Usage of the Present Subjunctive

1. As commands: ¡Coman Uds. en el restaurante El Pueblo! Eat at El Pueblo Restaurant! ¡Revuelva Ud. la salsa! Stir the sauce! ¡No hables tú durante la película! Don’t talk during the movie! This is the ONLY time the subjunctive will be used in a simple sentence.

2. The Subjunctive is used in complex sentences. A complex sentence has a MAIN clause and a DEPENDENT clause. Paco will eat when he gets home. In Spanish 3 conditions MUST be present to use the subjunctive: Condition #1. There must be a dependent clause introduced by the word “que” (that). It is possible that Paco has a broken ankle.

In English “that” is optional. In Spanish it is required! Conditions #2 The subject of the main clause is different than the subject of the dependent clause. It is possible that Paco has a broken ankle. Condition #3 The verb in the main clause MUST express doubt, desire, uncertainty, emotion or a command. Es posible que Paco tenga un tobillo roto.

If one of these is the main verb AND you have Verbs/Impersonal Expressions that take the Subjunctive esperar to hope dudar to doubt negar (ie) to deny temer to be afraid querer to want recomendar to recommend gustar to like preferir to prefer mandar to order/ command ojalá I hope If one of these is the main verb AND you have conditions a AND b, then you need the subjunctive.

Impersonal Expressions that take the Subjunctive es probable es dudoso it’s doubtful it’s probable es mejor es improbable it’s better it’s improbable es posible es necesario it’s possible it’s necessary es imposible es fácil it’s impossible it’s easy es importante es difícil it’s difficult it’s important

Es posible que yo tome álgebra. #2. #3. #1. #2. If one of these is the MAIN Expression AND you have Conditions #1 AND #2, then you need the subjunctive. Example: Es necesario que yo corra en el maratón. #2 #3 #1. #2 Example: Es posible que yo tome álgebra. #2. #3. #1. #2.

If the main verb of the sentence does NOT express doubt, desire, uncertainty, emotion or a command, then use the Indicative! Es cierto que mis padres van al gimnasio.

es seguro es claro it is sure it is clear es hecho es evidente Expressions that do NOT take Subjunctive es seguro es claro it is sure it is clear es hecho es evidente it is a fact it is evident es cierto no hay duda it is certain there is no doubt es verdad no es dudoso it is true it is not doubtful

Example: Es cierto que Paco tiene un tobillo hinchado. It is certain that Paco has a swollen ankle. Es dudoso que Paco tenga un tobillo hinchado. It is doubtful Paco has a swollen ankle.

BUT If there is no change of subject (ie.“que”) in the sentence, then use the INFINITIVE. Es necesario que tú uses muletas con un tobillo roto. BUT Es necesario usar muletas con un tobillo roto.