The Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive

Module 8 | Spanish Miss González

What is the subjunctive?

The subjunctive is a verbal 'mood' used in Spanish to talk about desires, doubts, worries. It could also be used to express recommendations and requests that might not happen.

• Quiero que escuches I want you to listen

• Es esencial que reciclemos It is essential that we recycle

• Ojalá haga sol Let's hope it is sunny

Why is it important?

Although the subjunctive is not used in English, it is used a lot in Spanish. Knowing when to use it will allow you to be more accurate in your communication. Used correctly, it can add complexity to your speaking and writing in Spanish GCSE and impress the examiners.

Things to consider:

The subjunctive is a complicated element to master and it won't come naturally to you at the beginning. It requires practise to learn the situations when you need to use it.

How does it work?

To form the present subjunctive, you must:

1. take the 'yo' person of the present

   ex. yo canto

2. remove the -o ending

   ex. yo cant-

3. add the subjunctive endings

   ex. yo cante

*if the 'yo' person is irregular, the subjunctive will take the same irregular form

An easy way to learn the endings of the present subjunctive is to remember that the infinitive groups swap endings!

How does it work? Top tips

Irregular verbs

As in the present tense, some verbs are irregular in the subjunctive and we must memorise them:

When do we use it?

As we said, the subjunctive is used in Spanish to talk about desires, doubts and worries. It could also be used to express recommendations and requests that might not happen. Some specific situations include:

• After cuando when talking about the future:

  Cuando sea mayor, viviré en España --> When I am older I will live in Spain

• With negative opinions:

  No creo que sea útil --> I don't think it is useful

• In impersonal structures of opinion:

  Es esencial que reciclemos -->It is essential that we recycle

• After verbs of wishing, command, request, emotion and purpose:

  Quiero que escuches --> I want you to listen

• After the expression ojalá:

  Ojalá haga sol --> Let's hope it is sunny

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Multiple Choice

Trabajar - Yo

• Trabajo

• Trabaje

• Trabajes

• Trabajemos

Multiple Choice

Terminar - Nosotros

• Terminemos

• Termines

• Terminen

• Termine

Multiple Choice

Ganar - Tú

• Ganemos

• Ganen

• Ganes

• Gane

Multiple Choice

Enamorarse - Ella

• Se enamore

• Te enamores

• Se enamoren

• Os enamoréis

Multiple Choice

Trabajar - Vosotros

• Trabajéis

• Trabaje

• Trabajes

• Trabajemos

Multiple Choice

Cantar - Yo

• Cantemos

• Canten

• Cantes

• Cante

Multiple Choice

Terminar - Ellos

• Terminemos

• Termines

• Terminen

• Termine

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Cantar - Nosotros

• Cantemos

• Canten

• Cantes

• Cante

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Ganar - Él

• Ganemos

• Ganen

• Ganes

• Gane

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Comer - Tú

• Comas

• Coma

• Coman

• Coman

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Beber - Ellos

• Beba

• Bebas

• Beban

• Bebamos

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Aprender - Yo

• Aprendamos

• Aprenda

• Aprendas

• Aprendáis

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Comprender - Vosotros

• Comprendáis

• Comprenda

• Comprendamos

• Comprendan

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Correr - Él

• Corras

• Corramos

• Corra

• Corran

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Leer - Yo

• Lea

• Leas

• Lean

• Leamos

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Escribir - Tú

• Escribamos

• Escribáis

• Escriba

• Escribas

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Vivir - Nosotros

• Viva

• Vivas

• Vivan

• Vivamos

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Existir - Ellas

• Existan

• Exista

• Existas

• Existamos