El Subjuntivo

Formas y uso del subjuntivo

1. El subjuntivo en cláusulas nominales

Introducción

A big problem for English speakers is the subjunctive, partially because of the lack of a similar concept or structure in English.

To understand what the subjunctive is, you have to understand several things:

Concept 1: Independent clause and dependent clause

An independent clause has only one conjugated verb or predicate and one subject: Juan (subject) canta. (conjugated verb). There can be other elements in the sentence that modify the subject or the predicate but only one subject and one predicate: Mi primo Juan canta con su hermana Sofía una vez al mes.

Dependent clause

A dependent or subordinate clause, as the name suggests, depends on another, the main clause, that means it has to be use always together with a main clause. The subordinate clause is introduced and tied to the main clause with the conjunction "que". The subordinate clause modifies somehow the predicate of the main clause, adding meaning to it: Juan (subject of the main clause) quiere (predicate of the main clause) que (conjunction) su hermana (subject of the subordinate clause) cante (predicate of the subordinate clause) con él.

Ejemplo

The aunt wants Nena to get married to Javier.

La tia quiere Nena casar a Javier.

No !!!

La tía quiere que Nena se case con Javier.

Regla 1:

As a rule of thumb: Use the subjunctive only in dependent or subordinate clauses.

(There are some exceptions in pseudo-independent clauses introduced by ojalá, quizá(s) and tal vez, exclamations, as well in some commands. But for now you should assume that the subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses.)

3 Tipos de cláusulas subordinadas

nominal clauses, clauses that modify the verb the same way a direct nominal object would: Quiero a mi hermano. (I like my brother.) (Who do I like? = my brother = direct object) Quiero que Sofía cante. (I want Sofia to sing or that Sofia sings.) (What do I want? = that she sings = direct object)

Cont. tipos

adverbial clauses, clauses that modify the verb the way a simple adverb would: Voy a salir pronto. (I am going to leave soon. When I am going to leave = soon = adverb) Voy a salir cuando pueda (I am going to leave as soon as I can. When am I going to leave? = as soon as I can = adverbial clause.)

Cont. tipos

adjectival clauses, clauses that modify the direct object of the main clause, the way a simple adjective would: Quiero cantar la canción famosa (famosa = adjective that modifies canción; what kind of song = a famous song) Quiero cantar la canción que escuché ayer. (I want to sing the song that I heard yesterday. What kind of song? = that I heard yesterday = adjectival clause modifying "song") Quiero cantar una canción que haga llorar a mi novia. (I want to sing a song that makes my girl friend cry. What kind of song? = that makes my girl friend cry = adjectival clause modifying "song")

Regla 2

it is not always necessary to use the subjunctive in subordinate clauses but only under the certain conditions

El significado del indicativo

Juan está enfermo.

Sé que Juan está enfermo.

María dijo que Juan estaba enfermo.

Verbs in the indicative mood express events or states that are considered factual, definite, objective or part of the speaker’s experienced reality.

El significado del subjuntivo

Dudo que Juan esté enfermo.

Quiero que el profesor esté enfermo.

No es cierto que Juan esté enfermo.

Me alegro que el profesor esté enfermo.

With the subjunctive the speaker expresses that he/ she considers events or states to be fictional, subjective, or not part of the speakers experienced reality.

El subjuntivo en la cláusula nominal

What determines whether or not you need to use the subjunctive in a nominal clause is the meaning of the verb or verbal expression in the main clause. You have to use the subjunctive after expressions of expectation, skepticism, doubt, uncertainty, demands, wants, needs, insistence, advice, will, negated facts, … “WEDDING” or “WEIRDO”

After expressions of volition, will and influence

Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (Juan wants his sister to sing with him.)

Other similar expressions are:

aconsejar que (to advise) : Juan aconseja que cante su hermana.

*decir que (to tell): Juan dice que cante su hermana.

dejar que (to allow, to let): Juan deja que cante su hermana.

desear que (to whish, to want): Juan desea que cante su hermana.

exigir que (to demand) : Juan exige que cante su hermana.

hacer que (to make): Juan hace que cante su hermana. (Juan makes his sister sing.)

impedir que (to prevent): Juan impide que cante su hermana. (Juan prevents his sister from singing.)

Cont.

*insistir en que (to insist on): Juan insiste en que cante su hermana. (Juan insists on his sister singing.)

mandar que (to order, to command): Juan manda que cante su hermana.

pedir que (to ask for): Juan pide que cante su hermana.

preferir que (to prefer): Juan prefiere que cante su hermana.

prohibir que (to forbid, to keep from): Juan prohibe que cante su hermana.

recomendar que (to recommend): Juan recomienda que cante su hermana.

rogar que (to beg): Juan ruega que cante su hermana.

sugerir que (to suggest): Juan sugiere que cante su hermana.

