1. The Present Subjunctive

2. The Subjunctive
Up to now you have been using verbs in the indicative mood, which is used to talk about facts or actual events.

3. The Subjunctive
Aprendo francés para mi viaje.

4. The Subjunctive
Spanish has another way of using verbs called the subjunctive mood.

5. The Subjunctive
We use it to say what one person does or doesn’t want, tell, suggest, or recommend someone else to do.

6. The Subjunctive
A sentence that includes the subjunctive form has two parts connected by the word que.
For example:

7. The Subjunctive Quiero que tú respires lentamente.
I want you to breathe slowly.

8. The Subjunctive Sugiero que bebas agua antes de correr.
I suggest that you drink water before running.

9. The Subjunctive
El entrenador exige que los atletas estiren los músculos.
The trainer demands that the athletes stretch their muscles.

10. The Subjunctive
You can also suggest more general or impersonal ideas using expressions such as es necesario…es bueno…and es importante…, followed by que and a form of the present subjunctive.

11. The Subjunctive Es necesario que hagas ejercicio.
It’s necessary that you do exercise.
Es importante que los jóvenes coman bien.
It’s important that the young people eat well.

12. The Subjunctive
Note that the subjunctive sentences have two parts, each with a different subject, connected by the word que:

13. 2 Clauses Ella sugiere que yo aprenda francés
Independent clause (stands on its own) Subject > Verb
Separated by the word “que”
Dependent clause (can’t stand on its own) Begins with the word “que.”
Subjunctive Verb
Indicative Verb

14. The Subjunctive
The first subject uses the present indicative verb (recommendation, suggestion, prohibition, and so on) + que and the second subject uses the present subjunctive verb (what should happen).

15. The Subjunctive Verbs that are often follewed by que + subjunctive:
Decir
Insistir en
Necesitar
Permitir
Preferir (e > ie)
Prohibir
Querer (e > ie)
Recomendar (e > ie)
Sugerir (e > ie)

16. The Subjunctive
We form the present subjunctive of most verbs the same way we form negative tú commands.

17. The Subjunctive
We drop the -o of the present-tense indicative yo form and add the subjunctive endings.

18. The Subjunctive For -ar verbs: e, es, e, emos, éis, en
For -er/-ir verbs:
a, as, a, amos, áis, an

19. SALTAR – to jump
salte
saltes
saltemos
saltéis
salten

20. CONOCER – to know
conozca
conozcas
conozcamos
conozcáis
conozcan

21. DECIR – to say/tell
diga
digas
digamos
digáis
digan

22. The Subjunctive
The present subjunctive has the same spelling changes and irregular yo form changes used with the negative tú commands and Ud./Uds. commands.

23. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
As in negative commands, irregular verbs that add a “g” to the stem in the present-tense yo form also have a “g” in the present subjunctive.

24. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
caerse
decir
hacer
poner
salir
tener
traer

25. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
hacer
hag-o
haga
tener
teng-o
tenga

26. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
Also verbs ending in –car, -gar, and –zar have a spell change in order to maintain the original sound.

27. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
buscar
busco
busque
pagar
pago
pague
cruzar
cruzo
cruce