Are you ready to master the Spanish present subjunctive? Great! Get ready to learn about its main uses!
You’ll find out how this tense can be used in different situations and impress your friends with your new language skills. Let’s dive in!
So, we use the present subjunctive in these cases:
1. To express uncertainty, doubt, desires, recommendations, and emotions related to the present:
Dudo que ella lo sepa.
I doubt that she knows it. NOW
2. To express uncertainty, doubt, desires, recommendations, and emotions related to the future:
Prefiero que llegues temprano mañana.
I prefer that you arrive early tomorrow. IN THE FUTURE
3. The present subjunctive is also a versatile tool that allows us to express a variety of subjective actions related to both present and future scenarios. The meaning can be ambiguous, but it is precisely this flexibility that makes it a valuable resource for effective communication:
Recomiendo que estudies más.
I recommend that you study more. BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
CONJUGATION
REGULAR VERBS:
With regular verbs, you must do the following:
1. Take the yo form of the present indicative:
yo hablo
2. Drop the o ending:
habl
3. Add the appropriate subjunctive endings:
As an example, let’s take the verb hablar for ar verbs. Listen to Manuel, from Uruguay:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | habl + e |
| tú | habl + es |
| usted | habl + e |
| él ella | habl + e |
| nosotros nosotras | habl + emos |
| ustedes | habl + en |
| ellos ellas | habl + en |
| vos | habl + es |
| vosotros vosotras | habl + éis |
Let’s take the verb comer as an example for er and ir verbs. Listen to Katalia, from Spain:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | com + a |
| tú | com + as |
| usted | com + a |
| él ella | com + a |
| nosotros nosotras | com + amos |
| ustedes | com + an |
| ellos ellas | com + an |
| vos | com + as |
| vosotros vosotras | com + áis |
STEM-CHANGING VERBS:
With stem-changing verbs, you must do the same. But there are a few things you must know:
1. With stem-changing verbs ending in ar and er, nosotros remains regular:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | muev + a |
| tú | muev + as |
| él ella | muev + a |
| nosotros nosotras | mov + amos |
| ustedes | muev + an |
| ellos ellas | muev + an |
| vos | muev + as |
| vosotros vosotras | mov + áis |
2. With stem-changing verbs ending in ir it goes like this:
A. With e=ie verbs, we must put an i in nosotros. Let’s take preferir as an example:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | prefier + a |
| tú | prefier + as |
| él ella | prefier + a |
| nosotros nosotras | prefir + amos |
| ustedes | prefier + an |
| ellos ellas | prefier + an |
| vos | prefier + as |
| vosotros vosotras | prefir + áis |
B. With o=ue verbs, we must put an u in nosotros. Let’s take dormir as an example:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | duerm + a |
| tú | duerm + as |
| usted | duerm + a |
| él ella | duerm + a |
| nosotros nosotras | durm + amos |
| ustedes | duerm + an |
| ellos ellas | duerm + an |
| vos | duerm + as |
| vosotros vosotras | durm + áis |
C. With e=i verbs, we must put an i in every person. Let’s take pedir as an example:
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| yo | pid + a |
| tú | pid + as |
| usted | pid + a |
| él ella | pid + a |
| nosotros nosotras | pid + amos |
| ustedes | pid + an |
| ellos ellas | pid + an |
| vos | pid + as |
| vosotros vosotras | pid + áis |
To see special irregular verbs, click here! (COMING SOON)
If you are just beginning with the subjunctive, let’s go slowly with subjunctive triggers. Let’s start with verbs. Click here! (COMING SOON)