"Some verbs,"

Some verbs, for example decir and insistir have more than one use. They can be used to express a command, a will or wish, but also to simply convey information. In the first case they are followed by a subjunctive and in the second case there is no subjunctive:

Juan le dice a su hermana que cante. (Juan tell his sister to sing.) = wish or will = Subjunctive

Juan dice que su hermana canta bien. (Juan says that his sister sings well.) = mentioning something = No Subjunctive.

"As you can see in..."

As you can see in the example Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (Juan wants his sister to sing with him), there must be two people involved in this situation, Juan and his sister, one in the main clause and one in the subordinate clause. Therefore, if there isn't a second person involved, there is no subjunctive but an infinive and there is no "que".

Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (2 subjects = subjunctive and "que") but: Juan quiere cantar solo. (one subject, Juan = no subjunctive but an infinitive and no "que")

"Some verbs allow to signal..."

Some verbs allow to signal that there is a second person involved by using a pronoun (le, les, lo, la, los, las) with the main verb. In these cases you have two choices: You can either use the subjunctive and a subordinate clause intoduced by "que" or you just use an infinitive and no "que":

Juan (le) aconseja que cante su hermana. or Juan (le) aconseja a su hermana que cante. (The brackets around the pronouns mean that the use of the pronouns is optional.) but: Juan le aconseja cantar a su hermana. (The use of the pronoun is optional.)

(Te) aconsejo que tomes el tren. (I recommend you to take the train.) but: Te aconsejo tomar el tren.

Other verbs in this category are dejar, exigir, impedir, mandar, permitir, prohibir, rogar and sugerir.

After expressions of emotions and personal attitude vs. feeling

Me alegro que el profesor esté enfermo. (I am glad that the teacher is sick.)

Otras expresiones

encantarle algo a alguien (to be delighted that): Me encanta que el profesor esté enfermo.

enojarle algo a alguien (to make angry that): Me enoja que el profesor esté enfermo.

esperar que (to hope that): Espero que el profesor esté enfermo.

extrañarle algo a alguien que (to be surprised that): Me extraña que el profesor esté enfermo.

gustarle algo a alguien que (to be pleased that): Me gusta que el profesor esté enfermo.

lamentar que (to regret that): Lamento que el profesor esté enfermo.

molestarle algo a alguien (to be bothered, annoyed that): Me molesta que el profesor esté enfermo.

sentir que (to be sorry, to regret that): Siento que el profesor esté enfermo.

sorprenderle algo a alguien que (to be surprised that): Me sorprende que el profesor esté enfermo.

temer que (to fear): Temo que el profesor esté enfermo.

"Again,"

Again, if there isn't a second person involved, there is no subjunctive but an infinitive and there is no "que".

Espero estar enfermo mañana [porque vamos a tener un examen]. (I hope to be sick tomorrow [because we'll have an exam].

After expressions of doubt and negation of reality

Dudo que el profesor esté enfermo. (I doubt that the teacher is sick.) (I am not sure, but that's what I think because he has never been sick so far, but I might be wrong.)

Otras expresiones

no pensar que (not to think that): No pienso que el profesor esté enfermo.

no creer que (not to believe that): No creo que el profesor esté enfermo.

negar que (to deny that): Niego que el profesor esté enfermo.

"Only dudar que,"

Only dudar que, no pensar que, no creer que and negar que are followed by the subjunctive, no dudar, pensar, creer and no negar are used with the indicative.

No dudo que Juan está enfermo.

"In questions you can either..."

In questions you can either use the indicative or the subjunctive depending on whether or not you want to imply or not that what you are saying is part of your reality:

¿Crees que Juan está enfermo? (You think that he is sick.)

¿Crees que Juan esté enfermo? (You don’t think that he is sick.)

After several impersonal expressions

Expressions (with no specific subject) with "ser": These impersonal expressions have some times personal verb equivalents which have been discussed before:

Es de desear que Plácido Domingo cante en Madrid. = Deseo que Plácido Domingo cante en Madrid. (I wish that Plácido Domingo sings in Madrid.)

Ejemplos

es bueno que (it is good that)

es dudoso que (it is questionable that)

es importante que (it is important that)

es imposible que (it is impossible that)

es improbable que (it is improbable that)

es malo que (it is bad that)

es mejor que (it is better that)

es necesario que (it it necessary that)

es peor que (it is worse that)

es posible que (it is possible that) …

Regla

Most impersonal expressions are used with the subjunctive. The only exceptions are expressions that express that something is certain.

