1. LOVE IT!!! Present Subjunctive Learn it! Practice it! Master it!
© 2008 BITTERHANK

2. Present Subjunctive Practice Brief Description Setup Words
© 2008 BITTERHANK
Present Subjunctive
Brief Description
Setup Words
Verb Formation
Constructing a Sentence
Final Thoughts
Practice

3. What is “subjunctive”?
The present subjunctive is a “mood” in Spanish. It is used to express uncertainty, doubt, emotional reaction, or future actions. The subjunctive conjugation of a verb is usually used in the second part of a sentence. For example, I may say, “I want you to study.” You may or may not do it, so the word “to study” would be conjugated in the present subjunctive. The subjunctive is the opposite of the indicative mood, which has all of the tenses that you already know. The indicative is used to express what is completely true or false, what is clear, or what is concrete. This module is only an introduction to the concept of the subjunctive. Its uses are vast!
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4. Setup Words querer (ie) = to want sugerir (ie) = to suggest
These words, used in the first clause of a sentence, set up the use of the subjunctive in the second clause. What is said after these words may or may not happen, so the conjugation of the second verb is not the present tense as you know it.
querer (ie) = to want
sugerir (ie) = to suggest
recomendar (ie) = to recommend
insistir en = to insist
esperar = to hope
ojalá que = hopefully / it’s hopeful

5. Setup Words
I may want you to do something, but you may not do it.
I may suggest that you read the rest of this, but…
Your parents might recommend that you wash the dishes right away, but you
might not do it at all.
A friend may insist that you go with him, but you might not want to go.
You might hope that something happens, but it may not happen.
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6. Helpful Links Home Colby
This site is AWESOME! It even has sound. It has the present subjunctive and so many more topics for practice.
Spaleon.com
This site can also be used for other verb tenses.
Bowdoin
Look for “subjuntivo”. There are many other good
exercises.
Quia.com Under “subcategory”, look for “subjunctive” or “subjuntivo”.
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7. Subjunctive in Context
To set up the subjunctive there are three
things that must be in the sentence.
One of the setup words
2. The word “que”
3. A subject change

8. Subjunctive in Context
Sugerimos que ellos duerman más.
Setup word:
we suggest
ellos:
subject change
que:
that
“duerman” = they sleep
This is the subjunctive conjugation. They may or may not do it, even though we suggest that they do it.

9. Subjunctive in Context
Recomiendo que tú hagas la tarea.
Setup word:
I recommend
tú:
subject change
que:
that
“hagas” = you do
This is the subjunctive conjugation. You may or may not do it, even though I recommend that you do it.

10. Subjunctive in Context
Ella quiere que yo viva en España.
Setup word:
she wants
yo:
subject change
que:
that
“viva” = I live (subjunctive)
I may or may not do it, even though she wants me to. Note: In English this would be, “She wants me to live in Spain. In Spanish the infinitive is not used, even though it sounds like it should be.

11. Subjunctive in Context
In the examples that you see on the next slide, remember that the subjunctive is used in the second half because it may or may not happen. If this sounds strange to you, it’s because we don’t recognize the present subjunctive in our spoken English.
Please also remember that the examples that use “querer” are going to sound different in their English translations than the others. Consider the following example.
I want you to go to the store.
Many students want to say: Te quiero ir a la tienda.
The right translation is: Quiero que vayas a la tienda.
The red example is not Spanish grammar, even though it sounds or looks like it should be. Use the subjunctive after querer with que and a subject change.

12. Subjunctive in Context
Ojalá que entiendas bien esta lección.
(Hopefully you understand this lesson.)
Insistimos en que vosotros regreséis a tiempo.
(We insist that you all come back on time.)
Mi madre quiere que pongamos la mesa.
(My want wants us to set the table.)
¿Sugieres que yo se lo dé a ellos?
(Do you suggest that I give it to them?)
¿Esperáis que los Brown ganen el Super Bowl?
(Do you guys hope that the Browns win the Super Bowl?)
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13. Forming the Subjunctive
Verb Formation Menu
The Basics
Stem Changing Verbs
Spelling Changes
Irregular Verbs
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14. Forming the Subjunctive
In order to conjugate a verb in the present subjunctive, you have to know well the conjugations of the present indicative (the present tense that you already know).
First: Use the “yo” form of the verb in the present tense.
hablo como vivo
Next: Drop the ‘o’
habl_ com_ viv_
Last: Add an opposite ending. This means for -ar verbs, use -er endings, and for -er/-ir verbs, use -ar endings.
hable coma viva

