The present-subjunctive[1]

spanish level 3 intermidate mid to high

1. El presente del
Subjuntivo

2. The Indicative
Up to now you have been
using verbs in the
indicative mood, which is
used to talk about facts or
actual events.

3. The Indicative
Aprendo francés para mi
viaje.

4. The Subjunctive
Spanish has another way
of using verbs called the
subjunctive mood.

5. The Subjunctive
We use it to say what one
person does or doesn’t
want, tell, suggest, or
recommend someone else
to do.

6. The Subjunctive
We form the present
subjunctive of most verbs
the same way we form
negative tú commands,
Usted and Ustedes
commands..

7. The Subjunctive
We drop the -o of the
present-tense indicative yo
form and add the
subjunctive endings.

8. The Subjunctive
For -ar verbs:
e, es, e, emos, éis, en
For -er/-ir verbs:
a, as, a, amos, áis, an

9. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
As with commands, if
there is a stem change all
forms will change in the
subjunctive except for the
nosotros and vosotros
forms.

10. Sembrar – to plant
siembro
siembres
siembre
sembremos
sembréis
siembren

11. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
As in negative commands,
irregular verbs that add a
“g” to the stem in the
present-tense yo form also
have a “g” in the present
subjunctive.

12. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
caerse
decir
hacer
poner
salir
tener
traer

13. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
hacer hag-o haga
tenerteng-o tenga

14. Tener – to have
tenga
tengas
tenga
tengamos
Tengáis
tengan

15. The Subjunctive
The present subjunctive has
the same spelling changes in
any verb with an irregular yo
form. (just like negative tú
commands, Usted and
Ustedes commands.

16. CONOCER – to know
conozca
conozcas
conozca
conozcamos
conozcáis
conozcan

17. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
Also verbs ending in –car,
-gar, and –zar have a spell
change in order to
maintain the original
sound.

18. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
buscarbusco busque
pagarpago pague
cruzarcruzocruce

19. Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
D – Dar (Dé, des, dé, demos deis den)
I – IR (vaya, vayas vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan)
S – Ser (Sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean)
H – Haber (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan)
E – Estar (esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén)
S – Saber (sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan)

20. When to use Subjunctive
1. A sentence that
includes the subjunctive
form has two parts
connected by the word
que.
For example:

21. The Subjunctive
Quiero que tú superes los
obstáculos.
I want you to overcome
obstacles.

22. 2. A verb of Volition
(what may or may not happen):
W – Wishes, Wants
E – Emotions, feelings, thoughts
I – Impersonal Expressions
R – Requests, Recommendations
D – Doubt, Denial, Disagreement
O – Ojalá (I hope to God)

23. The Subjunctive
Sugiero que bebas agua
antes de correr.
I suggest that you drink
water before running.

24. The Subjunctive
El entrenador exige que
los atletas estiren los
músculos.
The trainer demands that
the athletes stretch their
muscles.

25. The Subjunctive
Es necesario que protejas el medio
ambiente.
It’s necessary that you protect the
environment.
Es importante que los jóvenes
solucionen los problemas.
It’s important that the young people
solve problems.

26. 3. A change of subject
Note that the subjunctive
sentences have two parts,
each with a different
subject, connected by the
word que:

27. 2 Clauses
Ella sugiere que yo aprenda francés
Independent
clause
(stands on its
own)
Subject > Verb
Separated
by the
word
“que”
Dependent clause (can’t
stand on its own)
Begins with the word
“que.”
Indicative
Verb
Subjunctive
Verb

28. The Subjunctive
The first subject uses the
present indicative verb (of
volition) + que and the second
subject uses the present
subjunctive verb (what should
happen).

29. The Subjunctive
Verbs that are often follewed by
que + subjunctive:
Decir
Insistir en
Necesitar
Permitir
Preferir (e > ie)
Prohibir
Querer (e > ie)
Recomendar (e > ie)
Sugerir (e > ie)

30. PRACTICE
Es necesario que tú _________ (hacer) la
tarea.
Mi madre quiere que yo _______ (sacar)
buenas notas.
Es preciso ________(beber) mucha agua
todos los días.
Ojalá que la actividad no _______(ser)
plantar árboles
hagas
saque
bebas
sea