- Understand what the subjunctive mood is and when to use it
- Learn the WEIRDO triggers for present subjunctive
- Form the present subjunctive for regular, stem-changing, and irregular verbs
- Recognise common phrases and expressions that require subjunctive
- Use present subjunctive naturally in conversation
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SubjunctiveIntermediate
Present Subjunctive
Expressing Subjective or Uncertain Actions and States
What You'll Learn
Overview
The subjunctive is a mood (not a tense) used to express subjective or uncertain actions and states. Unlike the indicative mood which expresses facts and certainty, the subjunctive expresses emotions, doubts, wishes, and possibilities.
Indicative (Facts)
"Creo que es verdad"
I think it's true
Subjunctive (Doubt)
"No creo que sea verdad"
I don't think it's true
Key Concept: Two Subjects Required
The subjunctive nearly always requires two different subjects connected by "que":
Yo quiero que tú vengas (I want YOU to come) ✓ Subjunctive
Yo quiero venir (I want to come - same subject) ✗ No subjunctive, use infinitive
WEIRDO: When to Use Subjunctive
Remember WEIRDO to know when subjunctive is required:
W - Wishes & Wants
Quiero que..., Espero que..., Ojalá...
E - Emotions
Me alegra que..., Temo que...
I - Impersonal
Es necesario que..., Es posible que...
R - Recommendations
Recomiendo que..., Sugiero que...
D - Doubt/Denial
Dudo que..., No creo que...
O - Ojalá
Ojalá llueva, Ojalá vengas
Structure & Formation
How to Form the Present Subjunctive
Formation Steps
- Start with the yo form of the present indicative (e.g., hablo, como, vivo)
- Drop the -o ending (e.g., habl-, com-, viv-)
- Add the "opposite vowel" endings:
- -ar verbs use -e endings (like -er verbs)
- -er/-ir verbs use -a endings (like -ar verbs)
Present Subjunctive Endings
-AR Verbs
yo
-etú
-esél/ella
-enosotros
-emosvosotros
-éisellos/as
-en-ER/-IR Verbs
yo
-atú
-asél/ella
-anosotros
-amosvosotros
-áisellos/as
-anRegular Verb Conjugation Tables
-AR Verbs: hablar (to speak)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo hable I speak | nosotros hablemos we speak |
tú hables you speak | vosotros habléis you all speak |
él/ella hable he/she speaks | ellos/ellas hablen they speak |
-ER Verbs: comer (to eat)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo coma I eat | nosotros comamos we eat |
tú comas you eat | vosotros comáis you all eat |
él/ella coma he/she eats | ellos/ellas coman they eat |
-IR Verbs: vivir (to live)
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
yo viva I live | nosotros vivamos we live |
tú vivas you live | vosotros viváis you all live |
él/ella viva he/she lives | ellos/ellas vivan they live |
Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
Some common verbs have completely irregular subjunctive forms that must be memorised. There are only 7 truly irregular verbs in the present subjunctive!
The "DISHES" Irregulars
dar
to give
dé, des, dé...
ir
to go
vaya, vayas, vaya...
ser
to be
sea, seas, sea...
haber
to have
haya, hayas, haya...
estar
to be
esté, estés, esté...
saber
to know
sepa, sepas, sepa...
ver
to see
vea, veas, vea...
Irregular Subjunctive Conjugations
ser (to be)
| yo | sea |
| tú | seas |
| él/ella/usted | sea |
| nosotros | seamos |
| vosotros | seáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sean |
estar (to be)
| yo | esté |
| tú | estés |
| él/ella/usted | esté |
| nosotros | estemos |
| vosotros | estéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | estén |
ir (to go)
| yo | vaya |
| tú | vayas |
| él/ella/usted | vaya |
| nosotros | vayamos |
| vosotros | vayáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | vayan |
haber (to have)
| yo | haya |
| tú | hayas |
| él/ella/usted | haya |
| nosotros | hayamos |
| vosotros | hayáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hayan |
saber (to know)
| yo | sepa |
| tú | sepas |
| él/ella/usted | sepa |
| nosotros | sepamos |
| vosotros | sepáis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sepan |
dar (to give)
| yo | dé |
| tú | des |
| él/ella/usted | dé |
| nosotros | demos |
| vosotros | deis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | den |
Subjunctive with Uncompleted Action Connectors
Certain connecting phrases (conjunctions) always require the subjunctive because they introduce actions that haven't happened yet or may not happen at all.
Always + Subjunctive Connectors
antes (de) quepara quesin quecon tal (de) quea menos queen caso de que
Salimos antes de que llueva.
We leave before it rains.
Te lo digo para que lo sepas.
I'm telling you so that you know.
Vamos sin que nadie nos vea.
Let's go without anyone seeing us.
Iré con tal de que vengas.
I'll go provided that you come.
No iré a menos que me inviten.
I won't go unless they invite me.
Lleva paraguas en caso de que llueva.
Take an umbrella in case it rains.
Subjunctive or Indicative Connectors (Depends on Context)
These connectors take subjunctive when referring to a future or hypothetical action, but indicative when referring to a habitual or past completed action.
cuandohasta quedespués (de) quetan pronto comomientras que
Te llamo cuando llegue.
I'll call you when I arrive. (future - subjunctive)
Siempre te llamo cuando llego.
I always call you when I arrive. (habitual - indicative)
Espera hasta que termine.