15. Forming the Subjunctive
Subjunctive Verb Endings
-ar Verbs
-e -emos
-es -éis
-e -en
-er Verbs
-a -amos
-as -áis
-a -an
-ir Verbs
-a -amos
-as -áis
-a -an

16. Forming the Subjunctive
Examples of Regular Verbs
caminar
camine caminemos
camines caminéis
camine caminen
compartir
comparta compartamos
compartas compartáis
comparta compartan
comprender
comprenda comprendamos
comprendas comprendáis
comprenda comparendan

17. Forming the Subjunctive
It doesn’t really mater what the “yo” form of the present is. If there is a stem change or other spelling change in it, the change will be seen in the subjunctive. Consider the following.
Infinitive
acostarse (ue)
decir
divertirse (ie)
dormir (ue)
entender (ie)
poner
preferir (ie)
reírse (i)
venir
Present Indicative
me acuesto
digo
me divierto
duermo
entiendo
pongo
prefiero
río
vengo
Present Subjunctive
me acueste
diga
me divierta
duerma
entienda
ponga
prefiera
ría
venga
Verb Menu

18. Forming the Subjunctive
-ar and -er stem changing verbs still have no stem change for nosotros and vosotros in the present subjunctive. However, certain -ir verbs do. Note the following.
poder (ue)
pueda
puedas
podamos
podáis
puedan
acostarse (ue)
me acueste
te acuestes
se acueste
nos acostemos
os acostéis
se acuesten
preferir (ie / i)
prefiera
prefieras
prefirimos
prefiráis
prefieran

19. Forming the Subjunctive
A note about -ir verbs
Stem changing verbs ending in -ir have multiple stem changes. They are the only verbs that have stem changes in the preterit and present participle. Whenever you see two choices after an infinitive the first is for the present indicative and four conjugations of the subjunctive. The second is for the nosotros / vosotros form of the subjunctive, the preterit, and the present participle. See the following examples.
divertirse (ie / i)
present indicative
me divierto nos divertimos
te diviertes os divertís
se divierte se divierten
preterit
me divertí nos divertimos
te divertiste os divertisteis
se divirtió se divirtieron
present subjunctive
me divierta nos divirtamos
te diviertas os divirtáis
se divierta se divierten
present participle
divirtiendo

20. Forming the Subjunctive
Here are some other -ir stem changing verbs that have changes in the present indicative, present subjunctive, preterit, and present participle.
dormir (ue / u) = to sleep
medir (i / i) = to measure
mentir (ie / i) = to lie
morir (ue / u) = to die
pedir (i / i) = to aks for
preferir (ie / i) = to prefer
reírse (i / i) = to laugh
servir (i / i) = to serve
vestirse (i / i) = to get dressed
Verb Menu

21. Forming the Subjunctive
Spelling Changes for Pronunciation
Words ending with -gar / -car / -zar will have spelling changes in the present subjunctive in order to maintain pronunciation.
For example, what is the subjunctive of “pagar”?
If you follow the earlier steps, you would say “page”.
The problem with that is that the hard “G” sound is lost. The word should sound like “PA-gay”. The combination of “ge” makes it “PA-hey”.
A similar problem arises with -car verbs. “ce” sound like “say”, but the sound should be “kay”.

22. Forming the Subjunctive
Spelling Changes for Pronunciation
To solve this problem verbs that end with -gar have “gue” in their endings. You may remember a similar change in the first conjugation of the preterit. However, in the subjunctive the spelling change is throughout all of the conjugations.
pagar
pague paguemos
pagues paguéis
pague paguen

23. Forming the Subjunctive
Spelling Changes for Pronunciation
To solve this problem with -car verbs “que” is in their endings. Again, you may remember a similar change in the first conjugation of the preterit. However, in the subjunctive the spelling change is throughout all of the conjugations.
clasificar
clasifique clasifiquemos
clasifiques clasifiquéis
clasifique clasifiquen

