Knowing how to conjugate verbs correctly is essential when learning a new language. In Spanish, sentence coherence is ensured through tense concordance.

This precise rule allows you to know which tense to put the verb of a subordinate sentence according to the tense of the main sentence.

If the tenses of the verbs do not coincide, it will be impossible to express an idea clearly.

In order to apply the tense concordance, it is essential to know the present and imperfect subjunctive conjugations of all verbs.

Use of the subjunctive

The use of the subjunctive in a subordinate sentence is mainly done with verbs of will.

When a verb expressing this idea is present in the main sentence, the construction of the sentence is often as follows: main verb conjugated + that + subordinate verb in the subjunctive.

The main verbs of will are the following:

• Aconsejar = to advise
• Decir = to say
• Desear = to desire
• Esperar = to wait
• Imaginar = to imagine
• Mandar = to order
• Pedir = to ask
• Prohibir = to forbid
• Querer = to want
• Rogar = to pray
• Temer = to fear

Please note that although most verbs have a regular subjunctive conjugation (present or imperfect), it is important to know which verbs have irregularities.

This is the case with the following verbs: dar (to give), estar (to be), haber (to have), ir (to go), saber (to know), ser (to be), ver (to see).

Concordance of tenses with the present subjunctive

In Spanish, the verb tense of the subordinate sentence is to be conjugated in the present subjunctive if the verb of the main sentence is :

• in the present tense of the indicative
• in the future tense of the indicative
• in the past tense
• in the imperative

The concordance of the tenses with the present subjunctive is not difficult if you know how to recognize these four tenses and if you know the conjugations of the present subjunctive.

It is then sufficient to construct these sentences as follows:

• Tememos (present tense) que salga (present subjunctive) de la casa = We fear that he will leave the house
• Le prohibiré (future) que vaya (present subjunctive) al mercado = I would forbid him to go to the market
• Sandra le ha pedido (present perfect) que llegue (present subjunctive) más temprano = Sandra asked him to arrive earlier
• Espere (imperative) que coma (present subjunctive) antes de ir = Wait for him to eat before going

It is possible to use the past tense of the subjunctive instead of the present tense to express an idea that has already ended:

• Tememos (présent) que haya salido (present perfect subjunctive) de la casa = We fear that he has left the house

Concordance of tenses with the imperfect subjunctive

The verb of the subordinate sentence is to be conjugated in the imperfect subjunctive if the verb tense of the main sentence is one of the following:

• the imperfect tense
• the past simple
• the past perfect
• the present conditional

To apply the tense concordance with the imperfect subjunctive, you must know when to use the past tense and the present conditional.

It is also necessary to know the conjugations of the verbs in the imperfect subjunctive.

The construction of the sentences then follows that of the following examples:

• Temíamos (imperfect tense) que saliera (imperfect subjunctive) de la casa = We were afraid he would leave the house
• Le había prohibido (past perfect) que fuera (imperfect subjunctive) al mercado = I had forbidden him to go to the market
• Sandra le pidió (past simple) que llegara (imperfect subjunctive) más temprano = Sandra asked him to arrive earlier
• Yo esperaría (present conditional) que comiera (present subjunctive) antes de ir = I would wait for him to eat before going

It is also possible to put the verb of the subordinate in the past perfect subjunctive to change the meaning of the sentence.

With the past perfect subjunctive, you can express something that has already ended in the past:

• Temíamos (imperfect tense) que hubiera salido (past perfect subjunctive) de la casa = We were afraid that he had left the house.

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