Present Subjunctive A Spanish mood

Idea Grande  Sometimes we have feelings and opinions about situations we can’t control.  It’s good for you to exercise every day.  I hope that you study tonight.  I doubt they know where I live.

Incertidumbre  Just because it’s good to exercise, does it mean we will? NO  Just because I hope you study, does it mean you will? NO  Just because I doubt they know where I live, does that mean they don’t? NO  That kind of sentence gives us a sense of uncertainty. And in Spanish that uncertainty is called the SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD.

Conjugation Of the Present Subjunctive

Conjugación  When you conjugate the uncertain verb (you exercise, you study, they know) the verb will be in the present subjunctive. These are the three steps to conjugate it:  Start with the YO form in the PRESENT tense  Drop the O  Switch to the OPPOSITE ENDING  (AR  E ER/IR  A)

Verbos Regulares BAILAR (to dance) BAILEBAILEMOS BAILESBAILÉIS BAILEBAILEN TENER (to have) TENGATENGAMOS TENGASTENGÁIS TENGATENGAN If an –AR or -ER verb has an E  IE or O  UE stem change, it will stem change only in the boot in the present subjunctive.

Verbos de Bota PENSAR (to think) PIENSEPENSEMOS PIENSESPENSÉIS PIENSEPIENSEN PODER (to be able) PUEDAPODAMOS PUEDASPODÁIS PUEDAPUEDAN If an –AR or -ER verb has an E  IE or O  UE stem change, it will stem change only in the boot in the present subjunctive.

Verbos de Bota MENTIR (to lie) MIENTAMINTAMOS MIENTASMINTÁIS MIENTAMIENTAN MORIR (to die) MUERAMURAMOS MUERASMURÁIS MUERAMUERAN If an –IR verb has an E  IE or O  UE stem change, it will have an E  I or O  U stem change outside of the boot.

Verbos de Car Gar Zar SACAR (to get) SAQUESAQUEMOS SAQUESSAQUÉIS SAQUESAQUEN PAGAR (to pay) PAGUEPAGUEMOS PAGUESPAGUÉIS PAGUEPAGUEN If a verb ends in –CAR, -GAR, or –ZAR, it will have a spelling change to maintain the original consonant sounds: CRUZAR (to cross) CRUCECRUCEMOS CRUCESCRUCÉIS CRUCECRUCEN

Verbos Irregulares DAR (to give) DÉDEMOS DESDEIS DÉDEN ESTAR (to be) ESTÉESTEMOS ESTÉSESTÉIS ESTÉESTÉN There are six verbs for which the present tense yo form doesn’t end in the letter O. So their present subjunctive forms are irregular. IR (to go) VAYAVAYAMOS VAYASVAYÁIS VAYAVAYAN

Verbos Irregulares SABER (to know) SEPASEPAMOS SEPASSEPÁIS SEPASEPAN SER (to be) SEASEAMOS SEASSEÁIS SEASEAN There are six verbs for which the present tense yo form doesn’t end in the letter O. So their present subjunctive forms are irregular. HABER HAYA (there is / there are)

Impersonal Phrases With the Present Subjunctive

Idea Grande  One of the ways we create the subjunctive mood is by using IMPERSONAL phrases that express opinions. Here are some examples:

Frases Impersonales  Es bueno que…  It’s good that  Es importante que…  It’s important that  Es imposible que…  It’s impossible that  Es imprescindible que…  It’s imperative that  Es interesante que…  It’s interesting that  Es malo que…  It’s bad that  Es necesario que…  It’s necessary that  Es posible que…  It’s possible that  Es probable que…  It’s likely that  Es raro que…  It’s strange that  Es urgente que…  It’s urgant that  Ojalá que…  Wouldn’t it be great if

El Médico  Doctors give us lots of advice that we may or may not follow – translate these subjunctive doctor’s orders.  Es bueno que tú comas muchas verduras.  Es mejor que Fernando haga ejercicios.  Es importante que ustedes tomen las vitaminas.  Es urgente que nosotros tengamos una cita cada año.

El Médico  It’s good for you to eat lots of vegetables.  It’s better that Fernando exercises.  It’s important that you all take vitamins.  It’s urgent that we have an appointment each year.

El Consejero  Now you give the advice! Several friends come to you with problems. Write back your opinions about what they should do using an impersonal phrase and present subjunctive.  Carlos tiene una mala nota en las matemáticas.  El gato de Paco y Pepe murió.  Los padres de Fernanda luchan mucho.  Carla se encarga de un proyecto de acción social.