24. Forming the Subjunctive
Spelling Changes for Pronunciation
The problem with -zar verbs is that the letters “ze” are never combined in Spanish. Whenever that happens, the z changes to c.
bostezar
bostece bostecemos
bosteces bostecéis
bostece bostecen
Verb Menu

25. Forming the Subjunctive
The following verbs are irregular in the subjunctive. Only the “yo” form of the subjunctive is shown, but the other conjugations will follow the same pattern as the regular verbs.
Infinitive
dar
estar
haber ir
saber
ser
Present Indicative
doy
estoy he
voy sé
soy
Present Subjunctive dé
esté
haya
vaya
sepa
sea
Verb Menu

26. Things to Keep in Mind
If there is no subject change, then there is no subjunctive.
I want to go with you. Quiero ir contigo.
I want you to go with me. Quiero que vayas conmigo.
The second example uses the subjunctive because there is a subject change.
I can, I should, I need to, I have to, I want to, I’m going to, etc.
All of these are followed by an infinitive in Spanish if there is no subject change.
Don’t over think this. You knew how to do this in Spanish I.

27. They hope that they do well. = Ellos esperan hacer bien. (infinitive)
Things to Keep in Mind
If there is no subject change, then there is no subjunctive.
Using a phrase with “hope” in it can be tricky.
Ellos esperan que tú hagas bien. They hope that you do well. (subjunctive)
Ellos esperan que yo haga bien. They hope that I do well. (subjunctive)
How would you say, “They hope that they do well.”?
There’s no subject change, right? Could the same sentence be said in English, “They hope to do well.”?
They hope that they do well. = Ellos esperan hacer bien. (infinitive)

28. Things to Keep in Mind There is no future subjunctive.
Again, using esperar (to hope) or ojalá (hopefully) can be tricky.
Ella espera que vengan. She hopes that they (will) come. (subjunctive)
Ojalá que él aprenda. Hopefully he (will) learn. (subjunctive)
Even though in English we would use the future tense, it isn’t used in these cases in Spanish. You can see that the two sentences above have two possible translations. Basically, if everything else tells you that you should use the subjunctive (setup verb / que / subject change) you should use it. But don’t forget...
We hope that we’ll be able to go. Esperamos poder ir. (infinitive)
If there is no subject change, don’t use the subjunctive.

29. Be careful with “querer”.
Things to Keep in Mind
Be careful with “querer”.
As mentioned on previous slides, when a subjunctive sentence that uses “querer” is translated into English, the subjunctive verb is an infinitive. This confuses many students. In fact, it’s probably the #1 mistake that students make with the subjunctive. Note the following.
Quiero que ellos estudien más. I want them to study more.
Queremos que los niños se acuesten ahora. We want the kids to go to bed now.
¿Queréis que yo os lo dé? Do you guys want me to give it to you?
Sus padres quieren que ella saque la basura. Her parents want her to take out the trash.
Mi mamá quiere que sepamos la verdad. My mom wants us to know the truth.
Él quiere que tú seas simpático. He wants you to be nice.
Ellos no quieren que ella vaya. They don’t want her to go.
Mi papá quiere que yo ponga la mesa. My dad wants me to set the table.

30. Be careful with “querer”.
Things to Keep in Mind
Be careful with “querer”.
It may help to think that you’re saying, “I want that they study.” or “We want that the kids go to bed.” It sounds a little funny, but it may keep you from using the infinitive when the subjunctive should be used.
The examples below are WRONG. I’m showing them to you so that you can see how, to many, it makes sense to write sentences this way.
Los quiero estuiar. (I want them to study.)
Queremos los niños asostrarse. (We want the kids to go to bed.)
¿Me queréis dároslo? (Do you guys want me to give it to you?
These sentences are right: Quiero que ellos estudien.
Queremos que los niños se acuesten.
¿Queréis que yo os lo dé?

31. Things to Keep in Mind Home Be careful with “querer”.
It’s not always wrong to use an infinitive after querer.
Remember: If there is no subject change, there is no subjunctive.
I want to call them. Quiero llamarlos.
She wants to come. Ella quiere venir.
They want to have fun. Ellos quieren divertirse.
We want to laugh. Queremos reírnos
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