OK. Let's start with the basics. First of all, the mood (sometimes called the mode) of the verb expresses either the speaker's attitude toward the verb or describes how it is used in the sentence.
The most common mood, the indicative mood, is used to refer to what is real, to state facts, to make declarations.
For example, the verb in "Leo el libro" (I am reading the book) is in the indicative mood.
The subjunctive mood is typically used in such a way that the verb's meaning relates to how the speaker feels about it.
In the sentence "Espero que esté feliz" (I hope that she is happy), the second verb (esté or "is") may or may not be reality; what is important here is the speaker's attitude toward the final half of the sentence.
Another way of expressing the concept is that the indicative expresses reality or what is believed to be reality.
But the subjunctive is used for different purposes: It expresses facts that are contrary to reality. It expresses doubt that something is or will be a fact. It expresses how a person feels about a possible action or state of being. It expresses a wish, intent or command for a possible action or state of being. It is usually used in subordinate clauses that begin with que or si, although in some sentences (such as simple sentences expressing doubt), a subjunctive verb can be the main verb in the sentence.
don't forget the irregulars DISHES
Willing
• decir (ei)
• desear
• esperar
• mandar
• ojalá
• permitir
• prohibir
• mandar
• querer (eie)
• recomendar (eie)
Emotion
• alegrarse
• sentir (eie)
• temer
• tener miedo Doubt / Denial
• (no) dudar
• negar (eie)
• no creer
• no estar seguro
Impersonal Expression
• es bueno
• es increíble
• es mejor
• es difícil
• es interesante
• es posible
• es imposible
• es dudoso
• es malo
• es probalbe
• es fácil
Verbs that trigger the SUBJUNCTIVE
Preference
• Me gusta que
• prefiero que
Cause & Effect
• así que
• para que
Verbs that trigger the INDICITIVE
What is TRUE or what is TRUE to you
• es verdad
• es cierto
• es evidente
• es seguro
• es obvio
• saber (sé que)
• No saber (no sé que)
• creer (creo que)
• pensar (pienso que)
• comprender
If there is NO subject expressed, there will not be 'que' an INFINITIVE will be used.
It's important that you study.
It's important to study.
Es importante que tú estudies.
Es importante estudiar.
Quiero que no tengas frío. (I want you to be not cold.) It's irrelevant whether the person is cold or not. The sentence expresses a wish, not reality.
Siento que tengas frío. (I'm sorry you're cold.) The sentence expresses the
speaker's emotions about a perceived reality. What is important in this sentence is the speaker's feelings, not whether the other person is cold.
Te doy mi chaqueta para que no tengas frío. (I'm giving you my coat so you won't be cold.) The sentence expresses the speaker's intent, not necessarily reality.
Se permite que lleven chaquetas allí. (People are allowed to wear jackets there.) The phrase expresses permission for an action to take place.
Di a ella que lleve una chaqueta. (Tell her to wear her jacket.) Expresses a command or wish of the speaker.
No hay nadie que tenga frío. (Nobody is cold.) Expression of negation of the action in a subordinate clause.
Tal vez tenga frío. (Perhaps he is cold.) This is an expression of doubt.
Si yo fuera un rico, tocaría el violín. (If I were a rich man, I would play the fiddle.) This is an expression of a statement contrary to fact.
Indicative: Es cierto que sale tarde. (It is definitely leaving late.)
Subjunctive: Es imposible que salga tarde. Es probable que salga tarde. It is impossible that it is leaving late. It is likely that it will leave late.
Explanation: The indicative is used to express perceived reality, while the subjunctive is used to express doubt, negation or mere probability.
Indicative: Busco el carro barato que funciona. (I'm looking for the cheap car that works.)
Subjunctive: Busco un carro barato que funcione. (I'm looking for a cheap car that works.)
Explanation: In the first example, the speaker knows that there is a car that matches the description, so the indicative is used as an expression of reality.
In the second example, there is doubt that such a car exists, so the subjunctive is used.
Indicative: Quizás lo pueden hacer.
(Perhaps they can do it, and I'm sure of it.) Subjunctive: Quizás lo puedan hacer.
(Perhaps they can do it ,but I doubt it.)
Explanation: In a sentence such as this, the subjunctive is used to emphasize uncertainty or doubt, the indicative to emphasize
certainly. Note how the Spanish verb form is used to indicate an attitude that might need further explanation in English.
Am I getting my towels?
The Dr. recommends that he _____ (to sleep) now. sleep
I want you to arrive on time.
I want that you to arrive on time.
Quiero que tú llegues a tiempo.
Spain Marcelo
Do you want me to drive?
