Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive expresses wishes, feelings, doubt and things that haven't happened yet, usually after a trigger + que: Quiero que vengas (I want you to come).
The rule at a glance
habloyo form→habl-stem+-eopposite vowel=hable(that) I speak
After a trigger + que: Quiero que hables; -ar → -e (hable) · -er/-ir → -a (coma, viva); From the yo form, except ser, ir, estar, saber, haber, dar
Wishes
quiero que, espero que
I want, I hope
Quiero que vengas a la fiesta.
I want you to come to the party.
Emotions
me alegra que
I'm glad that
Me alegra que estés aquí.
I'm glad you're here.
Impersonal
es importante que
it's important that
Es importante que lleguemos temprano.
It's important that we arrive early.
Doubt and denial
dudo que, no creo que
I doubt, I don't think
No creo que sea verdad.
I don't think it's true.
- Your action or someone else's: Quiero que vengas (subjunctive) but Quiero venir (infinitive). The usual pattern for wishes and requests.
- Belief stays indicative, doubt takes the subjunctive: Creo que es verdad, but No creo que sea verdad.
- WEIRDO covers the triggers: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt and denial, Ojalá.
Forms
Regular verbs
Start with the yo form of the present indicative (hablo, como, vivo), drop the -o and add the "opposite vowel" endings: -ar verbs take -e, -er/-ir verbs take -a. Because you start from the yo form, its irregularities carry over: tengo → tenga, hago → haga, digo → diga.
The highlighted part is the ending.
| hablar (-ar → -e) | comer (-er → -a) | vivir (-ir → -a) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hable | coma | viva |
| tú | hables | comas | vivas |
| él/ella/usted | hable | coma | viva |
| nosotros | hablemos | comamos | vivamos |
| vosotros | habléis | comáis | viváis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablen | coman | vivan |
Spelling and stem changes
Verbs ending in -car, -gar, -zar change their spelling to keep the sound before the new vowel (c → qu, g → gu, z → c), and so do -ger/-gir verbs (g → j: coger → coja, elegir → elija):
The highlighted part is the letters that change.
Es importante que busques trabajo. It's important that you look for work. (buscar: c → qu)
Quiero que pagues tú la cena. I want you to pay for dinner. (pagar: g → gu)
Espero que la película empiece pronto. I hope the film starts soon. (empezar: z → c)
Es mejor que cojas el autobús. It's better that you take the bus. (coger: g → j)
Stem-changing verbs keep their present-tense change (pienso → piense). In -ar and -er verbs, nosotros and vosotros have no change, as in the present. -ir verbs change there too, but only e → i or o → u:
The highlighted part is the letters that change.
| Verb | yo | nosotros |
|---|---|---|
| pensar (to think) | piense | pensemos |
| volver (to return) | vuelva | volvamos |
| sentir (to feel) | sienta | sintamos |
| dormir (to sleep) | duerma | durmamos |
| pedir (to ask for) | pida | pidamos |
Irregular verbs
Only six verbs don't follow the yo-form rule (remember them as DISHES). ver looks irregular but follows it: veo → vea.
| Verb | |
|---|---|
| dar (to give) | dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den |
| ir (to go) | vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan |
| ser (to be) | sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean |
| haber (to have) | haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan |
| estar (to be) | esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén |
| saber (to know) | sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan |
When to use it
The subjunctive is a mood, not a tense: where the indicative states facts, the subjunctive expresses wishes, emotions, doubts and possibilities. It usually comes after que. With wishes and requests, que + subjunctive is for someone else's action (Quiero que vengas) and the infinitive for your own (Quiero venir). That isn't a rule for every trigger: No creo que pueda ir (I don't think I can go) has one subject, and cuando always takes a conjugated verb: Te llamo cuando llegue. A memory aid for the main triggers is WEIRDO:
W: Wishes and wants
Quiero que..., Espero que...
E: Emotions
Me alegra que..., Temo que...
I: Impersonal
Es necesario que..., Es posible que...
R: Recommendations
Recomiendo que..., Sugiero que...
D: Doubt and denial
Dudo que..., No creo que...
O: Ojalá
Ojalá llueva, Ojalá vengas
1. Wishes, wants and hopes
Espero que tengas un buen día – I hope you have a good day
Quiero que vengas a la fiesta – I want you to come to the party
Ojalá que llueva café – If only it would rain coffee
Deseo que seas feliz – I wish you happiness
2. Emotions about what someone else does
Me alegra que estés aquí – I'm happy you're here
Temo que no lleguen a tiempo – I'm afraid they won't arrive on time
Es triste que no puedas venir – It's sad that you can't come
Me sorprende que lo sepas – It surprises me that you know
3. Recommendations and impersonal expressions
Te recomiendo que estudies más – I recommend that you study more
Es importante que lleguemos temprano – It's important that we arrive early
Es necesario que hables con él – You need to speak to him
Sugiero que vayas al médico – I suggest you go to the doctor
4. Doubt and denial
Belief and certainty stay in the indicative: Creo que es verdad, Es cierto que viene.
