I. Formation of the present subjunctive

1. Regular verbs in -AR:

It is formed in the following way: RADICAL + (e-es-e-emos-éis-en)

Example with the verb SALTAR (To jump) :

Yo salte
Tu saltes
Él/Ella/Usted salte
Nosotros saltemos
Vosotros saltéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes salten

2. Regular verbs in -ER and -IR:

The present subjunctive is formed as follows: RADICAL + (a-as-a-amos-áis-an)

Example with the verb COMER (To eat) :

Yo coma
Tu comas
Él/Ella/Usted coma
Nosotros comamos
Vosotros comáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes coman

N.B:Note that verbs in -AR have an ending in -e while verbs in -IR and -ER have an ending in -a. The endings are therefore identical to the present indicative, but reversed!

II. Use of the present subjunctive

In Spanish, the present subjunctive is used to construct certain forms of the imperative and to express a wish, a doubt, a personal opinion, a negation, an order, a possibility or a feeling.

In general, we can say that the subjunctive is an expression of the unreal or the unaccomplished (unlike the present indicative which expresses things that are accomplished and real).

Example :

Nicolás mira la télévision ==> Nicolas is watching TV.

Present tense – real situation

Es probable que Nicolás mire la televisión ==> It is likely that Nicolas is watching TV.

The present subjunctive is used because it expresses a probability, something uncertain.

The present subjunctive is used in the following cases:

* Expressing NEGATION about the present or the future with the locutions

No + CREER/PENSAR/PARECER/CONSIDERAR/PERMITIR + QUE

Example :

No me parece que sea correcto ==> I don’t think it is right.
No consideramos que estés uno de nuestros ==> We don’t consider you to be one of us.

* HYPOTHETICAL or CONSEQUENTIAL conditions with locutions:

Como, aunque, a pesar de que, por màs que, cuanto, de modo que…

Example :

– Aunque esté lloviendo, vamos de excursión ==> Although it is raining, we are going on a trip.
– A pesar de que odia madrugar, se levanta temprano ==> Although he hates the morning, he gets up early.

* Indicate a PROBABILITY with an adverb like :

Quizá(s), tal vez, probablemente, seguramente, ojalá…

Example :

– Quizás Pedro coma con nosotros el domingo ==> Maybe Pedro will eat with us on Sunday.
– Tal vez llueva, está nublado ==> Maybe it will rain, there are clouds.

* With the following expressions:

antes de que, sin que, cuando, apenas, después (de), en cuanto, hasta que, mientras, tan pronto como…

Example :

– Hasta que la muerte los separe ==> Until death do you part.
– Sin que se dé cuenta, la dañó ==> He hurt her, without realizing it.

* Expressing WISHES (QUERER +QUE)

– Quiero que venga ==> I want him to come.
– Queremos que pare esto ==> We want it to stop.

* Expressing an ORDER (imperative)

– Dile que limpie los cristales ==> Tell him to wash the windows 
– ¡ Hable ! ==> Speak!

* Expressing an INTENTION

– Le doy mi número para que me llame ==> I give him my number so that he calls me.

N.B : The present subjunctive MUST be used in the following cases:

* When the verb in the main sentence is in the present, past compound, future or imperative tense.

Iré a buscarte con el coche para que no tengas que caminar ==> I’ll pick you up in the car so you don’t have to walk.

(Here, the verb in the main sentence IR is conjugated in the future tense ==> iré. The present subjunctive is therefore used in the relative ==> tengas)

* the verb of the subordinate refers to an action that happens at the same time or after the action of the main clause.

Estaba caminando en la calle cuando me encuentre con tu hijo ==> I was walking down the street when I met your son.

Here, the verb of the subordinate (Encontrase ==> me encuentre) occurs after the action of the main clause (caminar en la calle), so the subjunctive is used.

👉 Practice now!

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