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Subjunctive vs Indicative

📋Overview🏗️Structure💡Examples⚠️Common Mistakes🧠Quiz📚Useful Resources

What You'll Learn

  • Understand the fundamental difference between and moods
  • Master how certainty vs uncertainty determines mood choice
  • Recognize how affirmation vs negation changes which mood to use
  • Use the correct mood after trigger verbs and expressions
  • Navigate complex sentences with multiple clauses and mood changes
  • Avoid common mistakes like using subjunctive after "creo que"

Overview / Usage

Understanding when to use subjunctive versus indicative is one of the most challenging aspects of advanced Spanish grammar. The key lies in one simple concept: certainty.

🎯 The Golden Rule

CERTAINTY = Indicative
UNCERTAINTY/SUBJECTIVITY = Subjunctive
Indicative (Facts & Certainty)
Creo que es verdad
I think it's true (I believe it)
Speaker expresses certainty
Subjunctive (Doubt & Uncertainty)
No creo que sea verdad
I don't think it's true (I doubt it)
Speaker expresses doubt/uncertainty

Notice how the same verb "creer" changes mood based on whether it's affirmative (certain) or negative (uncertain). This pattern applies to many Spanish verbs and expressions.

Structure & Formation

📊 When to Use Each Mood

🔵 Certainty & Belief
Sé que es verdad
I know it's true
📢 Stating Facts
Es cierto que viene
It's certain he's coming
💭 Affirmative Thinking
Creo que habla español
I think he speaks Spanish
👁️ Perception Verbs
Veo que estás cansado
I see that you're tired
❓ Doubt & Uncertainty
Dudo que sea verdad
I doubt it's true
❌ Denying Facts
No es cierto que venga
It's not certain he's coming
🤔 Negative Thinking
No creo que hable español
I don't think he speaks Spanish
💫 Wishes & Emotions
Espero que estés bien
I hope you're well

🔄 How Negation Changes Everything

Many trigger verbs/expressions change mood when negated:

Affirmative (Indicative)Negative (Subjunctive)
Creo que es bueno
I think it's good
No creo que sea bueno
I don't think it's good
Pienso que viene
I think he's coming
No pienso que venga
I don't think he's coming
Es cierto que llueve
It's certain it's raining
No es cierto que llueva
It's not certain it's raining
Es verdad que trabaja mucho
It's true he works a lot
No es verdad que trabaje mucho
It's not true he works a lot
Es obvio que sabe la respuesta
It's obvious he knows the answer
No es obvio que sepa la respuesta
It's not obvious he knows the answer

🎯 Expressions That ALWAYS Use One Mood

Always Indicative
  • Saber que (to know that)
  • Ver que (to see that)
  • Oír que (to hear that)
  • Notar que (to notice that)
  • Es obvio que (it's obvious that)
  • Es evidente que (it's evident that)
Sé que tiene razón
I know he's right
Always Subjunctive
  • Querer que (to want that)
  • Esperar que (to hope that)
  • Dudar que (to doubt that)
  • Negar que (to deny that)
  • Es posible que (it's possible that)
  • Es importante que (it's important that)
Quiero que vengas
I want you to come

Examples

📝 Side-by-Side Comparisons

See how the speaker's perspective changes mood choice:

Example 1: Speaking Spanish
Indicative (Certainty)
Creo que María habla español
I think María speaks Spanish
I believe this is true
Subjunctive (Doubt)
No creo que María hable español
I don't think María speaks Spanish
I doubt this is true
Example 2: Tomorrow's Weather
Indicative (Fact)
Es cierto que lloverá mañana
It's certain it will rain tomorrow
According to weather forecast (fact)
Subjunctive (Possibility)
Es posible que llueva mañana
It's possible it will rain tomorrow
Uncertain possibility
Example 3: Job Status
Indicative (Knowledge)
Sé que Juan trabaja aquí
I know Juan works here
Definite knowledge
Subjunctive (Desire)
Quiero que Juan trabaje aquí
I want Juan to work here
Wish/desire, not fact

💬 Real-Life Decision Process

Here's how native speakers mentally choose the mood:

Decision Tree:
  1. Am I stating a fact I know? → Indicative
    Sé que Juan está aquí
  2. Am I expressing my opinion as certain? → Indicative
    Creo que es buena idea
  3. Am I expressing doubt/denial? → Subjunctive
    Dudo que sea verdad
  4. Am I expressing a wish/desire/emotion? → Subjunctive
    Espero que vengas
  5. Did I negate a certainty verb? → Subjunctive
    No creo que sea buena idea

Gotchas / Common Mistakes

❌ "Creo que" + Subjunctive

Affirmative "creo que" expresses certainty, so use indicative:

Wrong:
Creo que sea verdad
Correct:
Creo que es verdad
I think it's true

⚠️ "Tal vez" Confusion

"Tal vez/quizás" can use either mood, but placement matters:

Tal vez viene (maybe he's coming - more certain)
Tal vez venga (maybe he'll come - less certain)

Both are correct; subjunctive emphasizes more doubt

💡 "Pensar" in Questions

In questions, "pensar" can use either mood depending on expectation:

¿Piensas que viene?
Do you think he's coming? (expecting yes)
¿Piensas que venga?
Do you think he's coming? (uncertain/doubting)

🎭 "Cuando" Changes Mood!

"Cuando" uses indicative for habitual/past, subjunctive for future:

Cuando voy a España... (whenever I go - habitual)
When I go to Spain... (indicative)
Cuando vaya a España... (when I go in future)
When I go to Spain... (subjunctive for unrealized future)

❌ Don't Forget "Que"!

Most triggers require "que" to connect the clauses:

Wrong:
Es importante hablas español
Correct:
Es importante que hables español
It's important that you speak Spanish

⚡ Verb Conjugation Errors

Don't use indicative endings for subjunctive:

Wrong:
Espero que vienes (indicative form)
Correct:
Espero que vengas (subjunctive form)
I hope you come

Quick Test / Mini Quiz

📝 Interactive Subjunctive vs Indicative Quiz

Test your ability to choose the correct mood based on certainty and context!

1

Complete: Creo que Juan _____ (tener) razón.

2

Complete: No creo que María _____ (saber) la verdad.

3

Which is correct?

4

Complete: Dudo que _____ (llover) mañana.

5

Complete: Es cierto que _____ (estar) cansado.

6

Complete: No es verdad que yo _____ (mentir).

7

Complete: Espero que tú _____ (venir) a la fiesta.

8

Complete: Pienso que _____ (ser) una buena idea.

Useful Resources

Coming soon...