¿Me quieres conducir?
¿Quires que yo conduzca?
Practice
Sentences
Indicative=true or true to you
1. I 2. S 3. F 4. S 5. S 6. I 7. S 8. S 9. F 10. S
1. I 2. S 3. S 4. I 5. S 6. I 7. I 8. S 9. F 10. I
No future subjunctive 1. llueva 2. vaya 3. oigan 4. veas
5. practiques 6. estás
7. nos divirtamos 8. gusta
9. haya 10. tengo
1. sepan 2. es 3. salga 4. dé 5. x
6. prepare 7. va
8. sepan 9. vayáis 10. hables
tú
1. venga 2. sabes 3. lean 4. hable 5. tiene 6. hay 7. vaya 8. llames 9. soy
1. escuches 2. traiga 3. busque 4. voy 5. sé
6. conduzcan 7. vestirse 8. juegues 9. me voy 10. vea
indicative
• In the past (preterit, imperfect...)
• As a regular action (siempre, a veces...) subjunctive
• A one time thing that might not happen (could the world end and I never arrive?)
• Cause and Effect. If in the past tense, you still must you the subjunctive form (imperfect subjunctive to be exact) Infinitive
• Only one subject
• No 'que'
• English has a gerund, Spanish has an infinitive Mi abuelo siempre me trae
galletas cuando viene.
Mi abuelo me trajo galletas cuando vino.
Mi abuelo me va a traer galletas cuando venga.
always subjunctive either subj / indic always infinitive uncertainty or one
time event
certainty OR uncertainty
no change in subject and no 'que'
In English used with gerunds (before
working...)
antes de que
después de que en cuanto
cuando a menos que
sin sin que
para que en caso de que
con tal que
tan pronto como hasta que
para antes de
examples Cause Effect
Action step?
If in past tense...
use imperfect subj
después de
If in past tense...
use indicative
always subjunctive either subj / indic always infinitive uncertainty or one
time event
certainty OR uncertainty
no change in subject and no 'que'
In English used with gerunds (before
working...) examples Cause Effect
Action step?
If in past tense...
use imperfect subj
If in past tense...
use indicative
antes de que después de que en cuanto cuando
a menos quesin sin que
para que en caso de que con tal que tan pronto como
para antes de
Sequence of
Tenses
Main verb Dependent verb (after 'que')
Does the main verb trigger the subjunctive?
If yes...
present / future current / future activity
present subjunctive
past / conditional
Imperfect subjunctive
Use the...
Me alegro que estudies hoy.
Me alegré que estudiaras.
present subjunctive
Main verb Dependent verb (after 'que')
Does the main verb trigger the subjunctive?
If yes...
present / future current / future activity
present subjunctive
past activity present
perfect subjunctive
past / conditional
Imperfect subjunctive
Use the...
Me alegro que estudies hoy.
Me alegro que hayas estudiado ayer.
present
subjunctive present perfect subjunctive
Me alegro que estudies hoy.
Me alegro que hayas estudiado ayer.
Me alegré que estudiaras.
present subjunctive
Imperfect subjunctive
present perfect subjunctive
has estudiado present perfect
If I had a million dollars, I would buy you a house.
Nos gustaría que calificaras para ser instructor de pesca
Past
tense
tú
Yo quiero que tú seas mi princesa yo quiero que seas como cenicienta
esa mirada dulce y mágica a mí me congela y solo con tus besos me iluminas y me llenas
Como un cuento de hadas, te quiero contar todo lo que siento
como un príncipe azul, yo quisiera llegar y llevarte al fin y juntos vivir…
nuestro mágico mundo de amor
Yo quiero que tú seas princesa de mi corazón yo quiero ser el sapo que solo beses por amor ser aquel que ponga en tu pie, la zapatilla
y que despiertes de tus sueños solo con mis besos y regalarte mi amor eterno
Yo quiero que tú seas mi princesa que tú seas la bella y yo la bestia
quisiera ser el genio que concede tus deseos
y en una alfombra mágica mostrarte el mundo entero
Como un cuento de hadas, te quiero contar todo lo que siento
y como un príncipe azul, yo quisiera llegar y llevarte al fin y juntos vivir…
nuestro mágico mundo de amor
Yo quiero que tú seas princesa de mi corazón yo quiero ser el sapo que solo beses por amor ser aquel que ponga en tu pie, la zapatilla
y que despiertes de tus sueños solo con mis besos
mi princesa
traduzcan al inglés oralmente con sus compañeros
Escriban sus nombres si dicen que 'sí'
mínimo de 7 personas personas diferentes Hablen en frases completas
