The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions (El subjuntivo con expresiones impersonales) Es importante que estudies para ser médico.

The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions The subjunctive is used in noun clauses after impersonal expressions of necessity, doubt, frequency, probability, denial, opinion, pity, and uncertainty when the dependent clause has an expressed subject. Some common impersonal expressions are shown on the following two slides.

Es bueno Es común Es difícil Es dudoso Es extraño Es fácil It’s good It’s common It’s difficult It’s doubtful It’s strange It’s easy Es importante Es imposible Es increíble It’s important It’s impossible It’s incredible The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions

Es indispensable Es (una) lástima Es malo Es mejor Es necesario Es posible It’s indispensable It’s a pity It’s bad It’s better It’s necessary It’s possible Es preciso Es probable Es urgente It’s essential It’s probable It’s urgent The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions

Es importante que ustedes reciclen el aluminio. It’s important that you recycle aluminum. Es imposible que la deuda nacional baje. It’s impossible for the national debt to become lower. Es increíble que Elena no pueda encontrar un centro de reciclar. It’s incredible that Elena can’t find a recycling center. Following are some examples of usage: The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions

The indicative is used when the impersonal expression conveys certainty or conviction on the part of the speaker. Some common impersonal expressions of certainty are: The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions Es verdad Es cierto Es evidente Es seguro Es obvio It’s true It’s evident It’s certain It’s obvious No es dudoso It’s not doubtful

Es verdad que el candidato es muy honrado. It’s true that the candidate is very honest. Es evidente que el jefe no está aquí. It’s evident that the boss is not here. Es seguro que muchos van a votar. It’s certain that many are going to vote. The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions Following are some examples of the use of the indicative with impersonal expressions:

Es difícil conseguir un trabajo con tanto desempleo. It’s hard to get a job with so much unemployment. Es necesario pagar los impuestos. It’s necessary to pay taxes. The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions Use the infinitive with impersonal expressions when there is no expressed subject in the dependent clause. When used with an infinitive, these expressions are truly impersonal, in that no specific person is named as the subject.

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