¡Hola, amigos! Check out this short list of some common Spanish verbs that often require the use of the subjunctive mood.
For these verbs to be subjunctive triggers, we need to have one subject in the first part of the sentence and a different subject in the second part. For example, “Yo quiero” (I want) is not a subjunctive trigger in the sentence “Yo quiero comer” (I want to eat) because “comer” refers to the same person as “Yo quiero”. But “Yo quiero” becomes a subjunctive trigger in the sentence “Yo quiero que tú comas” (I want you to eat) because the verb “comer” is referring to a different person.
Keep in mind that this list applies to all the subjunctive tenses, so these verbs are usually subjunctive triggers in the seven subjunctive tenses you’ll learn with me.
Finally, here’s the short and sweet list of these verbs!
1. VERBS OF ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATION
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| aconsejar | to advise |
| recomendar | to recommend |
| sugerir | to suggest |
Mi abuela aconseja que yo no coma tanta carne roja.
My grandmother advises that I don’t eat so much red meat.
Tú sugeriste que viajáramos a lugares bonitos.
You suggested that we travel to beautiful places.
2. VERBS OF WISHING, WANTING, OR HOPING
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| desear | to want, to wish |
| esperar | to hope |
| preferir | to prefer |
| querer | to want |
Juana quería que tú vinieras a mi fiesta.
Juana wanted you to come to my party.
Yo espero que no llueva mañana.
I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.
Tú prefieres que nosotros comamos en casa esta noche.
You prefer that we eat at home tonight.
3. VERBS OF DOUBT OR UNCERTAINTY
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| dudar | to doubt |
Yo dudo que él venga.
I doubt that he will come.
4. VERBS OF EMOTION
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| alegrarse | to be glad |
| lamentar | to be sorry |
| sorprenderse | to be surprised |
Me alegro de que tú hayas venido.
I’m glad you have come.
Lamento que no te guste la comida.
I’m sorry you don’t like the food.
5. VERBS OF COMMAND OR REQUEST
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| pedir | to ask, to request |
| mandar, ordenar | to order |
| rogar | to beg |
| insistir | to insist |
| exigir | to demand |
Pedí a mis padres que me dejaran salir con mis amigos.
I asked my parents to let me go out with my friends.
Los niños le ruegan al maestro que no les dé tanta tarea.
The children beg the teacher not to give them so much homework.
6. VERBS OF NECESSITY
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| necesitar | to need |
| precisar | to require, to need |
Juana necesitaba que yo limpiara su casa
Juana needed me to clean her house.
7. VERBS OF PERMISSION
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| permitir | to allow |
| autorizar | to authorize |
Nosotros no les permitimos a ustedes que vayan al cine, niños.
We don’t allow you to go to the movies, children.
8. VERBS OF PROHIBITION
| Español | English |
|---|---|
| prohibir | to forbid, to prohibit |
| impedir | to prevent |
El alcalde nos prohíbe que tiremos basura en la calle.
The mayor forbids us to throw garbage on the street.
THE VERB “CREER” – TO BELIEVE
The very important verb creer has evolved in a very unusual way: when it’s positive it’s not a subjunctive trigger, but when it’s negative it’s definitively a subjunctive trigger. Let’s see this:
Creo que mi equipo ganará el torneo.
I believe/think that my team will win the tournament.
No creo que mi equipo gane el torneo.
I don’t believe/think that my team will win the tournament.
And now, let’s play this game so you can learn these verbs in a snap! Just click start!
Now, answer if each of the following verbs is a subjunctive trigger or not!
