The SubjunctiveThe Subjunctive

The SubjunctiveThe Subjunctive

• In this slide show, we are going to look at a verb form that has all but disappeared from English – the subjunctive!

A few examplesA few examples

• I want you to give me $5.• Tom would like us to arrive

before 5:00 am.• I order you to stop!

• In these three examples, one person is trying to get another person to perform an action.

I want you to give me $5.I want you to give me $5.

• One person (I) wants another person (you) to do something (give $5).

• However, there is no guarantee that you will give me $5 just because I want you to.

Tom would like us to arrive before 5:00 amTom would like us to arrive before 5:00 am.

• Likewise, one person (Tom) wants someone else (us) to do something (arrive before 5:00 am).

• There is no guarantee that we will do so just because Tom would like that.

I order you to stop!I order you to stop!

• This sentence is more forceful: one person (I) is telling another person (you) to do something (stop).

• Again, we don’t know if you will stop despite the admonition.

The subjunctiveThe subjunctive

• In Spanish, we use a special verb form to show that the completion of these actions – give, arrive, stop – may or may not occur. This form is called the subjunctive (like the word “subjective” – influenced by opinions).

Examples in SpanishExamples in Spanish

• I want you to give me $5 >>• Quiero que me des $5.

• Tom would like us to arrive before 5:00 am >>

• Tom quiere que lleguemos antes de las 5:00.

• I order you to stop >>• Te mando que pares.

hablo como vivo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctiveBefore 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.

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

The forms of the subjunctive

hablo como vivo

decir → digo

hacer → hago

perder → pierdo

querer → quiero

pedir → pido traer → traigo

oír → oigo tener → tengo

venir → vengo

ver → veo

dormir → duermo

Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

The forms of the subjunctive

habl com viv

Step 2: Take off the final o of the yo form:

Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:

For -ar verbs: Add -er verb endings.

hablhablhabl

hablhablhabl

eese

emoséisen

Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

o o o

The forms of the subjunctiveStep 3: Add the “opposite” endings:

For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.

comcomcom

comcomcom

aasa

amosáisan

vivvivviv

vivvivviv

aasa

amosáisan

Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

recordar (o ue)

recuerderecuerdesrecuerderecordemosrecuerden

perder (e ie)

pierdapierdaspierdaperdamospierdan

Remember, however, that stem changes do not apply to nosotros forms.

The forms of the subjunctiveStem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem changes as in the present indicative.

dormir dormimosdormisteisdurmieron

dormídormistedurmió

u

duermaduermasduerma

durmamosdurmáisduerman

The forms of the subjunctiveYou may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The same changes occur in the nosotros and vosotros forms of the subjunctive.

These changes occur only in stem-changing -ir verbs.

mentir mentimosmentisteismintieron

mentímentistemintió

i

mientamientasmienta

mintamosmintáismientan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

sirvamossirváissirvan

You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.

The forms of the subjunctive

servir servimosservisteissirvieron

servíservistesirvió

i

sirvasirvassirva

-car c qu

The forms of the subjunctiveThe following spelling changes occur in all forms of the present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives end in -car, -gar, and -zar.

-gar g gu -zar z cbuscarbusquebusquesbusquebusquemosbusquéisbusquen

llegarlleguellegueslleguelleguemoslleguéislleguen

empezarempieceempiecesempieceempecemosempecéisempiecen

Dar

Ir

Ser

Haber

Estar

Saber

dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den

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

There are only six truly irregular verbs, that is, verbs to which we cannot apply our three-step process.

The forms of the subjunctive

When listed in the following order, the initial letters of each verb form the acronym DISHES, a useful memory device.

A few examplesA few examples

• What are the subjunctive forms of the following verbs?

• hablar

• hable, hables, hable, hablemos, hablen

• comer

• coma, comas, coma, comamos, coman

• vivir

• viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, vivan

Too easy!Too easy!

• How about some trickier ones?• Salir• Salga, salgas, salga, salgamos, salgan

– Remember to start with the yo form, salgo• Ser• Sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean

– The yo forms that don’t end in –o are irregular in the command form and, consequently, the subjunctive.

• Comenzar• Comience, comiences, comience, comencemos,

comiencen– Remember that stem-changing verbs don’t change

in the nosotros form!

A few tricky onesA few tricky ones

• Dormir• Duerma, duermas, duerma,

durmamos, duerman• Servir• Sirva, sirvas, sirva, sirvamos,

sirvan– Stem-changing IR verbs change

in the nosotros form.

Yo quiero que Juan vaya a la fiesta.

main clause subordinate clause

S1 V1 S2 V2

The usage of the subjunctiveThe 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.

S1 V1 S1 V2

The usage of the subjunctiveIf 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.

Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta.

main clause subordinate clause

Although there are two different verbs . . .

. . . there is only one subject.

In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .

S AV INF

The usage of the subjunctiveIf 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.

Yo quiero ir a la fiesta.

. . . utilizing a subject, auxiliary verb, and infinitive.

Now let’s put this all together.Now let’s put this all together.

• Quiero que me des $5.• Tom quiere que lleguemos

antes de las 5:00.• Te mando que pares.

Tom quiere | que | lleguemos antes de las 5:00.Tom quiere | que | lleguemos antes de las 5:00.

• The sentence structure in Spanish is a bit different from that of English. A word-for-word translation is “Tom wants that we arrive before 5:00.”

• The word que is used to divide the sentence into two halves – the expression of wish or desire (Tom quiere) and the action that may or may not occur (lleguemos).

