This is the question we will answer in today’s Spanish grammar article. As always, we will do it in a clear and simple way as all explanations at CELA Spanish School are.
We have been making the difficult easy since 1997.
Let´s get to the point:
Before reading this article, I recommend you read the article: What is the subjunctive and when do we use it in Spanish? on this page.
There we explain that we do not use the subjunctive in simple sentences with a subject and complements.
Here is an example of a simple sentence:
María y Juan estudian alemán desde hace 8 años.
The only simple sentences that admit the subjunctive are those that begin with ojalá, tal vez, quizá, quizás, probablemente and posiblemente.
Example:
Posiblemente viaje a España este verano.
Otherwise, no.
We have explained that we use the subjunctive in compound sentences with 2 different grammatical subjects joined by the particle “que” in which the subject of the main sentence expresses an expectation of action about the subject of the subordinate sentence. The action expected of the second subject goes in the subjunctive.
For example:
Espero que mis hijos se vayan de mi casa pronto.
Espero (subject, yo) que mis hijos (subject, ellos) se vayan (expected action) de mi casa pronto.
It works as an indirect imperative.
But attention: not every time we see the particle “que” in a sentence with 2 different subjects we are going to use the subjunctive. For example:
Tengo un perro que es muy obediente.
Here we have a relative clause that gives more information about the dog.
It is not an action that I expect from my dog, as here:
Quiero que mi perro sea más obediente.
In this article we will explain more uses of the subjunctive and give more examples. At the end we will do some exercises.
The expectation of action we have from another can take the form of an appraisal. When we evaluate or give our opinion about the action of another, we use the subjunctive in the subordinate clause.
For example:
Es importante que mis hijos encuentren un buen departamento.
No es normal que haga tanto calor en octubre.
No me gusta que la gente deje la basura en la playa.
No comprendo que mis colegas no quieran salir a tomar algo después de la oficina.
The action of another that I value or that I comment on is in the subjunctive. It is important that there are 2 different grammatical subjects in the sentence. We refer to the actions of another.
If we refer to the same person, or speak in general, we do not use the subjunctive.
For example:
No me gustar salir temprano de mi casa. (I mean me)
No es normal dejar las tareas importantes para última hora. (I speak in general; I do not value the action of another person like here: No es normal que María deje las tareas importantes para última hora).
Other uses of the subjunctive and some exceptions:
Perhaps the most important exception is the use of the subjunctive or indicative in Spanish with verbs of perception or thought in the main sentence.
But what are verbs of thought or perception?
They are those that are done with the mind such as: creer, pensar, opinar, recordar, notar, parecerle algo a alguien, suponer, imaginar, and everything else you can do with the mind….
Verbs of perception are those that have to do with the senses: ver, oír, escuchar, sentir con la piel, decir, oler, observar, etc.
When these verbs are in the main sentence in the affirmative mood, the verb in the subordinate sentence goes in the indicative. For example:
Creo que tenemos que levantarnos temprano mañana.
Pienso que el vecino tiene razón en esta discusión.
Recuerdo que dejamos las llaves en el auto.
When these verbs are in the negative form in the main sentence, the verb of the subordinate clause goes in the subjunctive. For example:
No creo que tengamos que levantarnos temprano mañana. Tenemos suficiente tiempo.
No pienso que el vecino tenga razón en esta discusión.
No recuerdo que hayamos dejado las llaves en el auto.
But be careful: if the verb in negation is a question, the verb in the subordinate clause is in the indicative. For example:
¿No crees que el vecino tiene razón?
This rule applies only to verbs of perception and thought and some verbs that express certainty such as:
Es verdad que el subjuntivo es fácil.
No es verdad que el subjuntivo sea fácil.
Está demostrado que el uso excesivo de las redes es malo para el cerebro.
No está demostrado que el uso excesivo de las redes sea malo para el cerebro.
In sentences in which we express an expectation of action on another this rule does not apply. For example:
Espero que mañana salga el sol.
No espero que mañana llueva.
Queremos que los alumnos practiquen más el subjuntivo.
No quiero que mis alumnos se confundan.
At the end of this article, we leave you the links to our video classes of the subjunctive on Youtube.
The subjunctive with future tense value:
This is another exception to the rule. In Spanish we use the subjunctive in sentences in which we talk about an action in the future that must happen in order for another action to occur. In this case we have only one subject in both sentences, and we do not have the particle “que”.
These are sentences with cuando + future meaning
For example:
Cuando llegue a mi casa me prepararé un té.
Apenas llegue del trabajo me daré una ducha.