Verbs of Hope and Influence With the Present Subjunctive

Idea Grande  One of the ways we create the subjunctive mood is by using verbs of HOPE and influence. Here are some examples:

EsperanzaInfluencia  Desear que…  To desire/wish  Esperar que…  To hope/expect  Necesitar que…  To need  Preferir que…  To prefer  Querer que…  To want  Aconsejar que…  To advise  Dejar que…  To allow  Exigir que…  To demand  Insistir en que…  To insist  Mandar que…  To command  Pedir que…  To request  Prohibir que…  To prohibit  Recomendar que…  To recommend  Sugerir que…  To suggest

Fórmula  When we work with verbs of hope and influence, we follow this formula: SUBJECT 1 + VERB 1 + QUE + SUBJECT 2+ VERB 2 (present tense uncertainty) (different from subject 1) (present subjunctive)

Requisitos  Each sentence will have these three requirements:  A sense of UNCERTAINTY  The word QUE  A change of SUBJECT

Práctica  Mark the three requirements in the sentences below and note which are in the subjunctive and which are not.

Comparación  Tú quieres que yo salga. (uncertain)  Yo quiero salir. (uncertain) No que or change of subject – use infinitive

Comparación  Yo dejo que tú juegues aquí. (uncertain)  Tu insistes en jugar aquí. (uncertain) No que or change of subject – use infinitive

Comparación  Mi madre quiere que nosotros practiquemos. (uncertain)  Nosotros queremos practicar. (uncertain) No que or change of subject – use infinitive

La Planificación  This family is planning a vacation together and everyone has ideas about what everyone else should do. See if you can translate their conversation.  Madre: Yo quiero que nosotros vayamos a Florida.  Julio: Yo prefiero que visitemos a nuestra abuela en Ohio.  Catalina: Sí, nuestra abuela espera que yo tome una clase de arte con ella.  Padre: Yo pido que ustedes pinten algo para mí para mi cumpleaños.  Catalina: Está bien. A mí me gusta dibujar las flores pero tú prefieres que yo pinte un perro, ¿no?  Padre: Sí. Y yo espero que nosotros pasemos un día en Chicago también.  Madre: Está bien, pero yo insisto en que vayamos a Florida el próximo año.

La Planificación  Madre: I want us to go to Florida..  Julio: I prefer that we visit our grandma in Ohio.  Catalina: Yes, our grandma hopes that I take an art class with her.  Padre: I request that you all paint something for me for my birthday.  Catalina: OK. I like to paint flowers, but you prefer that I paint a dog, right?  Padre: Yes. And I hope that we spend a day in Chicago too.  Madre: OK, but I insist that we go to Florida next year.

El Próximo Verano  Think about next summer. What do you want your friends to do? What do you hope your family will do? What plans are so important that you insist they happen? See if you can come up with 5 present subjunctive sentences using verbs of hope and influence.

Verbs of Doubt and Emotion With the Present Subjunctive

Idea Grande  Another way we create the subjunctive mood is by using verbs of DOUBT and emotion. Here are some examples:

DudaEmoción  Dudar que…  To doubt  Es dudoso que…  It’s doubtful that  Es improbable que…  It’s unlikely that  No estar seguro de que…  To not be sure that  No es cierto que…  It’s not certain that  No es verdad que…  It’s not true that  No creer que…  To not believe that  No pensar que…  To not think that  Alegrarse de…  To be happy that  Sentir que…  To be sorry that  Sorprenderse de que…  To be surprised that  Sospechar que…  To suspect that  Temer que…  To fear that  Estar ______ de que…  Feliz  To be happy that  Enojado/a  To be angry that  Triste  To be sad that

Duda  We only use subjunctive if there is a sense of uncertainty. So many of these phrases only use subjunctive if they are negative… No es cierto, no es verdad, no creer, no pensar, no estar seguro  If you ARE certain, it IS true, you DO believe it, you don’t use subjunctive.

Emoción  Generally the subjunctive mood comes with a sense of UNCERTAINTY. In the case of emotional phrases, the second part of the sentence may not be uncertain, but the emotional reaction is. Me alegro de que tú estés aquí.  Clearly you are here – that’s not uncertain. But how I feel about it could change.

