When Do You Use Subjunctive in Spanish

Let’s learn how and when to use the subjunctive in Spanish.

When do you use subjunctive in the Spanish language? | Subjunctive 1

The subjunctive is not a tense; rather, it is a mood. Tense refers to when an action takes place (Past, Present, Future), while mood merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action. 

Note: The difference between “indicative” and “subjunctive” is the difference between certainty/objectivity (indicative) and possibility/subjectivity (subjunctive).

Indicative:

Paola va a la escuela – Paola goes to school (This sentence merely states the certain, objective fact that Paola goes to the school.)

Yo sé que Paola va a la escuela – I know that Paola goes to school. (The clause “I know” tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that Paola goes to the school.)

No hay duda de que Paola va a la escuela – There is no doubt that Paola goes to school. (The clause “there is no doubt” tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that Paola goes to the school.)

Subjunctive in Spanish:

Yo quiero que Paola vaya a la escuela – I want Paola to go to school. (The clause “I want” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether Paola goes to the school.)

Yo espero que Paola vaya a la escuela – I hope that Paola goes to school (The clause “I hope” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether Paola goes to the school.)

Es possible que Paola vaya a la escuela – It is possible that Paola will go to school. (The clause “it is possible” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether Paola goes to the school.)

Es bueno que Paola vaya a la escuela – It’s good that Paola goes to school (The clause “it’s good” alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)

Es importante que Paola vaya a la escuela – It’s important that Paola goes to school. (The clause “it’s important” alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)

Note: Because there must be some uncertainty or subjectivity to warrant the use of the subjunctive, you will usually see it in sentences that contain a main clause which introduces a quality of uncertainty or subjectivity.

Yo espero  – I hope...she will come. I hope = main clause

Yo sé – I know ...she will come. I know = main clause

Yo siento  – I feel… she will come. I feel = main clause.

The following is a list of clauses commonly associated with the use of the subjunctive:

a menos que – unless  antes (de) que – before… con tal (de) que – provided that  cuando – when… conviene que – it is advisable that después (de) que – after  dudar que – to doubt that  en caso de que – in case  en cuanto – as soon as  es aconsejable que – it’s advisable that  es bueno que – it’s good that  es difícil que – it’s unlikely that  es dudoso que – it is doubtful that  es fácil que – it’s likely that  es fantástico que – it’s fantastic that  es importante que – it’s important that  es imposible que – it’s impossible that  es improbable que – it’s unlikely that  es incierto que – it’s uncertain that  es increíble que – it’s incredible that  es (una) lástima que – it’s a pity that  es malo que – it’s bad that  es mejor que – it’s better that  es menester que – it’s necessary that  es necesario que – it’s necessary that  esperar que – to wish that  es posible que – it’s possible that  es preciso que – it’s necessary that  es preferible que – it’s preferable that  es probable que –  it’s probable that  es raro que – it’s rare that  es ridículo que – it’s ridiculous that  estar contento que – to be happy that  es terrible que – it’s terrible that  hasta que – until  insistir en que – to insist that  mandar que – to order that  más vale que – it’s better that  mientras que – while  negar que – to deny that  no creer que – not to believe that  no es cierto que – it’s not certain that  no estar convencido de que – to not be convinced that  no estar seguro de que – to not be sure that  no es verdad que – it’s not true that no imaginarse que – to not imagine that  no parecer que – to not seem that  no pensar que – to not think that  no suponer que – to not suppose that  ojalá que – if only he would 

para que – in order that pedir que – to ask that  preferir que – to prefer that  prohibir que – to prohibit that  puede ser que – it may be that  querer que – to want that  recomendar que – to recommend that  rogar que – to plead that  sentir que – to regret that  sin que – without  sugerir que – to suggest that  tan pronto como – as soon as  temer que – to fear that tener miedo de que – to be afraid that 

Expressions with which the subjunctive is “not” used

creer que – to believe that  no dudar que – to not doubt that  es cierto que – it is certain that  es claro que – it is clear that  es evidente que – it is certain that es obvio que – it is obvious that  estar seguro que – to be sure that  es verdad que – it is true that no cabe duda que – there’s no doubt that  no es dudoso que – it is not doubtful that  no hay duda que – there is no doubt that 

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 2

In this lesson you will begin to learn how to conjugate verbs in the Present subjunctive.

