Understanding the Spanish Subjunctive: Uses, Forms, and Practice, Study notes of Spanish

Download Understanding the Spanish Subjunctive: Uses, Forms, and Practice and more Study notes Spanish in PDF only on Docsity! Provided by Tutoring Services 1 Spanish: The Subjunctive Spanish: The Subjunctive Present Subjunctive -AR -ER/-IR yo -e yo -a tú -es tú -as él/ella/Ud. -e él/ella/Ud. -a nosotros -emos nosotros -amos vosotros -éis vosotros -áis ellos/ellas/Uds. -en ellos/ellas/Uds. -an Spelling Changes in the Subjunctive • The irregular present subjunctive verbs usually have the same irregularity as the present tense “yo” forms. Conocer (to know)- conozca, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcáis, conozcan Decir (to say, to tell)- diga, digas, diga, digamos, digáis, digan Poner (to put, to place)- ponga, pongas, ponga, pongamos, pongáis, pongan • However, the following irregular present subjunctive verbs do not have the same irregularity as the present tense “yo” forms: Dar (to give, to hand)- dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den Estar (to be)- esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén Ir (to go)- vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan Saber (to know, to know how)- sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan Ser (to be)- sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean • Stem-changing -AR and -ER verbs maintain the stem-change in the subjunctive. Entender (to understand)- entienda, entiendas, entienda, entendamos, entendáis, entiendan Pensar (to think)- piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, penséis, piensen • Stem-changing -IR verbs maintain the same stem-change with an additional change in the nosotros and vosotros forms. Dormir (to sleep)- duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman Preferir (to prefer)- prefiera, prefieras, prefiera, prefiramos, prefiráis, prefieran Provided by Tutoring Services 2 Spanish: The Subjunctive Subjunctive to Express Wishes and Hope Verbs of Influence Impersonal Expressions Esperar que- to hope that Es aconsejable que- it’s advisable that Insistir en que- to insist that Es buena/mala idea que- it’s a good/bad idea that Preferir que- to prefer that Es bueno/malo que- it’s good/bad that Querer que- to want that Es importante que- it’s important that Aconsejar que- to advise that Es mejor que- it’s better that Exigir que- to demand that Es necesario que- it’s necessary that Desear que- to wish that Es preciso que- it’s necessary that Prohibir que- to prohibit that Es preferible que- it’s preferable that Necesitar que- to need that Recomendar que- to recommend that • When using one of these verbs or impersonal expressions in the main clause of the sentence, the subjunctive must follow in the dependent clause following “que.” Remember this format: S1 V1 que S2 V2 o Ella quiere que yo haga la cama. S1 V1 que S2 V2 o Tu madre quiere que tú saques la basura. S1 V1 que S2 V2 • Notice that after the impersonal expressions, the infinitive of the verb is used when no subject is addressed, but the subjunctive is used when the expression is directed towards a specific subject. o Es necesario estudiar para sacar buenas notas. (no specific subject addressed) o Es necesario que ustedes estudien para sacar buenas notas. (specific subject) • After the verbs of influence, the infinitive of the verb is used when no specific subject is addressed, but the subjunctive is used when the verb is directed towards a specific subject. o El profesor prohíbe dormir durante la clase. (no specific subject addressed) o El profesor prohíbe que nosotros durmamos durante la clase. (specific subject) Provided by Tutoring Services 5 Spanish: The Subjunctive The Subjunctive in Adjective Clauses • An adjective clause modifies a noun in the main clause and is usually introduced by “que.” The subjunctive is used in the adjective clause when referring to a person, place, or thing whose existence is unknown or in question. o ¿Sabes un libro de texto que contenga más práctica con el subjuntivo? o Quiero ir a un restaurante que sierva comida tailandesa. • The subjunctive is also used when emphatically describing something that does not exist according to the speaker. o No hay ninguna persona que hable cinco idiomas. o No puedo encontrar nadie que quiera ayudarme. • On the other hand, when the