It is not possible in Spanish to use the future tense after cuando.
For example:
Cuando llegaré
We must always use the subjunctive.
But be careful:
Cuando llego a mi casa me preparo un té. (It refers to a habit in the present).
Cuando llegue a mi casa me preparé un té. (It refers to a plan in the future).
At the end of the article you will find links to the video lessons about the subjuntivo with more information.
These are the most important exceptions.
In our online Spanish courses we study the subjunctive in detail in the B1 level and B2 level online courses.
Let’s now get down to practice.
Exercise:
According to what we have explained in this article, place the verb in the indicative mood or in the subjunctive mood. Check with the solutions at the end of the exercise.
Example:
Creo que comer pan después de las cinco de la tarde (engordar) engorda.
- Espero que mis padres (viajar) ______ a Italia el año próximo.
- Veo que ya (comenzar) _________ la primavera.
- Me gusta que mis hijos (estudiar)______ en las vacaciones.
- No es lógico que los precios (subir)______ tanto.
- Siento que (hacer) _____ frío en las tardes.
- Creo que (nosotros, tener) __________ que levantarnos pronto mañana.
- No creo que Luis (llegar)_______ puntual a la cita.
- Cuando (tú, tener) _______ tiempo, llámame por favor.
- Cuando (yo, tener) ________ tiempo estudio informática.
- No veo que (tú, estar estudiando)______ . Me parece que estás revisando el móvil.
- No me gusta que el perro del vecino (ladrar) _______ toda la noche.
- Buscamos un departamento que (ser) _______ luminoso.
- Quizás (yo, ir)______ a la playa hoy.
- Cuando Luis (ir) ____ al supermercado trae de todo menos lo que necesitamos.
- Cuando (tú, ir) ______ al supermercado, compra leche, por favor.
Solutions:
- Espero que mis padres (viajar) viajen a Italia el año próximo. We use the subjunctive because I expect an action from someone else, in this case, from my parents.
- Veo que ya (comenzar) comienza la primavera. Here we have a verb of perception in the affirmative form: veo, the verb in the subordinate clause is in the indicative.
- Me gusta que mis hijos (estudiar) estudien en las vacaciones. I value an action of my children, that’s why we use the subjunctive.
- No es lógico que los precios (subir) suban tanto. I give my opinion about someone else’s action in this case, prices.
- Siento que (hacer) hace frío en las tardes. Affirmative verb of perception, that’s why we use the indicative.
- Creo que (nosotros, tener) tenemos que levantarnos pronto mañana. Thought verb in the affirmative mood, so we use the indicative in the subordinate clause.
- No creo que Luis (llegar) llegue puntual a la cita. Thought verb in the negation form, so we use the verb of the subordinate clause in the subjunctive.
- Cuando (tú, tener) tengas tiempo, llámame por favor. Expected action in the future.
- Cuando (yo, tener) tengo tiempo estudio informática. Habit in the present tense.
- No veo que (tú, estar estudiando) estés estudiando . Me parece que estás revisando el móvil. Here we have a verb of perception in the negative form, that’s why we use the verb in the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause.
- No me gusta que el perro del vecino (ladrar) ladre toda la noche. I have an opinion about the action of another, in this case el perro del vecino.
- Buscamos un departamento que (ser) sea luminoso. We are talking about an action that we expect from another, in this case a thing, el departamento.
- Quizás (yo, ir) vaya a la playa hoy. Simple sentence with quizás.
- Cuando Luis (ir) va al supermercado trae de todo menos lo que necesitamos. It is a habit of Luis in the present.
- Cuando (tú, ir) vayas al supermercado, compra leche, por favor. Expected or planned action in the future.
We hope that the explanations in this article have been helpful to you. We have many different types of exercises in our online Spanish courses with teacher assistance at levels B1 and B2.
Nos vemos en una próxima clase.
Here you will find our video classes in Youtube about the subjuntivo in Spanish:
Spanish Subjunctive conjugation regular verbs:
Spanish Present Subjunctive irregular verbs
Spanish Present Subjunctive in Main Sentences with ojalá
Subjuntivo in compound sentences
Contrast indicativo subjuntivo in sentences with verbs of thought and senses
Subjuntivo in sentences with cuando
Subjuntivo in sentences with para que
Subjuntivo in sentences with gustar
Want to know more?
About the author: Sabine Loffler has a degree in Literature from UCV in Venezuela, a PhD in Hispanic Philology from UNED in Spain, a Specialist in Distance and Adult Education from UNED, has been teaching Spanish since 1992, is the founder of CELA Spanish School and is a Spanish teacher trainer.
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