1. Indicative vs. Subjunctive
Dependent Clause
Indicative (the regular present tense as we have used it so far)
Certainty
Belief
whether the information is factual is irrelevant, the perspective of the person speaking is the focus
Independent Clause }
Subjunctive (new stuff)
Uncertainty
Doubt
Hypothetical situations
Es cierto …
I’m certain…
Espero…
Dudo…
I wish…
I doubt…
que

2. Just like most of our commands!
The Subjunctive
To conjugate verbs in the subjunctive:
Start with the yo form
Drop the –o
Add the opposite ending:
Just like most of our commands!
-ar verbs -e
-emos
-es X
-en
-er/-ir verbs -a
-amos
-as X
-an
No –o ending at all!

3. Irregular Subjunctive
Verbs that are completely irregular in the subjunctive are the same ones that are completely irregular in negative tú, usted, and ustedes commands. S I D E
sea
seamos
seas X
sean er
vaya
vayamos
vayas X
vayan r dé
demos
des X
den ar
esté
estemos
estés X
estén
star
sepa
sepamos
sepas X
sepan
aber

4. The Subjunctive & Car/Gar/Zar verbs:
Verbs that end in –car: c->qu in all forms
Ej: sacar = saque, saques, saque, saquemos, saquen
Verbs that end in –gar: g->gu in all forms
Ej: pagar = pague, pagues, pague, paguemos, paguen
Verbs that end in –zar: z->c in all forms
Ej: cazar (to hunt) = cace, caces, cace, cacemos, cacen

5. Subjunctive & Stem-changing verbs:
AR & ER stem-change verbs change inside the boot, just like they do in the indicative present.
IR stem-change verbs change the normal way inside the boot, but also change in a DIFFERENT way outside the boot:
e->i or o->u
PREFERIR: to prefer
prefiera prefiramos
prefieras prefiráis
prefiera prefieran
DORMIR: to sleep
duerma durmamos
duermas durmáis
duerma duerman

6. Uses of the subjunctive
To need the subjunctive, your sentence must have 2 clauses (the two clauses must have different subjects):
MAIN DEPENDENT
CLAUSE que CLAUSE
Ex: I hope that he does his homework.
Yo espero que él haga su tarea.

7. If there is not a change in subject, use the infinitive
If there is not a change in subject, use the infinitive!!! I hope that you get a good grade. Yo espero que tú SAQUES una buena nota. I hope to get a good grade (I hope I get a good grade). Yo espero SACAR una buena nota.

8. Indicative vs. Subjunctive
Choosing between the Indicative and the Subjunctive can be tricky.
To remember when to use the subjunctive, just remember:
1:20

9. Wishes and hopes Opinion Request Doubt Uncertainty Persuasion
WORD UP If the verb in the main clause fits into one of these categories, the verb in the dependent clause must be in the subjunctive.
Wishes and hopes
I hope she can go.
Opinion
I hate that you won’t talk to me.
Request
Mom asked you to take out the trash.
Doubt
I don’t think Best Buy is open this late.
Uncertainty
It’s possible that I can help you.
Persuasion
I recommend that you study.

10. SUBJUNCTIVE OR INDICATIVE?
Wishes and hopes
Opinion
Request
Doubt
Uncertainty
Persuasion
SUBJUNCTIVE OR INDICATIVE?
I want you to eat lunch.
It is better that they go home early.
I know that she is smart.
The doctor recommends that he eat a healthy diet.
I hope (that) the competition goes well.
subjunctive
subjunctive
indicative
subjunctive
subjunctive

11. wishes, wants Esperar que-To wish, hope that Querer que- to want that
Ojalá que- Hopefully

12. opinion Es importante que-It is important that
Es mejor que- It is better that
Es preferible que- It is preferable that

13. request Pedir que…-to ask that (someone do something)
Querer que…-to want that (someone do something)

14. doubt Dudar que- to doubt that No creer que- to not believe that
No pensar que- to not think that

15. uncertainty No es posible que-it is not possible that
Es posible que- it is possible that
Es probable que- it is probable that
No es verdad que- it is not true that

16. persuasion Preferir que- to prefer that
Recomendar(ie) que- to recommend that
Sugerir(ie) que- to suggest that
Rogar(ue) que- to beg that

17. Esperar que-To wish, hope that Querer que- to want that
Ojalá que- Hopefully
Es importante que-It is important that
Es mejor que- It is better that
Es preferible que- It is preferable that
Pedir que…-to ask that (someone do something)
Querer que…-to want that (someone do something)
Dudar que- to doubt that
No creer que- to not believe that
No pensar que- to not think that
No es posible que-it is not possible that
Es posible que- it is possible that
Es probable que- it is probable that
No es verdad que- it is not true that
Preferir que- to prefer that
Recomendar(ie) que- to recommend that
Sugerir(ie) que- to suggest that
Rogar(ue) que- to beg that

18. SUBJUNCTIVE OR INDICATIVE
SUBJUNCTIVE OR INDICATIVE? Decide if each sentence below would need subjunctive or indicative, then translate the sentence to Spanish.
I believe that you will win.
He does not doubt that she likes him.
It is important that you arrive on time.
I doubt he knows the answer.
She tells him to wash the dishes.