El presente de subjuntivo

What is the present subjunctive?

The present subjunctive (el presente de subjuntivo) is used to refer to the future as well as
the present.

How to form the present subjunctive

Regular verbs

To conjugate regular verbs in the present subjunctive, we remove the infinitive ending (-ar, -
er, -ir) and add -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en to -ar verbs and -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an to -er/-
ir verbs.
MIENTRAS QUE QUEPA LA ROPA EN EL
CLOSET, ESTOY FELIZ. A NO SER QUE DES
DINERO EN LA FIESTA ESTAMOS SIN
COMIDA. PROBABLEMENTE ELLA SEPA SU
NUMERO DE TELEFONO
 
 ojala que mi ropa quepa en el armario
 espero que me des un regalo
 pienso que este muy triste hoy.
 ESPERO QUE ESTE 2024 SEA UN AÑO MARAVILLOSO.

Verbs that express the speaker’s feelings regarding an action or situation are always followed
by the subjunctive.

 Common verbs: lamentar, odiar, sentir, no soportar, temer.

 Verbs that take personal pronouns as their indirect object (me/te/le/nos/os/les): dar
envidia, encantar, emocionar, extrañar, gustar, indignar, molestar, parecer bien/mal,
poner nervioso/-a/-os/-as, sorprender, etc.

When followed by que + subjunctive, these verbs refer to a subject that is different to the one
in the main clause.

Yo odio que mi estudiante llegue tarde-yo temo que no haga la tarea.

Example:
A mi amiga Catalina le encanta que sea tan positiva.
 subject 1 (Catalina) + que + subject 2 (yo)

When followed by an infinitive, they refer to the same subject as in the main clause.

Example:
Me encanta viajar sola.
subject 1 (yo) = subject 2 (yo)

Desires and wishes

Verbs and structures that express desires, wishes and preferences are followed by the
subjunctive.

 Common verbs and structures: esperar, desear, preferir, querer, soñar con, tener
ganas de, (me, te...) gustaría, (me, te...) encantaría, etc.

When followed by que + subjunctive, they express the speaker’s wish towards another
person.

Yo quiero viajar..

Yo deseo ir a Japon

Yo espero que viaje a Bogotá

El prefiere que no (ir) vaya a Barcelona, en vez que (ir) vaya a Mallorca.

Example:
Quiero que Catalina haga un viaje de mochileras por Europa conmigo.
subject 1 (yo) + que + subject 2 (Catalina)

When followed by an infinitive, these verbs refer to the same subject as in the main clause.

Example:
Tengo ganas de hacer un viaje por toda Europa con Catalina.
subject 1 (yo) = subject 2 (yo)
 ¡Ojalá…!, ¡Que…!

The expressions ¡Ojalá...! and ¡Que...! introduce the subjunctive and express a wish for
the present or the future.

Examples:
 ¡Ojalá gane en el bingo esta tarde!
¡Que tengas suerte en el bingo!

Advice, suggestions, orders and requests

Advice, recommendations, suggestions, proposals, orders and requests are all expressed in
the subjunctive.

Examples:
Todos nuestros amigos aconsejan que reservemos Italia para el final.
No nos recomiendan que perdamos el tiempo con guías turísticas.
Yo propongo que caminemos por las montañas.-

■ Common verbs: (des)aconsejar, exigir, recomendar, sugerir, proponer, ordenar, prohibir,

pedir, etc.

If the advice/recommendation/suggestion etc. is not directed at a specific person, we use

the infinitive in the subordinate clause. This indicates that the speaker is making a general
recommendation.

Example:
Nuestra amiga Paula recomienda viajar en los trenes nocturnos.

Evaluations and judgements

The structure (no) es/está ... que introduces the subjunctive. These structures evaluate an
action or situation from a neutral perspective.

Example:
Es necesario que elijamos pronto el destino para organizar el viaje.

If the subject is general and not mentioned explicitly, we use the infinitive instead of que +
subjunctive.

Example:
Es obligatorio comprar un billete de tren para cada desplazamiento.
Es obligatorio que compres un billete de tren para cada desplazamiento.
*The expressions quizá(s), tal vez, posiblemente, probablemente and seguramente can be
followed by the indicative when they refer to the past (e.g. Seguramente nos quedó por ver
alguna ciudad preciosa.).

Negated opinions and doubts

Main clauses that contain verbs of opinion and thought are only followed by the subjunctive
when they are negated.

Examples:
No creo que Catalina esté nerviosa por el viaje. → subjunctive
Creo que Catalina está nerviosa por el viaje. → indicative
Creo que Catalina no está nerviosa por el viaje. → indicative
 Verbs of opinion: creer, estar seguro/-a/-os/-as de, parecer, pensar, suponer, etc.

 No creo que mi esposo haga el desayuno hoy..

 No estoy segura que ella compre la cena.
 No me parece que...
 No pienso que...
 No supongo que....
The tense in the main clause

The present subjunctive follows main clauses that contain the present, future or present
perfect indicative or the imperative.

 Main clause in the present indicative

If the main clause contains the present tense, the subordinate clause can refer to the present or
future. Time markers allow us to determine which.

Examples:
No creo que tenga ahora dinero suficiente para el viaje. → at the present moment
No creo que el precio de los billetes suba en los próximos días. → in the future
 Main clause in the future or the imperative

If the main clause contains the future tense or an imperative, the subordinate clause refers to
the future.

Examples:
Te lo contaremos todo cuando volvamos del viaje. → in the future
Avísame cuando recibas nuestra postal. → in the future
 Main clause in the present perfect

If the main clause contains the present perfect, the action in the subordinate clause has not yet
happened.

Example:
El revisor ha dicho que nos bajemos en la siguiente estación. → we are still on the
train

Conjunctions that take the subjunctive

The present subjunctive is also used after certain conjunctions. These are linking words that
connect a main clause to a subordinate clause. Learn more about the Spanish conjunctions
that take the subjunctive.
 Example:
Avísame en cuanto recibas nuestra postal.

The subjunctive in sentences with two subjects

Another feature of subjunctive sentences is that there is usually a change of subject between
the main clause and the subordinate clause. When the subject is the same in both clauses, we
use the infinitive rather than the subjunctive.

Examples:
Quiero que mi amiga Catalina haga un viaje por Europa conmigo.
subject 1 (yo) vs. subject 2 (Catalina)
Quiero hacer un viaje por toda Europa con Catalina.
subject 1 (yo) = subject 2 (yo)