Present Subjunctive:

Impersonal Expressions
Capítulo #12
First a quick video
Impersonal Expressions
Impersonal expressions are general statements which, in
Spanish, often trigger the use of the subjunctive.
Impersonal expressions in Spanish take the form of Es + adjective and
translate as It is + adjective in English.
When these types of generalizations express volition or emotion
they trigger the subjunctive:
¿Tienes dolor de muela? Es urgente que vayas al dentista.
(The speaker is giving advice)
When they express certainty, facts, and observations they
trigger the indicative
Es obvio que vas al dentista. ¡Qué lindos dientes!
(The speaker is making an observation)
Impersonal Expressions + Subjunctive
Spanish English Spanish English
es absurdo que it’s absurd that es una lástima que It’s a shame that
es bueno que it's good that es urgente que It’s urgent that
es importante que It’s important that no es cierto que it's not certain that
es increíble que It’s incredible that (no) es imposible it's not impossible that
que
es interesante que It’s interesting that (no) es improbable it's not improbable that
es malo que It’s bad that (no) es posible que it's not possible that
es mejor que It’s best that (no) es probably que it's not probable that
es necesario que It’s necessary that no es verdad que it's not true that
The expressions above are used with the subjunctive.
Volition: Es urgente que vayas al dentista.
Emotion: Es una lástima que tengas dolor de muela, pero no es verdad que
necesites ir al dentista.
Impersonal Expressions + Indicative

Spanish English
es cierto que It’s certain that
es obvio que It’s obvious that
es verdad que It’s true that

The expressions above are used with the

indicative.
Observation: Es obvio que tienes dolor de muela.
Certainty/Facts: Es verdad que necesitas ir al
dentista.
Generalizations
Impersonal expressions are used to make generalizations.

To express a generalization about a specific person:

Use que followed by the subjunctive

Es importante que hagas ejercicio para mantener la salud.

(It is important that you exercise).

To express a pure generalization that could apply to anyone:

Use an infinitive

Es importante hacer ejercicio para mantener la salud.

(It is important to exercise)