 For most verbs, the Present subjunctive is formed by following these three steps:

1. Start with the yo form of the Present indicative.
2. Then drop the – o ending.
3. Finally, add the following endings:

 

Subject-hablar (to speak) / comer (to eat) / vivir (to live) Yo (I)-habl+e / com+a / viv+a Tú (You)(informal)-habl+es / com+as / viv+as Usted (You)(formal)-habl+e / com+a / viv+a Él/Ella(He/She)-habl+e / com+a / viv+a Nosotros(as)(We)-habl+emos / com+amos / viv+amos Vosotros(as)(You)(informal)-habl+éis / com+áis / viv+áis Ustedes(You)(formal)-habl+en / com+an / viv+an Ellos(as)(they)-habl+en / com+an / viv+an Note: The formula also works for verbs that have irregular “yo” forms in the Present indicative. 

conocer (yo conozco) conozco – o = conozc

tener (yo tengo) tengo – o = teng

salir (yo salgo) salgo – o = salg

Subject- Conocer (to know) / Tener (to have) / Salir (to get out)

Yo(I)-conozc +a / teng +a / salg +a Tú(You)(Informal)-conozc +as / teng +as / salg +as Usted(You)(Formal)-conozc +a / teng +a / salg +a Él/Ella(He/She)-conozc+a / teng +a / salg +a Nosotros(as)(We)-conozc+amos / teng +amos / salg +amos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-conozc+áis / teng +áis / salg +áis Ustedes(You)(Formal)-conozc+an / teng +an / salg +an Ellos(as)(They)-conozc+ an / teng +en / salg +en

Note: For “-ar” and “- er” stem-changing verbs, the formula applies except that there is no stem change in the “nosotros” and “vosotros” forms.

pensar (yo pienso) pienso – o = piens

perder (yo pierdo) pierdo – o = pierd

Subject-pensar (to think) / perder (to lose)

Yo(I)-piens +e / pierd+a Tú(You)(Informal)-piens +es / pierd+as Usted(You)(Formal)-piens +e / pierd+a Él/Ella(He/She)-piens+e / pierd+a Nosotros(as)(We)-pens+emos / perd+amos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-pens+éis / perd+áis Ustedes(You)(Formal)-piens+en / pierd+an Ellos(as)(They)-piens+en / pierd+an

contar (yo cuento) cuento – o = cuent

volver (yo vuelvo) vuelvo – o = vuelv

Subject-Contar(to count) / Volver (to return)

Yo(I)-cuent +e / vuelv +a Tú(You)(Informal)-cuent +es / vuelv +as Usted(You)(Formal)-cuent +e / vuelv +a Él/Ella(He/She)-cuent+e / vuelv+a Nosotros(as)(We)-cont+emos / volv +amos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-cont+éis / volv +áis Ustedes(You)(Formal)-cuent+en / vuelv +an Ellos(as)(They)-cuent+en / vuelv +an

Note: For “-ir” stem-changing verbs, the formula applies except that the stem change in the “nosotros” and “vosotros” forms follows these patterns: “o:ue” verbs change “o” to “u”; “e:ie” verbs change “e” to “i”; “e:i” verbs change “e” to “i”.

dormir (yo duermo) duermo – o = duerm

sentir (yo siento) siento – o = sient

pedir (yo pido) pido – o = pid

Subject-Dormir (to sleep) / Sentir (to feel) / Pedir (to ask)

Yo(I)-duerm +a / sient +a / pid +a Tú(You)(Informal)-duerm +as / sient +as / pid +as Usted(You)(Formal)-duerm +a / sient +a / pid +a Él/Ella(He/She)-duerm+a / sient +a / pid +a Nosotros(as)(We)-durm+amos / sint +amos / pid +amos Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)-durm+áis / sint +áis / pid +áis Ustedes(You)(Formal)-duerm+an / sient +an / pid +an Ellos(as)(They)-duerm+en / sient +en / pid +en

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 3

Note: For verbs that end in “-zar”, the “z” changes to “c” when it comes before the letter “e”

empezar (e:ie) (to start)

Subject – Empezar (to start)

