EL MODO SUBJUNTIVO ¿Cómo y cuándo lo usamos? Objetivo: To learn how to form and when to use the subjunctive mood

Two important points: Difficult for English speakers – so don’t panic if you don’t get it straight away. You must understand the meaning of the word subjunctive in contrast to the indicative.

The indicative: The indicative mood is the verb mood used in ordinary, typical speech when making statements. The indicative is the most common of moods. In English, the indicative mood is used nearly all the time except when giving direct commands. Examples of the indicative: I see 4 dogs (veo cuatro perros) I will go home (Iré a casa) We bought two apples (Compramos dos manzanas)

The subjunctive: Used when expressing: Desire Sentiment Your will for something Cause Demand Request Doubt Necessity The most important thing to remember: If there is a possibility that the action I am speaking about has not, or may not take place then it is important to use the subjunctive. However if it is a realised fact that the action has taken or definitely will take place the indicative is used.

Bert is going to the shop Bert went to the shop ... The indicative is used.

These are not facts ... The subjunctive is used. I want Bert to go to the shop I tell Bert to go to the shop I hope Bert goes to the shop I prefer that Bert go to the shop It’s necessary for Bert to go to the shop It’s possible that Bert will go to the shop These are not facts ... The subjunctive is used.

Are these certainties? ... The subjunctive is used. I will see Bert when he arrives I will see Bert as soon as he arrives Are these certainties? ... The subjunctive is used.

So, how is it formed? Step 1: Take the first person singular of the present tense hablo como recibo Step 2: Remove the ‘o’ ending habl com recib Step 3: For –ar verbs, put the present tense –er endings (except yo) For –er/-ir, put the present tense –ar endings (except yo) habl com recib habl com recib habl com recib e es emos éis en a as amos áis an a as amos áis an

To conjugate a verb in the present subjunctive, you must first remember what the ‘yo’ form is in the present indicative. Take into account the go-go verbs, the radical changing verbs and finally the irregulars. These will all involve spelling changes from the infinitive: INFINITIVE PRESENT INDICATIVE ‘YO’ PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE ‘YO’ TENER HACER PONER PODER CABER CONOCER PARECER tengo hago pongo puedo quepo conozco parezco tenga haga ponga pueda quepa conozca parezca

Radicals and spelling changes E to IE and O to UE (Radical changing AR and ER verbs) These follow the same rules as they do in the indicative. All forms follow the stem change except nosotros and vosotros (which follow the infinitive) VOLAR: vuele, vueles, vuele, volemos, voléis, vuelen QUERER: quiera, quieras, quiera, queramos, queráis, quieran E to IE and O to UE (Radical changing IR verbs) These follow the same rules as they do in the indicative except nosotros and vosotros. In these forms, the e changes to i and the o changes to u. PREFERIR: prefiera, prefieras, prefiera, prefiramos, prefiráis, prefieran DORMIR: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman

Radicals and spelling changes E to I (Radical changing IR verbs) All e-i radical changing verbs in the present indicative maintain the stem-change in all forms. PEDIR: pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan SERVIR: sirva, sirvas, sirva, sirvamos, sirváis, sirvan Spelling changers All verbs ending in –ger and –gir change the g to a j in all forms ESCOGER: escoja, escojas, escoja, escojamos, escojáis, escojan All verbs ending in –car, -gar and –zar change to qu, gu and c respectively EXPLICAR: explique, expliques, explique, expliquemos, expliquéis, expliquen LLEGAR: llegue, llegues, llegue, lleguemos, lleguéis, lleguen EMPEZAR: empiece, empieces, empiece, empecemos, empecéis, empiecen

DAR IR SABER HABER ESTAR SER Those pesky irregulars! There are 6 verbs which do not follow the rules for forming the present subjunctive. A way to remember them is to use the acronym DISHES DAR IR SABER HABER ESTAR SER dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean

IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS DOUBT/DENIAL OJALÁ So, when do we use the subjunctive? To us, the subjunctive can be a rather ‘weird’ thing to use. The main situations where we use the subjunctive can be remembered by the acronym WEIRDO: WISHES EMOTIONS IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS DOUBT/DENIAL OJALÁ Quiero/deseo/necesito/espero que... Me alegro que... Me da pena que... Es + adjective + que... (es probable que) Recomiendo/sugiero/suplico que... dudo/no creo/no estoy seguro/niego que... Spanish word meaning ‘if only’ or ‘I wish/hope’