Subjunctive Summary Handout

Español III
U7P1
Subjuntivo—resumen
Nombre ___________________________
Fecha
___________________________
I. Many subjunctive sentences follow this formula (the “diamond” formula):
Expression of influence
Expression of emotion + que +
Impersonal expression
Expression of doubt
new subject
+
SUBJUNCTIVE
Queremos que tú estudies más.
Me alegro de que Uds. reciban el premio.
Es bueno que mis amigos me llamen.
Dudamos que la presentación sea larga.
II. Here are the introductory expressions you are responsible for that require the subjunctive:
Expressions of emotion:
alegrarse—to be glad
Ojalá (not a verb)—I hope
sentir (ie)—to be sorry/regret
(Me) preocupa—It worries me
temer—to be afraid/fear
Expressions of influence:
dejar—to allow/let/permit
suplicar—to ask/beg
permitir—to allow/let/permit
exigir (exijo)—to demand/require
aconsejar—to advise
querer (ie)—to want
rogar (ue)—to beg
pedir (i)—to ask
decir (i)*—to say/tell
tener (ie) miedo—to be afraid
(Me) sorprende—It surprises me
(Me) molesta—It bothers me
estar + adj. of emotion (enojado, triste, etc.)
oponerse a (opongo)—to oppose
esperar—to hope
sugerir (ie)—to suggest
prohibir—to forbid/prohibit
mandar—to order/command
insistir en—to insist
desear—to wish/want
recomendar (ie)—to recommend
escribir*—to write
*when telling someone what to do, NOT when stating a fact:
Papá dice que soy alto.
Papá dice que limpies tu cuarto.
Impersonal expressions:
Es bueno—It’s good
Es peligroso—It’s dangerous
Es (una) lástima—It’s a shame
Es mejor—It’s better
Es ridículo—It’s ridiculous
Es necesario—It’s necessary
Es triste—It’s sad
Es malo—It’s bad
Es raro—It’s strange/odd/rare
Es importante—It’s important
Es posible—It’s possible
Es lógico—It’s logical
Es probable—It’s probable
PLUS…any other Es + adjective expression that
expresses an opinion
Expressions of doubt:
no saber—to not know
no creer—to not think/believe
no pensar—to not think/believe
no opinar—to not think/be of the opinion
dudar—to doubt
no estar seguro (de)—to not be sure
no es verdad—it’s not true
no es cierto—it’s not true
no es seguro—it’s not sure
es dudoso—it’s doubtful
negar (ie)—to deny
(no) es posible—it’s (not) possible
(no) es probable—it’s (not) probable
(no) es imposible—it’s (not) impossible
(no) es improbable—it’s not improbable
Tal vez, quizás (maybe, perhaps)—when significant doubt is present (doesn’t follow formula):
Tal vez no pueda encontrar sus llaves.
III. When expressions of certainty introduce a statement, they are followed by INDICATIVE:
Es verdad que no me gustan los perros.
Sabemos que los chicos son buenos amigos.
The formula for this sort of sentence is:
Expression of certainty + que + new subject + INDICATIVE
Expressions of certainty:
saber—to know
pensar—to think/believe
no dudar—to not doubt
es verdad—it’s true
es seguro—it’s sure
no negar (ie)—to not deny
creer—to think/believe
opinar—to think, be of the opinion
estar seguro (de)—to be sure
es cierto—it’s true
no es dudoso—it’s not doubtful
IV. One use of subjunctive that does not follow the “diamond” structure is subjunctive vs.
indicative in adjective clauses. An adjective clause is a string of words that
contains a conjugated verb and that acts as an adjective. If the adjective clause
refers to a definite person, place or thing, indicative is used after the que; if the noun
being described is non-specific, use subjunctive. Remember that sentences of denial
(which often contain negative words) also use the subjunctive.
El hombre que habla ahora es mi tío.
Busco un secretario que sepa español.
No conocemos a ningún médico que visite a sus pacientes en casa.
V. Sentences containing adverb conjunctions do not follow the diamond formula. However,
they do contain two verbs. Both verbs may be in indicative, or the verb after the adverb
conjunction may be in subjunctive. Remember the two categories of adverb conjunctions:
Always followed by subjunctive (ESCAPA):
En caso de que
Sin que
Con tal de que
Antes de que
Para que
A menos que
Vamos a asistir con tal de que tú estés allá.
Traje mi billetera en caso de que necesite dinero.
Sometimes followed by subjunctive (CHEM DT):
Cuando
Hasta que
En cuanto
Mientras
Después de que
Tan pronto como
Use INDICATIVE after CHEM DT if the OTHER VERB'S tense is present,
preterit, imperfect, present perfect, pluperfect, present progressive or past
progressive. (This indicates the action has already occurred, or always does.
No uncertainty—subjunctive isn't needed.)
Cuando termino la tarea, siempre miro Los Simpson. (miro is present tense)
Trabajaron hasta que Gloria llegó. (trabajaron is preterit tense)
Use SUBJUNCTIVE after CHEM DT if the OTHER VERB'S form is future
tense, ir a + infinitive, or a command. (This indicates that the action hasn't occurred
yet, so that the speaker has doubt as to the outcome.)
Cuando termine la tarea, miraré Los Simpson. (miraré is future tense)
Trabajen Uds. hasta que Gloria llegue. (trabajen is a command)