The Present Subjunctive in Spanish
El presente de subjuntivo
Test yourself with a quick quizThe present subjunctive (hable) is not a tense for facts. It appears after expressions of wishes, doubt and emotion, usually in a clause starting with que.
How to Form the Present Subjunctive
Take the yo form of the present, drop the -o and add the 'opposite' endings: -ar verbs take e endings, -er and -ir verbs take a endings.
| Subject | hablar | comer | vivir |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hable | coma | viva |
| tú | hables | comas | vivas |
| él/ella/usted | hable | coma | viva |
| nosotros/as | hablemos | comamos | vivamos |
| vosotros/as | habléis | comáis | viváis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hablen | coman | vivan |
Stems from the Yo Form
Because it starts from the yo form, any irregular yo carries over. Stem-changing verbs change as in the present, and -ir verbs also change in nosotros and vosotros. Some verbs change spelling to keep the sound.
| Infinitive | Present yo | Subjunctive yo | Subjunctive nosotros |
|---|---|---|---|
| tener | tengo | tenga | tengamos |
| hacer | hago | haga | hagamos |
| decir | digo | diga | digamos |
| conocer | conozco | conozca | conozcamos |
| pensar | pienso | piense | pensemos |
| dormir | duermo | duerma | durmamos |
| pedir | pido | pida | pidamos |
| buscar | busco | busque | busquemos |
| llegar | llego | llegue | lleguemos |
The Six Irregular Verbs
These verbs don't end in -o in the yo present, so they have their own forms. Note the accents on esté and dé.
| Infinitive | yo | tú | nosotros |
|---|---|---|---|
| ser | sea | seas | seamos |
| estar | esté | estés | estemos |
| ir | vaya | vayas | vayamos |
| saber | sepa | sepas | sepamos |
| dar | dé | des | demos |
| haber | haya | hayas | hayamos |
When to Use It
The subjunctive follows que when the main verb expresses a wish, a feeling, a doubt or a judgement about another person's action. If both verbs have the same subject, use the infinitive instead: quiero ir, but quiero que vayas.
| Trigger | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Wishes and requests | Quiero que vengas a la cena. | I want you to come to dinner. |
| Emotion | Me alegra que estés aquí. | I'm glad you're here. |
| Doubt and denial | No creo que llueva hoy. | I don't think it will rain today. |
| Judgements | Es importante que duermas bien. | It's important that you sleep well. |
| Purpose | Te lo explico para que lo entiendas. | I'll explain it so that you understand. |
| Future time | Cuando llegues, llámame. | When you arrive, call me. |
| Hope | Ojalá haga buen tiempo. | I hope the weather is nice. |
Test yourself
5 quick questions on this lesson. How many can you get right?
Choose the right answer.
Subjunctive vs Indicative
Facts and beliefs take the indicative. Doubt and future events after cuando, en cuanto or hasta que take the subjunctive.
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Creo que viene. | No creo que venga. |
| Es verdad que está enfermo. | Es posible que esté enfermo. |
| Cuando llego a casa, ceno. | Cuando llegue a casa, cenaré. |
Common Phrases
Spaniards use these every day.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¡Que aproveche! | Enjoy your meal! |
| ¡Que te mejores! | Get well soon! |
| ¡Que lo pases bien! | Have a good time! |
| Como quieras. | As you like. |
| Lo que sea. | Whatever. |
Common Mistakes
Look out for these.
- Using the future after cuando: say cuando tengas tiempo, not 'cuando tendrás tiempo'.
- Using the subjunctive after creo que: say creo que tiene razón.
- Using que with the same subject: say quiero aprender, not 'quiero que yo aprenda'.
- Forgetting accents: esté and dé need them.
- Using ojalá with the indicative: say ojalá venga, not 'ojalá viene'.