Ejemplo:

Es cierto que Juan está enfermo.

Es lógico que tenemos clase el viernes.

"When you don't want to..."

When you don't want to identify or mention a specific subject in the subordinate clause, the impersonal expression is followed by an infinitive:

Es necesario hacer las tareas. (It is necessary to do the homework.) Es necesario que los estudiantes hagan las tareas. (It is necessary that the students do the homework.)

Las formas:

Presente de subjuntivo: pgs. 163-167:

Presente perfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 181

Imperfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 163

Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 189


	Formas y uso del subjuntivo
	1. El subjuntivo en cláusulas nominales


	A big problem for English speakers is the subjunctive, partially because of the lack of a similar concept or structure in English.
	To understand what the subjunctive is, you have to understand several things:


	An independent clause has only one conjugated verb or predicate and one subject: Juan (subject) canta. (conjugated verb). There can be other elements in the sentence that modify the subject or the predicate but only one subject and one predicate: Mi primo Juan canta con su hermana Sofía una vez al mes.


	The aunt wants Nena to get married to Javier.
	La tia quiere Nena casar a Javier.
	No !!!
	La tía quiere que Nena se case con Javier.


	As a rule of thumb: Use the subjunctive only in dependent or subordinate clauses.
	(There are some exceptions in pseudo-independent clauses introduced by ojalá, quizá(s) and tal vez, exclamations, as well in some commands. But for now you should assume that the subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses.)


	nominal clauses, clauses that modify the verb the same way a direct nominal object would: Quiero a mi hermano. (I like my brother.) (Who do I like? = my brother = direct object) Quiero que Sofía cante. (I want Sofia to sing or that Sofia sings.) (What do I want? = that she sings = direct object)


	adverbial clauses, clauses that modify the verb the way a simple adverb would: Voy a salir pronto. (I am going to leave soon. When I am going to leave = soon = adverb) Voy a salir cuando pueda (I am going to leave as soon as I can. When am I going to leave? = as soon as I can = adverbial clause.)


	it is not always necessary to use the subjunctive in subordinate clauses but only under the certain conditions


	Juan está enfermo.
	Sé que Juan está enfermo.
	María dijo que Juan estaba enfermo.
	Verbs in the indicative mood express events or states that are considered factual, definite, objective or part of the speaker’s experienced reality.


	Dudo que Juan esté enfermo.
	Quiero que el profesor esté enfermo.
	No es cierto que Juan esté enfermo.
	Me alegro que el profesor esté enfermo.
	With the subjunctive the speaker expresses that he/ she considers events or states to be fictional, subjective, or not part of the speakers experienced reality.


	What determines whether or not you need to use the subjunctive in a nominal clause is the meaning of the verb or verbal expression in the main clause. You have to use the subjunctive after expressions of expectation, skepticism, doubt, uncertainty, demands, wants, needs, insistence, advice, will, negated facts, … “WEDDING” or “WEIRDO”


	Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (Juan wants his sister to sing with him.)

	Other similar expressions are:
	aconsejar que (to advise) : Juan aconseja que cante su hermana.
	*decir que (to tell): Juan dice que cante su hermana.
	dejar que (to allow, to let): Juan deja que cante su hermana.
	desear que (to whish, to want): Juan desea que cante su hermana.
	exigir que (to demand) : Juan exige que cante su hermana.
	hacer que (to make): Juan hace que cante su hermana. (Juan makes his sister sing.)
	impedir que (to prevent): Juan impide que cante su hermana. (Juan prevents his sister from singing.)


	*insistir en que (to insist on): Juan insiste en que cante su hermana. (Juan insists on his sister singing.)
	mandar que (to order, to command): Juan manda que cante su hermana.
	pedir que (to ask for): Juan pide que cante su hermana.
	preferir que (to prefer): Juan prefiere que cante su hermana.
	prohibir que (to forbid, to keep from): Juan prohibe que cante su hermana.
	recomendar que (to recommend): Juan recomienda que cante su hermana.
	rogar que (to beg): Juan ruega que cante su hermana.
	sugerir que (to suggest): Juan sugiere que cante su hermana.


	Some verbs, for example decir and insistir have more than one use. They can be used to express a command, a will or wish, but also to simply convey information. In the first case they are followed by a subjunctive and in the second case there is no subjunctive:
	Juan le dice a su hermana que cante. (Juan tell his sister to sing.) = wish or will = Subjunctive
	Juan dice que su hermana canta bien. (Juan says that his sister sings well.) = mentioning something = No Subjunctive.