Dudo que sea verdad – I doubt it's true
No creo que venga mañana – I don't think he's coming tomorrow
Es posible que llueva – It may rain
No estoy seguro de que tenga razón – I'm not sure he's right
5. After purpose, condition and time connectors
Always: para que, sin que, con tal (de) que, a menos que, en caso de que, and antes (de) que, which is a fixed rule (even for past events: Salió antes de que llegáramos). With cuando, hasta que and other time words, for future events. An open condition with si takes the present indicative, never the present subjunctive: Si tienes tiempo, ven.
Salimos antes de que llueva. We'll leave before it rains.
Te lo digo para que lo sepas. I'm telling you so that you know.
Lleva paraguas en caso de que llueva. Take an umbrella in case it rains.
Te llamo cuando llegue. I'll call you when I arrive.
Common mistakes
Your own wish: use the infinitive
Not this (incorrect): Quiero que yo coma.
But this (correct): Quiero comer. – I want to eat. With wishes and requests, use the infinitive for your own action and que + subjunctive for someone else's: Quiero que tú comas. Not a rule for every trigger: No creo que pueda ir (I don't think I can go).
Forgetting que
Not this (incorrect): Espero vengas.
But this (correct): Espero que vengas. – I hope you come. Que joins the two clauses (it is optional only after ojalá).
Subjunctive after creo que
Not this (incorrect): Creo que sea verdad.
But this (correct): Creo que es verdad. – I think it's true. Creo que expresses belief, so it takes the indicative. No creo que takes the subjunctive.
Indicative endings
Not this (incorrect): Es importante que habla.
But this (correct): Es importante que hable. – It's important that he speaks. -ar verbs take -e endings, -er/-ir verbs take -a endings.
Indicative for a future cuando
Not this (incorrect): Te llamo cuando llego mañana.
But this (correct): Te llamo cuando llegue mañana. – I'll call you when I arrive tomorrow. Cuando about the future takes the subjunctive; about habits, the indicative: Siempre te llamo cuando llego.
Quick check
6 questions1. Which sentence correctly uses the present subjunctive?
'Espero que vengas' is correct: 'espero que' (wish/hope) triggers the subjunctive.
2. Complete: 'Dudo que _____ (ser) verdad.'
'Sea' is the subjunctive form of 'ser': 'dudar que' expresses doubt, requiring the subjunctive.
3. Which requires indicative, NOT subjunctive?
'Sé que' (I know that) expresses certainty and takes the indicative.
4. Complete: 'Me alegra que tú _____ (estar) aquí.'
'Estés' is correct: 'me alegra que' expresses emotion, requiring the subjunctive.
5. Complete: 'Es importante que nosotros _____ (hablar) español.'
'Hablemos' is correct: 'es importante que' is an impersonal expression requiring the subjunctive.
6. Which is correct when you want something for yourself?
With querer, your own action takes the infinitive: 'Quiero comer'. 'Quiero que coma' would be about someone else eating.
Test your knowledge of the Spanish present subjunctive: formation and usage.
Going further
Cuando and hasta que, 'a flat that has...', quizá, aunque, and the full list of trigger verbs
More connectors that always take the subjunctive
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.
Cuando, hasta que, tan pronto como
These take the subjunctive for a future or hypothetical action and the indicative for a habit or a completed past action. The same goes for mientras and después (de) que, though después de que can also take the subjunctive for past events: Después de que terminara la reunión, nos fuimos.
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. (habit: 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)
Something that may not exist
After a person or thing you're looking for but haven't found, use the subjunctive; for one that exists, the indicative.
Busco un piso que tenga balcón. I'm looking for a flat that has a balcony. (may not exist)
Tengo un piso que tiene balcón. I have a flat that has a balcony. (it exists)
Necesito a alguien que hable francés. I need someone who speaks French. (haven't found them)
Conozco a alguien que habla francés. I know someone who speaks French. (a specific person)
Quizá(s), tal vez and aunque
Quizá(s) and tal vez (perhaps) usually take the subjunctive. Aunque + subjunctive = "even if"; + indicative = "even though".
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 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)
More impersonal expressions
Es mejor que te vayas – It's better that you leave
Es raro que no conteste – It's strange he doesn't answer
Es probable que ganen – It's likely they'll win
Es una lástima que no vengas – It's a shame you're not coming
Es cierto que viene – It's true that he's coming (indicative)
No es cierto que venga – It isn't true that he's coming (subjunctive)
Talking about the past or the unreal
After a main verb in the past or the conditional, use the imperfect subjunctive for a simultaneous or later event (Quería que vinieras) and the pluperfect subjunctive for an earlier one (Dudaba que hubieras terminado). An unreal si clause takes the imperfect subjunctive (Si tuviera tiempo, iría), but an open condition takes the present indicative, never the present subjunctive (Si tienes tiempo, ven). Como si takes the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive: como si lo supiera, como si lo hubiera sabido. In a few cases the two can swap: when the subjunctive and conditional are interchangeable.
Trigger expressions
Desire and influence
Emotion
- alegrarse de que
- temer que
- sentir que
- sorprenderse de que
- me molesta que
- me encanta que
- odiar que
- me preocupa que
Impersonal expressions
- es necesario que
- es posible que
- es importante que
- es mejor que
- es probable que
- conviene que
- más vale que
- puede ser que
- es raro que
- es una lástima que
In depth: Subjunctive triggers: fixed phrases you need to know →