Mastering the Spanish subjunctive tends to be one of the most challenging aspects of learning the language. For many learners, this tricky verb mood is elusive; it appears in situations that are quite difficult to predict. But once you master its rules and nuances, the subjunctive can become one of the most powerful tools in your Spanish toolkit. In this tutorial, we will break down the dos and don’ts of the subjunctive so you can feel more confident when you come upon it in conversation or writing.
What Is the Subjunctive Mood?
Before we delve into the specifics, let’s first define what the subjunctive is. The subjunctive is not a tense—that refers to time—but rather a mood—it describes the speaker’s attitude toward the action. Whereas the indicative mood pertains to facts and sure things, the subjunctive is used for things like desires, uncertainties, hypotheses, and doubt.
Key Concepts of the Subjunctive:
- Subjectivity: It’s used when the speaker is expressing personal feelings, opinions, or desires.
- Uncertainty: Often employed when the action is not certain to happen or has not happened yet.
- Dependent clauses: The subjunctive frequently appears in dependent (or subordinate) clauses introduced by “que” following certain verbs or expressions.
Dos and Don’ts of the Spanish Subjunctive
DO Use the Subjunctive After Expressions of Doubt, Uncertainty, and Denial
Whenever you are in doubt or want to express your doubt, you should use the subjunctive. Expressions that often provoke the subjunctive are:
- No creer que (I don’t believe that)
- Dudar que (To doubt that)
- No estar seguro de que (Not to be sure that)
- Negar que (To deny that)
Example:
No creo que tenga tiempo para ir. (I don’t believe that I will have time to go.)
In this case, since the speaker does not know whether time will be available, the subjunctive form tenga is used instead of the indicative tiene.
DO NOT Use the Subjunctive in Affirmative Sentences That Express Certainty
A common mistake is using the subjunctive when the indicative is needed. If you are sure about something, or if you’re stating a fact, then the subjunctive is not needed.
Example:
Creo que tienes razón. Here, the indicative tienes is used because the speaker is sure about the situation.
DO Use the Subjunctive After Expressions of Desire, Preference, and Influence
When you want to express a wish, preference, or try to influence someone, the subjunctive is the appropriate mood.
Some common verbs that activate the subjunctive include:
- Querer que (To want that)
- Esperar que (To hope that)
- Preferir que (To prefer that)
- Pedir que (To ask that)
Example:
Quiero que vayas al doctor. (I want you to go to the doctor.) Because the speaker is stating a desire, the verb vayas is in the subjunctive form.
DO NOT Forget About Stem Changes and Irregular Forms in the Subjunctive
While regular verbs follow predictable patterns, many common verbs are irregular in the subjunctive. It’s an easy mistake to make when one neglects these changes.
For example:
- Haber: haya (there is/there are)
- Ir: vaya (to go)
- Ser: sea (to be)
Example:
Ojalá que vaya contigo. (I hope that I go with you.) In this sentence, vaya is the irregular subjunctive form of ir.
DO Use the Subjunctive After Certain Conjunctions
The subjunctive usually follows conjunctions that denote situations or conditions that are hypothetical. Some common conjunctions are:
- Para que (so that)
- A menos que (unless)
- En caso de que (in case)
- Antes de que (before)
Example:
Saldré antes de que llueva. (I’ll leave before it rains.) Since we can’t be sure that it will rain, the verb llueva is in the subjunctive.
AVOID Overusing the Subjunctive After “Si” Clauses
A common mistake for learners is overusing the subjunctive in clauses beginning with si to refer to a hypothetical situation. In Spanish, if you express a condition under which something would occur with si, you should not use the subjunctive mood. Use either the indicative or the conditional according to the context.
Example:
Si tuviera dinero, viajaría por el mundo. (If I had money, I would travel the world.) Here we use the past subjunctive tuviera in a hypothetical situation, but be careful not to mix this with other forms of the subjunctive when not needed.
Subjunctive vs. Indicative: Key Triggers
Knowing the triggers for both moods can help you choose the correct form. Here is a handy summary:
Subjunctive Triggers:
- Doubt: No creo que, dudo que
- Desire: Quiero que, espero que
- Emotion: Me alegra que, es una lástima que
- Hypotheticals: Es posible que, ojalá que
Indicative Triggers:
- Certainty: Creo que, es cierto que
- Facts: Es obvio que, está claro que
- Completed actions: Ya sabes que, vimos que
Pro Tips for Mastering the Subjunctive
- Memorize common verbs: Learn essential subjunctive verbs, along with their irregularities, as your foundation.
- Listen actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use the subjunctive naturally in conversations, TV series, or podcasts.
- Mnemonic devices: Create as many memory aids as possible to remember when the subjunctive is used, such as WEIRDO for Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Requests, Doubt, Ojalá.
- Sentence examples: Practice writing sentences using common subjunctive triggers.
Final Thoughts
The Spanish subjunctive is not as scary as many people think. It doesn’t take much more than understanding the main contexts in which it is used. With these dos and don’ts in mind and regular practice, you will feel your comfort level rise when using the subjunctive in your conversations. After all, it’s a process that takes time, so just take your time, and let your confidence grow gradually.
Happy learning, and buena suerte!