	As you can see in the example Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (Juan wants his sister to sing with him), there must be two people involved in this situation, Juan and his sister, one in the main clause and one in the subordinate clause. Therefore, if there isn't a second person involved, there is no subjunctive but an infinive and there is no "que".
	Juan quiere que su hermana cante con él. (2 subjects = subjunctive and "que") but: Juan quiere cantar solo. (one subject, Juan = no subjunctive but an infinitive and no "que")


	Some verbs allow to signal that there is a second person involved by using a pronoun (le, les, lo, la, los, las) with the main verb. In these cases you have two choices: You can either use the subjunctive and a subordinate clause intoduced by "que" or you just use an infinitive and no "que":
	Juan (le) aconseja que cante su hermana. or Juan (le) aconseja a su hermana que cante. (The brackets around the pronouns mean that the use of the pronouns is optional.) but: Juan le aconseja cantar a su hermana. (The use of the pronoun is optional.)
	(Te) aconsejo que tomes el tren. (I recommend you to take the train.) but: Te aconsejo tomar el tren.
	Other verbs in this category are dejar, exigir, impedir, mandar, permitir, prohibir, rogar and sugerir.


	Me alegro que el profesor esté enfermo. (I am glad that the teacher is sick.)


	encantarle algo a alguien (to be delighted that): Me encanta que el profesor esté enfermo.
	enojarle algo a alguien (to make angry that): Me enoja que el profesor esté enfermo.
	esperar que (to hope that): Espero que el profesor esté enfermo.
	extrañarle algo a alguien que (to be surprised that): Me extraña que el profesor esté enfermo.
	gustarle algo a alguien que (to be pleased that): Me gusta que el profesor esté enfermo.
	lamentar que (to regret that): Lamento que el profesor esté enfermo.
	molestarle algo a alguien (to be bothered, annoyed that): Me molesta que el profesor esté enfermo.
	sentir que (to be sorry, to regret that): Siento que el profesor esté enfermo.
	sorprenderle algo a alguien que (to be surprised that): Me sorprende que el profesor esté enfermo.
	temer que (to fear): Temo que el profesor esté enfermo.


	Again, if there isn't a second person involved, there is no subjunctive but an infinitive and there is no "que".
	Espero estar enfermo mañana [porque vamos a tener un examen]. (I hope to be sick tomorrow [because we'll have an exam].


	Dudo que el profesor esté enfermo. (I doubt that the teacher is sick.) (I am not sure, but that's what I think because he has never been sick so far, but I might be wrong.)


	no pensar que (not to think that): No pienso que el profesor esté enfermo.
	no creer que (not to believe that): No creo que el profesor esté enfermo.
	negar que (to deny that): Niego que el profesor esté enfermo.


	Only dudar que, no pensar que, no creer que and negar que are followed by the subjunctive, no dudar, pensar, creer and no negar are used with the indicative.
	No dudo que Juan está enfermo.


	In questions you can either use the indicative or the subjunctive depending on whether or not you want to imply or not that what you are saying is part of your reality:
	¿Crees que Juan está enfermo? (You think that he is sick.)
	¿Crees que Juan esté enfermo? (You don’t think that he is sick.)


	Expressions (with no specific subject) with "ser": These impersonal expressions have some times personal verb equivalents which have been discussed before:
	Es de desear que Plácido Domingo cante en Madrid. = Deseo que Plácido Domingo cante en Madrid. (I wish that Plácido Domingo sings in Madrid.)


	es bueno que (it is good that)
	es dudoso que (it is questionable that)
	es importante que (it is important that)
	es imposible que (it is impossible that)
	es improbable que (it is improbable that)
	es malo que (it is bad that)
	es mejor que (it is better that)
	es necesario que (it it necessary that)
	es peor que (it is worse that)
	es posible que (it is possible that) …


	Most impersonal expressions are used with the subjunctive. The only exceptions are expressions that express that something is certain.
	Ejemplo:
		Es cierto que Juan está enfermo.
		Es lógico que tenemos clase el viernes.


	When you don't want to identify or mention a specific subject in the subordinate clause, the impersonal expression is followed by an infinitive:
	Es necesario hacer las tareas. (It is necessary to do the homework.) Es necesario que los estudiantes hagan las tareas. (It is necessary that the students do the homework.)


	Presente de subjuntivo: pgs. 163-167:
	Presente perfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 181
	Imperfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 163
	Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo: pg. 189