adjective clause describes something that is known to exist, then do not use the subjunctive, but the indicative. o Hay muchos hoteles en esta ciudad que tienen las piscinas. o ¿Dónde está la dependiente que me ayudó la semana pasada? • Use the personal a when the verb refers to a person that is known to exist and follow it with the indicative in the dependent clause. But when the verb refers to a person whose existence is unknown, do not use the personal a and follow it with the subjunctive in the dependent clause. o Prefiero a la peluquera que mi amiga me recomienda. o Busco una persona que dé las lecciones del violín. • Some times, you can use either the subjunctive or the indicative depending on how certain you are about the issue. o ¿Hay alguien que puede prestarme dinero? (not certain but assumes there may be someone who can loan money) o ¿Hay alguien que pueda prestarme dinero? (not certain but doubts there is someone who can loan money) Provided by Tutoring Services 6 Spanish: The Subjunctive The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses Adverbial Conjunctions Expressing Pending Actions con tal (de) que- provided that antes (de) que- before a menos que- unless para que- so that sin que- without • When using these adverbial conjunctions in the dependent clause, use the subjunctive since they describe pending/hypothetical actions that may not occur. o Voy a la biblioteca con tal de que mi esposo pueda cuidar a los niños. o Llámame antes de que Juan salga de tu casa. Adverbial Conjunctions Expressing Future Events aunque- although, even though, even if en cuanto- as soon as como- as, how, however hasta que- until cuando- when mientras- while después de que- after según- according to, as donde- where, wherever tan pronto como- as soon as • Use the subjunctive after these adverbial conjunctions when the main clause expresses a future action that has not yet occurred. o Ella va a mirar la película cuando su novio llegue a casa. o Él quiere trabajar en cuanto se gradúe. • Use the indicative with these adverbial conjunctions when they describe something that has taken place, is taking place, or usually takes place. o Yo leo un libro todos los días en cuanto termino mi tarea. o La maestra da un examen después de que terminamos cada capítulo. • Use the subjunctive with como, donde, según, and aunque when they refer to something that is not regarded as fact. But when they refer to something definite, use the indicative. o Cocina la paella según dice la receta. Cook the paella according to what the recipe says. o Cocina la paella según diga la receta. Cook the paella according to whatever the recipe says. Provided by Tutoring Services 7 Spanish: The Subjunctive Imperfect Subjunctive To form the imperfect subjunctive, start with the ellos/ellas/Uds. form of the preterit, drop the -on ending, and add the following endings: HABLAR COMER VIVIR ESTAR (hablaron) (comieron) (vivieron) (estuvieron) yo hablara comiera viviera estuviera tú hablaras comieras vivieras estuvieras él/ella/Ud. hablara comiera viviera estuviera nosotros habláramos comiéramos viviéramos estuviéramos vosotros hablarais comierais vivierais estuvierais ellos/ellas/Uds. hablaran comieran vivieran estuvieran • Use the imperfect subjunctive in the dependent clause when the verb in the main clause is in the past tense and the verb in the dependent clause refers to a past action or state. o Dudábamos que ella quisiera asistir a la fiesta. We doubted that she wanted to attend the party. o Era triste que los bomberos se murieran en el incendio. It was sad that the firefighters died in the fire. • Use the imperfect subjunctive after como si (as if, as though). In this case, the verb in the main clause can be either present or past. o El niño come como si estuviera muriendo de hambre. The boy eats as if he were dying of hunger. o El perro se escondía como si tuviera miedo de algo. The dog hid as if he were scared of something. • Use the imperfect subjunctive in an if-clause since it describes something that is hypothetical. Notice that the conditional tense is used in the main clause. o Si salieras temprano, llegarías a casa antes de las cinco. If you were to leave early, you would get home before five. o Si limpiáramos nuestra casa más, no tendríamos tantas cucarachas. If we were to clean our house more, we wouldn’t have so many roaches.