This document provides an introduction to the Spanish subjunctive mood. It begins by explaining that the subjunctive is used to express hypothetical or subjective situations, unlike the indicative which states facts. It then discusses the forms of the subjunctive, including stem changes and irregular verbs. Finally, it outlines the main uses of the subjunctive, noting that it is typically used in subordinate clauses expressing cause/prevention, personal bias/emotion, or falseness/unreality. Examples are provided to illustrate each case. Memory devices like DISHES and ESCAPA are also introduced to help learn the irregular verb forms and common subjunctive triggers.

1. The Spanish Subjunctive: An
Introduction
(El subjuntivo español: una introducción)
Quiero que Ud.
pase por el Control
de Agricultura.

2. The Spanish Subjunctive
Until now, you have been using verb tenses (present,
preterit, and imperfect) in the indicative mood (or mode).
The indicative is used to express real, definite, or factual
actions or states of being.
In this chapter, you will learn about the subjunctive
mode. It is used to express the hypothetical or
subjective, such as a speaker’s attitudes, wishes, feelings,
emotions, or doubts. Unlike the indicative, which states
facts, the subjunctive describes reality subjectively, or
refers to actions or states that are not yet reality at all
(and maybe never will be).

3. The Spanish Subjunctive
Notice the following examples:
Creo que Luis va a Cartagena.
I believe that Luis is going to
Cartagena. (Certainty: indicative)
No creo que Luis vaya a San Andrés.
I don’t think that Luis is going to San
Andrés. (Uncertainty: subjunctive)

4. hablo como vivo
Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present
tense (this applies to all three conjugations):
The forms of the subjunctive
Before we learn usage, we must learn the forms we will be
working with. Think of it as learning the mechanics or
“nuts and bolts” before assembling the tool.
For all but six verbs in Spanish, we can apply a simple
three-step process with which to construct the forms.

5. If we are careful to begin with this step, verbs with
irregular stems and yo forms will be included and
will not be considered irregular in the subjunctive:
conocer → conozco
The forms of the subjunctive
hablo como vivo
decir → digo
hacer → hago
perder → pierdo
querer → quiero
pedir → pido traer → traigo
oír → oigo tener → tengo
venir → vengo
ver → veo
dormir → duermo
Step 1: Start with the yo form of the verb in the present
tense (this applies to all three conjugations):

6. The forms of the subjunctive
habl com viv
Step 2: Take off the final o of the yo form:
Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:
For -ar verbs: Add -er verb endings.
habl
habl
habl
habl
habl
habl
e
es
e
emos
éis
en
Notice that the first- and third-person singular forms are
identical.
o o o

7. The forms of the subjunctive
Step 3: Add the “opposite” endings:
For -er and -ir verbs: Add -ar verb endings to both.
com
com
com
com
com
com
a
as
a
amos
áis
an
viv
viv
viv
viv
viv
viv
a
as
a
amos
áis
an
Again, first- and third-person singular forms are identical.

8. recordar (o 
ue)
recuerde
recuerdes
recuerde
recordemos
recordéis
recuerden
perder (e  ie)
pierda
pierdas
pierda
perdamos
perdáis
pierdan
Remember, however, that stem changes do
not apply to nosotros and vosotros forms.
The forms of the subjunctive
Stem-changing -ar and -er verbs have the same stem
changes as in the present indicative.

9. dormir dormimos
dormisteis
durmieron
dormí
dormiste
durmió

u
duerma
duermas
duerma
durmamos
durmáis
duerman
The forms of the subjunctive
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes
that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
The same changes occur in the
nosotros and vosotros forms of
the subjunctive.
These changes occur
only in stem-changing
-ir verbs.

10. mentir mentimos
mentisteis
mintieron
mentí
mentiste
mintió

i
mienta
mientas
mienta
mintamos
mintáis
mientan
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes
that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
The forms of the subjunctive

11. sirvamos
sirváis
sirvan
You may recall the third-person singular and plural changes
that occur in the preterit of stem-changing -ir verbs.
The forms of the subjunctive
servir servimos
servisteis
sirvieron
serví
serviste
sirvió

i
sirva
sirvas
sirva

12. -car c  qu
The forms of the subjunctive
The following spelling changes occur in all forms of
the present subjunctive with verbs whose infinitives
end in -car, -gar, and -zar.
-gar g  gu -zar z  c
buscar
busque
busques
busque
busquemos
busquéis
busquen
llegar
llegue
llegues
llegue
lleguemos
lleguéis
lleguen
empezar
empiece
empieces
empiece
empecemos
empecéis
empiecen

13. Dar 
Ir 
Ser 
Haber 
Estar 
Saber 
dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan
sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean
haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan
There are only six truly irregular verbs, that is, verbs to
which we cannot apply our three-step process.
The forms of the subjunctive
When listed in the following order, the initial letters of each
verb form the acronym DISHES, a useful memory device.

14. Yo quiero que Juan vaya a la fiesta.
main clause subordinate clause
S1 V1 S2 V2
The usage of the subjunctive
The subjunctive normally occurs in the subordinate
clause of a two-part sentence (hence the term
subjunctive) and generally is preceded by the relator
que or an adverb such as cuando, donde, etc.
Normally, the main clause has a different subject and
verb than the subordinate clause.