Yo (I) – empiece

Tú (You)(Informal) – empieces

Usted (You)(Formal) – empiece

Él/Ella(He/She) – empiece

Nosotros(as)(We) – empecemos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) – empecéis

Ustedes(You)(Formal) – empiecen

Ellos(as)(They) – empiecen

 

Note: For verbs that end in “-ger” or “-gir”, the “g” changes to “j” when it comes before the letter “a”.

escoger (to choose)

Subject – Escoger (to choose)

Yo (I) – escoja

Tú (You)(Informal) – escojas

Usted (You)(Formal) – escoja

Él/Ella(He/She) – escoja

Nosotros(as)(We) – escojamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) – escojáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal )– escojan

Ellos(as)(They)  – escojan

 

elegir (e:i) (to choose)

Subject–Eligir ( to choose)

Yo (I)–elija

Tú (You)(Informal)–elijas

Usted (You)(Formal)–elija

Él/Ella(He/She)–elija

Nosotros(as)(We)–elijamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–elijáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–elijan

Ellos(as)(They)–elijan

Note: For verbs that end in “-guir”, the “gu” changes to “g” when it comes before the letter “a”.

seguir (e:i) (to follow)

Subject–Seguir (to follow)

Yo (I)–siga

Tú (You)(Informal)–sigas

Usted (You)(Formal)–siga

Él/Ella(He/She)–siga

Nosotros(as)(We)–sigamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–sigáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–sigan

Ellos(as)(They)–sigan

Note: For verbs that end in “-car”, the “c” changes to “qu” when it comes before the letter “e”.

buscar (to search)

Subject–Buscar (to search)

Yo (I)–busque

Tú (You)(Informal)–busques

Usted (You)(Formal)–busque

Él/Ella(He/She)–busque

Nosotros(as)(We)–busquemos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–busquéis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–busquen

Ellos(as)(They)–busquen

Note: For verbs that end in “-gar”, the “g” changes to “gu” when it comes before the letter “e”.

pagar (to pay)

Subject–Pagar (to pay)

Yo (I)–pague

Tú (You)(Informal)–pagues

Usted (You)(Formal)–pague

Él/Ella(He/She)–pague

Nosotros(as)(We)–paguemos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–paguéis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–paguen

Ellos(as)(They)–paguen

Note: For verbs that end in “uir”, add the letter “y” before the letter “a”.

huir (to run away)

Subject–Huir (to run away)

Yo (I)–huya

Tú (You)(Informal)–huyas

Usted (You)(Formal)–huya

Él/Ella(He/She)–huya

Nosotros(as)(We)–huyamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–huyáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–huyan

Ellos(as)(They)–huyan

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 4

Here are the six verbs that are irregular in the Present subjunctive:

dar – to give

Subject–Dar (to give)

Yo (I)–dé

Tú (You)(Informal)–des

Usted (You)(Formal)–dé

Él/Ella(He/She)–dé

Nosotros(as)(We)–demos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–deis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–den

Ellos(as)(They)–den

 

estar – to be

Subject–Estar (to be)

Yo (I)–esté

Tú (You)(Informal)–estés

Usted (You)(Formal)–esté

Él/Ella(He/She)–esté

Nosotros(as)(We)–estemos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–estéis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–estén

Ellos(as)(They)–estén

haber – to have (auxiliary verb)

Subject–Haber (to have)

Yo (I)–haya

Tú (You)(Informal)–hayas

Usted (You)(Formal)–haya

Él/Ella(He/She)–haya

Nosotros(We)–hayamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–hayáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–hayan

Ellos(as)(They)–hayan

ir – to go

Subject–Ir (to go)

Yo (I)–vaya

Tú (You)(Informal)–vayas

Usted (You)(Formal)–vaya

Él/Ella(He/She)–vaya

Nosotros(as)(We)–vayamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–vayáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–vayan

Ellos(as)(They)–vayan

saber – to know

Subject-Saber(to know)

Yo (I)–sepa

Tú (You)(Informal)–sepas

Usted (You)(Formal)–sepa

Él/Ella(He/She)–sepa

Nosotros(as)(We)–sepamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–sepáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–sepan

Ellos(as)(They)–sepan

ser – to be

Subject–Ser(to be)