Wait until I finish. (future - subjunctive)
Saldremos tan pronto como deje de llover.
We'll leave as soon as it stops raining. (future - subjunctive)
Subjunctive with Indefinite Antecedent
When describing something that may or may not exist, use the subjunctive. When referring to something known to exist, use the indicative.
Unknown / May Not Exist
Busco un apartamento que tenga balcón.
I'm looking for an apartment that has a balcony. (may not exist)
Known / Exists
Tengo un apartamento que tiene balcón.
I have an apartment that has a balcony. (it exists)
Unknown / May Not Exist
Necesito a alguien que hable francés.
I need someone who speaks French. (haven't found them)
Known / Exists
Conozco a alguien que habla francés.
I know someone who speaks French. (specific person)
Other Subjunctive Triggers
Quizá(s) / Tal vez (Perhaps / Maybe)
These words express uncertainty and trigger the subjunctive:
Quizás llueva esta tarde.
Maybe it will rain this afternoon.
Tal vez tengamos suerte.
Perhaps we'll be lucky.
Quizá sea mejor esperar.
Maybe it's better to wait.
Aunque (Even if / Even though)
Aunque + subjunctive = hypothetical ("even if"). Aunque + indicative = known fact ("even though").
Aunque llueva, iremos al parque.
Even if it rains, we'll go to the park. (hypothetical)
Aunque llueve, vamos al parque.
Even though it's raining, we're going to the park. (it IS raining)
Examples
Wishes & Hopes
Hope
Espero que tengas un buen día
I hope you have a good day
Ojalá
Ojalá que llueva café
I hope it rains coffee
Want
Quiero que vengas a la fiesta
I want you to come to the party
Wish
Deseo que seas feliz
I wish you to be happy
Emotions
Joy
Me alegra que estés aquí
I'm happy you're here
Fear
Temo que no lleguen a tiempo
I fear they won't arrive on time
Sadness
Es triste que no puedas venir
It's sad that you can't come
Surprise
Me sorprende que lo sepas
It surprises me that you know
Doubt & Uncertainty
Doubt
Dudo que sea verdad
I doubt it's true
Disbelief
No creo que venga mañana
I don't think he's coming tomorrow
Possibility
Es posible que llueva
It's possible it will rain
Uncertainty
No estoy seguro que tenga razón
I'm not sure he's right
Recommendations
Advice
Te recomiendo que estudies más
I recommend that you study more
Importance
Es importante que lleguemos temprano
It's important we arrive early
Necessity
Es necesario que hables con él
It's necessary that you speak with him
Suggestion
Sugiero que vayas al médico
I suggest you go to the doctor
Impersonal Expressions
Better
Es mejor que te vayas
It's better that you leave
Strange
Es raro que no conteste
It's strange he doesn't answer
Probable
Es probable que ganen
It's likely they'll win
Regret
Es una lástima que no vengas
It's a shame you're not coming
Indicative vs Subjunctive
Certainty
Creo que es verdad (indicative)
I think it's true (certainty)
Doubt
No creo que sea verdad (subjunctive)
I don't think it's true (doubt)
Fact
Es cierto que viene (indicative)
It's certain he's coming
Uncertain
No es cierto que venga (subjunctive)
It's not certain he's coming
Expanded List of Subjunctive Trigger Expressions
Desire / Influence Verbs
querer quedesear queesperar quepedir queexigir querogar quesugerir queaconsejar queinsistir en quemandar quepermitir queprohibir que
Emotion Verbs
alegrarse de quetemer quesentir quesorprenderse de quemolestar queencantar queodiar quepreocuparse de que
Impersonal Expressions
es necesario quees posible quees importante quees mejor quees probable queconviene quemás vale quepuede ser quees raro quees una lástima que
📖Want to go deeper?
We have an in-depth article that explores this topic further:
Common Mistakes
Same Subject = Infinitive
When the subject is the same, use the infinitive, not subjunctive.
✗ Quiero que yo coma.
✓ Quiero comer.
Forgetting "que"
Don't forget "que" to connect the clauses (except with Ojalá).
✗ Espero vengas.
✓ Espero que vengas.
Creo que + Subjunctive
"Creo que" expresses certainty, so use indicative.
✗ Creo que sea verdad.
✓ Creo que es verdad.
Wrong Endings
-ar verbs use -e endings, -er/-ir verbs use -a endings.
✗ Que habla (indicative).
✓ Que hable (subjunctive).
Quick Test
Test your knowledge of Spanish present subjunctive - formation and usage:
1. Which sentence correctly uses the present subjunctive?
AEspero que vienes mañana
BEspero que vengas mañana
CEspero que venir mañana
DEspero vengas mañana
2. Complete: 'Dudo que _____ (ser) verdad.'
Aes
Bsea
Cestá
Desté
3. Which requires indicative, NOT subjunctive?
ANo creo que...
BEs posible que...
CSé que...
DOjalá que...
4. Complete: 'Me alegra que tú _____ (estar) aquí.'
Aestás
Bestés
Ceres
Dseas
5. Complete: 'Es importante que nosotros _____ (hablar) español.'
Ahablamos
Bhablan
Chablemos
Dhable
6. Which is correct when you want something for yourself?
AQuiero que yo coma
BQuiero comer
CQuiero que coma
DQuiero comiendo
Want more practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises with progressive lessons covering WEIRDO triggers, regular and irregular verbs!