Primera vista – El subjunctivo

Nombre _________________________________ Hora _____
Señor Harapat
Español 3
Primera vista – El subjunctivo
In Spanish, expressions that contain uncertainty require the use of the
subjunctive tense.
Forming the present subjunctive tense is easy!
Basically, like formal commands, you use the opposite present tense ending.
That is to say, “-ar” verbs will take on the present tense “-er” endings.
Then, “-er” and “-ir” verbs will take on the present tense “-ar” endings.
Examples:
hablar
comer
vivir
Yo
Tú
Él/Ella/Ud.
Nosotros
Vosotros
Ellos/Ellas Uds.
hable
hables
hable
hablemos
habléis
hablen
coma
comas
coma
comamos
comáis
coman
viva
vivas
viva
vivamos
viváis
vivan
Now, you try! Give the present subjunctive forms of the following verbs:
escuchar
beber
escribir
Yo
_____________
_____________
_____________
Tú
_____________
_____________
_____________
Él/Ella/Ud.
_____________
_____________
_____________
Nosotros
_____________
_____________
_____________
Vosotros
_____________
_____________
_____________
Ellos/Ellas Uds. _____________
_____________
_____________
*FYI – The same spelling changes we make with formal commands are
also used when forming the subjunctive.
(hacer ! haga)
(tener ! tenga)
(dormir ! duerma)
etc…
When do we use the present subjunctive tense?
We use the subjunctive tense whenever there is any uncertainty in a statement or
question.
We will focus only on two specific cases for the time being:
•Quiero que + subjunctivo ! I want (that)…
•Espero que + subjunctivo ! I hope (that)…
Since these expressions communicate uncertainty, a subjunctive verb must
always follow them.
Examples:
I want you to speak Spanish.
I want her to eat the bread.
I want you to shower.
! Quiero que hables español.
! Quiero que ella coma el pan.
! Quiero que te duches.
I hope that you are hungry!
I hope that she has fun!
I hope that you can shower!
! ¡Espero que tengas hambre!
! ¡Espero que se divierta!
! ¡Espero que puedas ducharte!
Now you try! Write the following statements in Spanish using the present
subjunctive tense.
1.) I want you to watch the television.
! ____________________________
2.) I want him to drink the lemonade.
! ____________________________
3.) I want them to wash the dishes.
! ____________________________
4.) I hope that we have fun! (divertirse) ! ____________________________
5.) I hope that they turn off the lights!
! ____________________________
6.) I hope that you take a bath!
! ____________________________
*FYI – Some other subjunctive expressions include:
Dudo que… ! I doubt that…
Ojalá que… ! I hope that…
Deseo que… ! I hope (want) that…
Es posible que… ! It’s possible that…