Subjunctive Tenses

The subjunctive is a mood in Spanish that is used to talk about desires, doubts, wishes, conjectures, and possibilities. It contrasts with the indicative mood, which is used to speak about facts and other statements that are believed to be true and concrete. This guide will cover the various subjunctive tenses in Spanish, their uses, and provide examples for each.

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive is used to express uncertainty, emotion, desires, or possibilities. It is formed by starting with the yo form of the present indicative, dropping the -o, and adding the appropriate endings.

Conjugation

• -ar verbs (hablar): hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen
• -er verbs (comer): coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman
• -ir verbs (vivir): viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, viváis, vivan

Use Cases

1. Wishes and Desires: Used to express wishes or desires for oneself or others.

   Espero que tengas un buen viaje.
   (I hope you have a good trip.)

2. Emotion: Used to express emotions about a situation.

   Me alegra que estés aquí.
   (I'm glad you are here.)

3. Doubt or Denial: Used to express doubt, denial, or uncertainty.

   No creo que eso sea verdad.
   (I don't believe that is true.)

4. Impersonal Expressions: Used after certain impersonal expressions.

   Es importante que sepas esto.
   (It's important that you know this.)

5. Commands: Used in subordinate clauses that follow verbs expressing a command or a wish in the main clause.

   Sugiero que tomes esta calle.
   (I suggest you take this street.)

Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive is used for past actions that are hypothetical, uncertain, or where the speaker wishes to express a subjective viewpoint. It can be formed in two ways, both considered correct.

Conjugation (Alternative 1)

• -ar verbs (hablar): hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos, hablarais, hablaran
• -er/-ir verbs (comer/vivir): comiera/viviera, comieras/vivieras, comiera/viviera, comiéramos/viviéramos, comierais/vivierais, comieran/vivieran

Conjugation (Alternative 2)

• -ar verbs (hablar): hablase, hablases, hablase, hablásemos, hablaseis, hablasen
• -er/-ir verbs (comer/vivir): comiese/viviese, comieses/vivieses, comiese/viviese, comiésemos/viviésemos, comieseis/vivieseis, comiesen/viviesen

Use Cases

1. Conditional Statements: Often used in "si" (if) clauses to express conditions that are not likely to happen.

   Si tuviera más tiempo, viajaría más.
   (If I had more time, I would travel more.)

2. Wishes or Hypotheticals About the Past: Used to express wishes or hypothetical situations about the past.

   Ojalá que ella hubiera venido.
   (I wish she had come.)

3. Polite Requests: Used to make polite requests or express desires in a more tentative way.

   Quisiera que me escucharas.
   (I would like you to listen to me.)

Future Subjunctive

Though rarely used in modern Spanish and mostly seen in legal or very formal texts, the future subjunctive is still worth recognizing.

Conjugation

• -ar verbs (hablar): hablare, hablares, hablare, habláremos, hablareis, hablaren
• -er/-ir verbs (comer/vivir): comiere/viviere, comieres/vivieres, comiere/viviere, comiéremos/viviéremos, comiere