The subjunctive with impersonal expressions

The Subjunctive With Impersonal
Expressions
(El subjuntivo con expresiones impersonales)
Es importante que
estudies para ser
médico.
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
The subjunctive is used in noun clauses after
impersonal expressions of necessity, doubt,
frequency, probability, denial, opinion, pity,
and uncertainty when the dependent clause has
an expressed subject. Some common
impersonal expressions are shown on the
following two slides.
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
Es bueno
Es común
Es difícil
Es dudoso
Es extraño
Es fácil
Es importante
Es imposible
Es increíble
It’s good
It’s common
It’s difficult
It’s doubtful
It’s strange
It’s easy
It’s important
It’s impossible
It’s incredible
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
Es indispensable
Es (una) lástima
Es malo
Es mejor
Es necesario
Es posible
Es preciso
Es probable
Es urgente
It’s indispensable
It’s a pity
It’s bad
It’s better
It’s necessary
It’s possible
It’s essential
It’s probable
It’s urgent
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
Following are some examples of usage:
Es importante que ustedes recomienden a la aspirante.
It’s important that you recommend the applicant.
Es imposible que el jefe ascienda al secretario.
It’s impossible for the boss to promote the secretary.
Es increíble que Elena no pueda encontrar un buen puesto.
It’s incredible that Elena can’t find a good position.
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
The indicative is used when the impersonal expression
conveys certainty or conviction on the part of the speaker.
Some common impersonal expressions of certainty are:
Es verdad
Es cierto
Es evidente
Es seguro
Es obvio
No es dudoso
It’s true
It’s true
It’s evident
It’s certain
It’s obvious
It’s not doubtful
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
Following are some examples of the use of the indicative
with impersonal expressions:
Es verdad que Carlota es muy honrada.
It’s true that Carlota is very honest.
Es evidente que el jefe no está aquí.
It’s evident that the boss is not here.
Es seguro que el electricista viene a reparar el
problema.
It’s certain that the electrician is coming
to repair the problem.
The Subjunctive With Impersonal Expressions
Use the infinitive with impersonal expressions when there
is no expressed subject in the dependent clause.
Es difícil conseguir trabajo.
It’s hard to get work.
Es necesario apagar el fuego.
It’s necessary to extinguish the fire.
When used with an infinitive, these expressions are truly
impersonal, in that no specific person is named as the
subject.
FIN