15. S1 V1 S1 V2
The usage of the subjunctive
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject
of the main clause is the same as that of the
subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not
used, especially with verbs of volition, such as
querer, and verbs that express emotion.
Yo quiero que yo vaya a la fiesta.
main clause subordinate clause
Although there are two different verbs . . .
. . . there is only one subject.

16. In these cases only one clause is necessary . . .
S AV INF
The usage of the subjunctive
If there is no change of subject, that is, if the subject
of the main clause is the same as that of the
subordinate clause, the subjunctive is generally not
used, especially with verbs of volition, such as
querer, and verbs that express emotion.
Yo quiero ir a la fiesta.
. . . utilizing a subject, auxiliary verb, and infinitive.

17. 1. Cause or prevention.
3. Falseness or unreality.
2. Personal bias or emotion.
The usage of the subjunctive
The verb or expression in the main clause
determines whether to use the subjunctive or
the indicative in the subordinate clause.
Three simple principles can be applied in almost every case.
If the main clause expresses . . .
. . . the subjunctive is used in the
subordinate clause.

18.  Benjamín quiere que Antonio ponga la mesa.
 Yo insisto en que tú hagas el trabajo.
 Prohibimos que los clientes fumen en la oficina.
(Notice that que unites the two clauses.)
(indicative: pone)
(indicative: haces)
(indicative: fuman)
The usage of the subjunctive
1. Cause or prevention: When the subject in the main
clause uses a verb that tends to cause or prevent
something in the subordinate clause, the subjunctive
is always used in the subordinate clause.

19. Cause
querer insistir recomendar mandar
pedir permitir aconsejar obligar
necesitar sugerir
ser importante, imprescindible, permisible,
necesario, innecesario, preferible, mejor, urgente
Prevention
impedir prohibir no permitir
The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that
might be used to cause or prevent.

20. NOTE: It is in this area of Spanish that the
subjunctive is most quickly falling into disuse,
and is being replaced by the indicative.
Nevertheless, for instructional purposes, we will
always use the subjunctive in these cases.
The usage of the subjunctive
2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the
main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or
personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not
always) used in the subordinate clause.

21.  Me alegro de que tú saques buenas notas.
 ¡Qué lástima que ellos no sepan su número de
teléfono!
 Lamento que hayas perdido tu dinero.
 Me gusta que Alfredo te ayude.
(indicative: sacas)
(indicative: saben)
(indicative: has perdido)
(indicative: ayuda)
The usage of the subjunctive
2. Personal bias or emotion: When the verb in the
main clause expresses a feeling, emotion, or
personal bias, the subjunctive is usually (but not
always) used in the subordinate clause.

22.  Me alegro de sacar buenas notas.
 Lamento haber perdido mi dinero.
 Me gusta ayudarte.
The usage of the subjunctive
But, again, just as with verbs of volition, if there is no
change of subject, a single clause with infinitive is used
rather than the subjunctive.

23. gustar alegrarse (de) apenar
asombrar sorprender entristecer
temer esperar sentir
ser triste ser una lástima ser maravilloso
ser bueno, terrible, horroroso, fantástico, etc.
estar alegre, contento, triste, etc.
ojalá
The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that
express personal bias or emotion.

24.  Es verdad que los niños comen demasiado.
 Estoy seguro que Alonso tiene su pasaporte.
 No creemos que vaya a nevar mañana.
 Mis amigos dudan que yo pueda pilotear el
avión.
 No hay nadie que sepa la verdad.
The usage of the subjunctive
3. Falseness or unreality: If the main clause
indicates that something is true or indeed exists,
the indicative is used in the subordinate clause.
By contrast, if the main clause indicates doubt, falseness or
unreality, the subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause.

25.  No estoy seguro de tener mi pasaporte.
 No creo saber la verdad.
 Dudo poder pilotear el avión.
(No estoy seguro de que yo tenga mi pasaporte.)
(No creo que yo sepa la verdad.)
(Dudo que yo pueda pilotear el avión.)
The usage of the subjunctive
But, once more, if there is no change of subject, one
clause with an infinitive can be used in many cases.

26. Truth
creer estar seguro jurar
afirmar confirmar asegurar
ser cierto ser indudable ser evidente
ser obvio ser verdad ser (estar) claro
Falseness
no creer negar no estar seguro
dudar no poder creer
ser (im)posible ser (im)probable
no ser verdad no ser cierto
The usage of the subjunctive
Following are some common verbs and expressions that
express truth or falseness.

27. E
S
C
A
P
A
en caso de que
sin que
con tal (de) que
antes (de) que
para que
a menos que
(in case)
(without, unless)
(provided that)
(before)
(so that, in order that)
(unless)
The usage of the subjunctive
Finally, the subjunctive is always used after the
following phrases (and a few other similar ones).
When listed in the order shown below, they form the
acronym ESCAPA, a useful memory device.

28. FIN