Yo (I)–sea

Tú (You)(Informal)–seas

Usted (You)(Formal)–sea

Él/Ella(He/She)–sea

Nosotros(as)(We)–seamos

Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal)–seáis

Ustedes(You)(Formal)–sean

Ellos(as)(They)–sean

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 5

List of common expressions that introduce an aspect of desire to the sentence, and therefore trigger the use of the subjunctive.

esperar que – to wish that 

insistir en que – to insist that 

mandar que – to order that 

preferir que – to prefer that 

prohibir que – to prohibit that 

querer que – to want that 

es aconsejable que – it’s advisable that …

es necesario que – it’s necessary that 

pedir que – to ask that 

recomendar que – to recommend that 

rogar que – to plead that 

sugerir que – to suggest that 

 

List of expressions that trigger the use of the indicative mood, since they introduce a quality of certainty or objectivity.

creer que – to believe that 

no dudar que – to not doubt that 

estar seguro que – to be sure that 

no es dudoso que – it is not doubtful that 

no hay duda que – there is no doubt that 

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 6

Here is a list of common expressions that introduce an aspect of ignorance or doubt to the sentence, and therefore trigger the use of the subjunctive.

dudar que – to doubt that 

es dudoso que – it is doubtful that 

es improbable que – it’s unlikely that 

es incierto que – it’s uncertain that 

es posible que – it’s possible that 

no creer que – not to believe that 

no es cierto que – it’s not certain that 

no estar convencido de que – to not be convinced that 

no estar seguro de que – to not be sure that 

no parecer que – to not seem that 

no pensar que – to not think that 

no suponer que – to not suppose that 

puede ser que – it may be that 

negar que – to deny that 

no es verdad que – it’s not true that 

no es cierto que – it’s not certain that 

no imaginarse que – to not imagine that 

temer que – to suspect that 

 

There are also expressions that trigger the use of the indicative mood, since they introduce a quality of certainty.

no dudo que – to not doubt that 

estar seguro de que – to be certain that 

creer que – to think that 

no negar que – to not deny that 

es verdad que – it’s true that 

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 7

Here is a list of common impersonal expressions that introduce an aspect of uncertainty or subjectivity, and therefore trigger the use of the subjunctive.

conviene que – it is advisable that 

es aconsejable que – it is advisable that 

es bueno que – it’s good that 

es difícil que – it’s unlikely that 

es dudoso que – it’s doubtful that 

es fácil que – it’s likely that 

es fantástico que – it’s fantastic that 

es importante que – it’s important that 

es imposible que – it’simpossible that 

es improbable que – it’s unlikely that 

es incierto que – it’s uncertain that 

es increíble que – it’s incredible that 

es (una) lástima que – it’s a shame that 

es malo que – it’s bad that 

es mejor que – it’s better that 

es menester que – it’s necessary that 

es necesario que – it’s necessary that 

es posible que – it’s possible that 

es preciso que – it’s necessary that 

es preferible que – it’s preferable that 

es probable que – it’s likely that 

es raro que – it’s rare that 

es ridículo que – it’s ridiculous that 

es terrible que – it’s terrible that 

más vale que – it’s better that 

ojalá que – if only he would 

puede ser que – it could be that 

 

There are also impersonal expressions that trigger the use of the indicative mood, since they introduce a quality of certainty or objectivity.

es evidente que – it is certain that 

es obvio que – it is obvious that 

es verdad que – it’s true that 

no es dudoso que – it is not doubtful that 

no hay duda que – there is no doubt that 

 

When do you use subjunctive in Spanish? | Subjunctive 8

Here is a list of common expressions that may indicate that the action that follows has not yet been completed.

a menos que – unless 

antes (de) que – before 

con tal (de) que – provided that 

en caso de que – in case 

para que – so that 

sin que – without 

 

The following expressions only invoke the subjunctive when they indicate that the action that follows has not yet been completed.

después de que – after

en cuanto – as soon as

hasta que – until

mientras que – while

tan pronto como – as soon as

 

Remember, there are also expressions that trigger the use of the indicative mood, since they introduce a quality of certainty or objectivity.

es cierto que – it is certain that 

es claro que – it is clear that 

es evidente que – it is certain that 

es obvio que – it is obvious that 

es verdad que – it is true that 

Read more about the Spanish grammar

Popular Spanish categories to find more words and phrases: