The present subjunctive
Quiero que vengas: wishes, doubt and feelings.
The subjunctive is a set of verb forms for what is wanted, doubted or felt about, rather than stated as fact. It's used mostly after que, when the verb before it is a wish, a feeling or a doubt and the subject changes.
Its forms
Take the present "I" form, drop the -o, and swap the vowel of the ending: -ar verbs take e, and -er and -ir verbs take a. These are the forms of the usted commands.
| hablar | comer | tener | |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hable | coma | tenga |
| tú | hables | comas | tengas |
| él, ella, usted | hable | coma | tenga |
| nosotros | hablemos | comamos | tengamos |
| vosotros | habléis | comáis | tengáis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | hablen | coman | tengan |
Six verbs don't follow the "I" form: ser, sea; ir, vaya; estar, esté; dar, dé; saber, sepa; haber, haya.
When it's used
| After | Example |
|---|---|
| wishes: querer que, esperar que | Quiero que vengas. I want you to come. |
| ojalá | Ojalá haga buen tiempo. Let's hope the weather's good. |
| feelings: me alegro de que | Me alegro de que estés aquí. I'm glad you're here. |
| doubt: no creo que, dudo que | No creo que llueva. I don't think it'll rain. |
| es importante que, es necesario que | Es importante que duermas bien. It's important that you sleep well. |
| para que "so that" | Te lo digo para que lo sepas. I'm telling you so that you know. |
| cuando about the future | Cuando llegues, llámame. When you arrive, call me. |
When the subject doesn't change, use the infinitive: Quiero venir "I want to come", but Quiero que vengas "I want you to come".
creo que states a belief, so it takes the ordinary forms; no creo que doubts, so it takes the subjunctive: Creo que viene, No creo que venga.
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Past, future and commands cards.
How do you say 'I want you to come'?
Quiero que vengas.
How do you form the present subjunctive of hablar?
From hablo: drop the -o and add e endings: hable, hables...
What's the present subjunctive of tener for 'you' (tú)?
tengas
What's the present subjunctive of ser for 'he, she'?
sea
What's the present subjunctive of ir for 'he, she'?
vaya
How do you say 'I want to come', with the same subject?
Quiero venir.
What does ojalá mean, and what follows it?
'Let's hope' or 'if only', followed by the subjunctive.
How do you say 'I don't think it'll rain'?
No creo que llueva.
How do you say 'when you arrive, call me'?
Cuando llegues, llámame.
How do you say 'I'm glad you're here'?
Me alegro de que estés aquí.