dependent clause willbe past perfect subjunctive.

Doubts

o Dudaba que hubiera venido.(I doubted that he had come.)

Possible non-reality

o Buscaba un libro que hubiera tenido buenas crticas.(I was looking for a book that had had good reviews.)

Expression of emotion

o Me sorpenda que hubieras idoa Per.(It surprised me that you had gone to Peru.)

Expression of a wish

o Esperaba que hubieras comido.(I hoped that you had eaten.)

Negation, denial

o No era verdad que hubiera dicho esto.(It was not true that he had said that.)

2. When preceded by the term "ojal (que), we can express a desire that something in the past had happeneddifferently.Construction:- Ojal (que) + past perfect subjunctive + rest of sentence

Ojal hubiera llegadoa tiempo.(If only he had arrived on time.)

Ojal que nos hubiramos conocidoantes.(If only we had met each other earlier.)

3. "If" Clauses. We can use the past perfect subjunctive to form a conditional sentence in the past when itfollows the word "si" (if) and is combined with a conditional perfect tense (formed by conjugated the verbhaber into the conditional and combining it with the past participle). In English, this construction wouldtranslate to something along the lines of "If this had happened, then that would have happened ".Construction:- si + past perfect subjunctive + conditional perfect + rest of sentence- conditional perfect + rest of sentence + si + past perfect subjunctive

Si hubieran idode vacaciones, nos habran comprado regalos.)(If they had gone on vacation, they would have bought gifts for us.)

Habra jugado en el partido de ftbol si no me hubiera rotola pierna.

(I would have played in the football game if I hadn't broken my leg.)
http://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/conditional-tense.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.htmlhttp://www.enforex.com/language/preterite-imperfect.html

subjunctive review

Documents