• The verb in the first half uses the “normal” (“indicative”) form, while the verb in the second half uses the subjunctive.

Notice…Notice…

• … that the subject in the first half is always different from the subject in the second half:– Quiero que me des $5.– Tom quiere que lleguemos...– Te mando que pares.

• The first subject is trying to spur the second subject into action, and we don’t know if the action will ever happen.

Compare this…Compare this…

• … to sentences where there is no change in subject:– Quiero salir ahora.– Tom quiere llegar a las 5.– Me gustaría comer pizza.

• When the subject is the same, there is higher probability that the second action will take place. We use the infinitive (-r form of the verb) after verbs that express wishes, wants, and desires.

Let’s practice!Let’s practice!

• What are the appropriate subjunctive forms of the verbs in parentheses?

• Quiero que tú _____ (venir) a las 3:00 en punto.

• Quiero que tú vengas a las 3:00 en punto.– We use the subjunctive because

there is a change in subject after a verb of desire (quiero).

¡¡Quiero que me des otro!Quiero que me des otro!

• ¿Quieres que nosotros ______ (ir) al cine o a la playa esta tarde?

• Pues, quiero que ______ (quedarse = stay) en casa porque hace frío.

• ¿Quieres que nosotros vayamos al cine o a la playa esta tarde?

• Pues, quiero que nos quedemos en casa porque hace frío.

Uno mUno más…ás…

• Espero [I hope] que tu hermana ____ (hacer) bien en sus exámenes.

• Espero que tu hermana haga bien en sus exámenes.– We use the subjunctive because we

aren’t sure whether the second action will occur (Will your sister do well on her exams? That remains to be seen!).

MMás ejemplosás ejemplos

• Mi mamá quiere que yo ____ (ser) doctor, y mi papá espera que _____ (estudiar) para ser ingeniero, pero yo quiero ____ (ser) actor.

• Mi mamá quiere que yo sea doctor, y mi papá espera que estudie para ser ingeniero, pero yo quiero ser actor– There is no change in subject in the

third expression (“yo quiero”), so we don’t use the subjunctive!

OtroOtro uso uso

• Lo siento [I’m sorry] que tu abuela ____ (estar) enferma. Espero que ___ (mejorarse = to get better) pronto.

• Lo siento que tu abuela esté enferma. Espero que se mejore pronto.– Another use of the subjunctive is with

verbs of “regret,” such as saying “I’m sorry.” This is a little different from the other uses in that the second action has actually happened (i.e., your grandmother really is sick), but the subject in the first half is expressing an opinion and is therefore ‘influencing’ the second verb.

U. W. E. I. R. D. O.U. W. E. I. R. D. O.

• Here’s an acronym to help you organize the major uses of the subjunctive:

• U. W. E. I. R. D. O.

UU. W. E. I. R. D. O.. W. E. I. R. D. O.

• UUncertainty:• No creo [I don’t believe] que

Laura venga a la fiesta.• No pienso que pueda venir.• Tal vez [perhaps] llegue

tarde hoy por el tráfico.

The Spanish SubjunctiveNotice 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)

U. U. WW. E. I. R. D. O.. E. I. R. D. O.

• WWishes• Quiero que tú puedas

visitarme durante las vacaciones.

U. W. U. W. EE. I. R. D. O.. I. R. D. O.

• EEmotion• Me alegro que hayas

recibido una “A” en la clase de historia.

• Me enfada [it angers me] que Juan no trabaje más en este proyecto.

gustar alegrarse (de) apenarasombrar sorprender entristecertemer esperar sentir

estar alegre, contento, triste, etc.

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that express emotion.

U. W. E. U. W. E. II. R. D. O.. R. D. O.

• IImpersonal expressions

• Es ridículo que Gloria sea la presidenta del club de alemán – ella recibió una “D-” en su clase el semestre pasado.– Impersonal expressions don’t have a

“human” subject.

– Some impersonal expressions in Spanish include: es bueno, es malo, es necesario, es difícil, es imposible, es triste…

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common impersonal expressions. The expressions will always be followed by ‘que’.

es importante es permisible es necesario

es preferible es mejor es urgente

es triste es una lástima es maravillosoes bueno es terrible es horroroso

es fantástico es dudoso es (im)posible

No es verdad No es cierto

U. W. E. I. U. W. E. I. RR. D. O.. D. O.

• RRegret• Lo siento que tu abuela esté

enferma.• Lamento que no podamos

asistir a la reunión.

U. W. E. I. R. U. W. E. I. R. DD. O.. O.

• DDoubt• Dudo que alguien sea

capaz de sacar un 100% en el examen final de física – ¡es un curso muy difícil!

No creer No estar seguro No jurarNo afirmar No confirmar No asegurarNegar Dudar No poder creer

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that express doubt:

U. W. E. I. R. D. U. W. E. I. R. D. OO..

• OOrder• Te mando que pares.• Te prohibo que uses tus

apuntes [notes] durante el examen.

querer insistir recomendar mandar

pedir permitir aconsejar obligar

necesitar sugerir impedir prohibir

no permitir

The usage of the subjunctiveFollowing are some common verbs and expressions that might be used to give orders

E

S

C

A

P

A

en caso de que

sin que

con tal (de) que

antes (de) que

para que

a menos que

(in case)

(without, unless)

(provided that)

(before)

(so that, in order that)

(unless)

The usage of the subjunctiveFinally, 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.

Wow!Wow!

• That’s a lot!!• If you continue your studies

in Spanish, you will be certain to see these uses and many others.