Using the Subjunctive Tense to Influence Actions

I. Meaning of the Indicative The Indicative is used to state facts and to express certainty, opinions, beliefs, or reality: While I was opening the door, the handle fell off. We have skiied there before. We’ll invite him to the wedding. You can find fresh water in the Atlantic Ocean. **REMEMBER** the indicative expresses the speaker’s certainty– his or her perspective, opinion or belief – that statement does NOT reflect the actual truth or fallicy of the statement.

II. Meaning of the Subjunctive Mood The Subjunctive is used to express wants, needs, emotions, doubt, desires, wishes about someone else’s actions that may/may not happen: I want you to go to the store. It bothers me that students go to the bathroom in order to use their cellphones. My parents doubt that my sister will win the contest. I hope that we all have fun at Busch Gardens. **Note** the subjunctive comments about potential action, not actions that are occuring/occurred/will occur.

III. Format for the Subjunctive Sentence The Subjunctive is used in the dependent clause, introduced by the conjunction que indicative verb that triggers a verb in the subjunctive verb conjugated in the subjunctive + que +

Yo quiero que tú vayas a la tienda 1 2 3 Yo quiero que tú vayas a la tienda 1 2 3 Es necesario que estudiemos más 1 2 3 Espero que vengas a mi boda. 1 2 3 Siempre le aconsejamos que no mienta a su novia.

A. Verbs that try to INFLUENCE someone’s actions 1. Los maestros sugieren que lleguemos a tiempo. 2. Mis padres no permiten que yo fume. 3. Insistimos que Raúl nos dé el dinero.

B. Verbs that express EMOTIONS about someone’s actions 1. Me alegro de que recojas a tu hermana para llevarla a casa después de la escuela. 2. Le da miedo que sus hijos no estén felices. 3. ¡Ojalá que no tengamos tarea!

C. Verbs that express DOUBT about someone’s actions 1. Dudo que Jacinta te invite a su fiesta. 2. Leonora no está segura que ella sepa la verdad. 3. No es cierto que Clara vea a sus amigas antes de la escuela.

** Note: ** Verbs that express doubt or uncertainty are followed by the subjunctive Verbs that express beliefs, opinions, facts or certainty are followed by the indicative:

It is true that you are sleepy. Mis amigos dudan que yo vaya a la fiesta. My friends doubt that I will go to the party. Mis amigos no dudan que yo iré a la fiesta. My friends don’t doubt that I will go to the party. No es cierto que tengas sueño. It is not certain that you are sleepy. Es cierto que tienes sueño. It is true that you are sleepy.

** Note: ** In all of the examples above, the verb in the main clause (the indicative part) and the verb in the dependent clause (the subjunctive part) have their own subjects If a sentence has one subject (the same person/s is doing both actions), que is omitted and the infinitive is used:

My friends want me to go to the party. Mis amigos quieren que yo vaya a la fiesta. My friends want me to go to the party. Mis amigos quieren ir a la fiesta. My friends want to go to the party. Me alegro mucho de que puedas estar aquí. I am very happy that you could be here. Me alegro mucho de poder estar aquí. I am very happy to be able to be here.