Requisitos  Each sentence will have these three requirements:  A sense of UNCERTAINTY or EMOTION  The word QUE  A change of SUBJECT

Las Críticas  Listen in on these fashion show judges. See if you can translate their doubts and feelings.  Crítico 1: Me alegro de que ella lleve el vestido azul.  Crítica 2: Sí, pero yo no estoy segura de que los zapatos sean apropiados.  Crítico 3: Me gustan los zapatos, pero no creo que los modelos necesiten los sombreros grandes.  Crítica 4: Me sorprendo de que ellas lleven los sombreros grandes – son feos.  Crítico 1: Ellas no piensan que los sombreros sean feos. Piensan que son artísticos.  Crítica 2: Es improbable que yo lleve un sombrero artístico.

Las Críticas  Critic 1: I’m glad that she’s wearing the blue dress.  Critic 2: Yes, but I’m not sure that the shoes are appropriate.  Critic 3: I like the shoes, but I don’t think the models need the big hats.  Critic 4: I’m surprised that they are wearing the big hats – they are ugly.  Critic 1: They don’t think the hats are ugly. They think they are artistic.  Critic 2: It’s unlikely that I’d wear an artistic hat.

Las Influencias  Think about your past teachers and your family members. What have they told you that you simply don’t believe? What are the things they’ve done that have made you happy, sad, or angry? See if you can come up with 5 present subjunctive sentences using phrases of doubt or emotion.

Conjunctions With the Present Subjunctive

Idea Grande  Another way we create the subjunctive mood is by using CONJUNCTIONS to talk about hypothetical situations. Here are some examples:

Ejemplos  A fin de que…  in order that…  A menos que…  unless…  Antes de que…  before…  Con tal de que…  as long as…  En caso de que…  in case…  Para que…  in order that…  Sin que…  without…

Preparación  My boss, Marisela, is always planning for the worst-case hypothetical situations. Can you translate what she is suggesting?  Es necesario tener medicina en caso de que haya emergencia.  Yo quiero que tú saltes antes de que yo salte.  Nosotros no vamos a la piscina a menos que el salvavidas esté allí.  No vayan afuera hasta que pongan repelente de insectos.

Preparación  It’s necessary to have medicine in case there is an emergency.  I want you to jump before I jump.  We don’t go to the pool unless the lifeguard is there.  Don’t go outside until you all put on bug spray.

Práctica  Can you translate these sentences into Spanish using conjunctions?  I don’t want to talk as long as he is angry.  We are going to swim unless it’s raining.  We study in order that we get good grades.  I’m going to agree until there is a problem.

Práctica  Yo no quiero hablar con tal de que él esté enojado.  Vamos a nadar a menos que llueva.  Nosotros estudiamos para que saquemos buenas notas.  Yo voy a estar de acuerdo hasta que haya un problema.

¡Ojo!  If you don’t include the “QUE” in these conjunctions, you would not use subjunctive, but rather an infinitive verb.  Estudiamos para tener buenas notas.  We study in order to have good grades.  Nosotros comemos sin hablar.  We eat without talking.

The Unknown With the Present Subjunctive

Idea Grande  Another way we create the subjunctive mood is by discussing the UNKNOWN. Here are some examples:

VerbosFrases  Buscar  To look for  Necesitar  To need  No encontrar  To not find  No haber  There isn’t  No tener  To not have  No conocer  To not know  A la hora que sea  At whatever time that may be  Donde sea  Wherever that may be  Lo que sea  Whatever that may be  Cuando sea  Whever that may be  Quien sea  Whoever that may be  Como sea  However that may be

La Búsqueda  If we are looking for something that doesn’t exist or may not exist, we use the subjunctive to indicate that uncertainty.  Yo busco a un amigo que toque el piano.  Necesitamos un voluntario que sea valiente.  ¿Tienes un lápiz que yo pueda usar?  Ella no conoce a nadie que viva aquí.  No hay nada que tú puedas hacer para ayudar.

La Búsqueda  I’m looking for a friend that plays the piano.  We need a volunteer that is brave.  Do you have a pencil that I can borrow?  She doesn’t know anyone that lives here.  There’s nothing that you can do to help.

Expresiones  We can also use expressions of uncertainty, using the word sea.  Esta noche vamos a la fiesta… a la hora que sea.  Ella va a la Universidad de Victoria… donde sea.  Él dice que tiene dos supervisores… como sea.  Ellos compraron un regalo de sorpresa… lo que sea.

Expresiones  Tonight we’re going to the party… at whatever time that may be.  She’s going to the University of Victoria… wherever that may be.  He says that he has two supervisors… however that may be.  They bought a surprise gift… whatever that may be.