THE SUBJUNCTIVE The indicative is used to relate facts or definite events.

ts. The subjunctive is used to show that something is in doubt or does not exist In a sentence construction, for a subjunctive to exist you must have a main clause + a dependent or subordinate clause The subjunctive appears in the dependent clause. There are three kind of dependent clauses: noun, adjective, and adverb NOUN CLAUSES BASICS There are two ways of identifying a noun clause: 1) In Spanish, it begins with the word que; in English, it begins with the word that (though that is often omitted) S que ests enojado conmigo 2) It answers the question what? What do I know? verb of That you are angry with me + que + change of subject I know (that) youre angry with me

Use the subjunctive in a noun clause when you have: wishing, wanting in main clause possibility advising, allowing forbidding demanding, ordering feeling, emotion doubt, denial judgment, opinion impersonal expressions of doubt, etc.

ex:

Insisto en que vengas a visitarme el martes I insist [that] you come to visit me Tuesday verb of demanding + que + subject change from I to you Alicia se alegra de que vayamos a Madrid Alicias glad [that] were going to Madrid verb of emotion + que + subject change from she to we Es importante que Miguel hable con sus padres Its important [that] Miguel speaks with his parents verb of judgment + que + subject change from he to they Dudamos que lleguen a tiempo We doubt [that] theyll arrive on time verb of doubt + que + subject change from we to they

but:

Estamos seguros de que tendrn el dinero pronto Were sure [that] theyll have the money soon the verb expresses certainty, not doubt; even though there is a change of subject, the subjunctive is not used Sentimos mucho no poder asistir al concierto We deeply regret [that] we cant attend the concert the verb sentimos expresses emotion, but theres no change of subject, so use an infinitive and no que

ex:

Le digo que venga digo = ordering Quiero que me visite quiero = wanting Nos alegramos de que ests aqu nos alegramos = emotion

Es posible que vaya Duda que lleguemos but:

es posible = possibility duda = doubt

Nos dicen que viene ella dicen = relating a fact, not ordering Nos alegramos de que estamos aqu no change of subject

main-clause verbs that will normally take a subjunctive in a following dependent noun clause aconsejar alegrarse (de) dejar dudar enfadarse esperar exigir impedir insistir (en) invitar lamentar to to to to to to to to to to to advise be glad let, allow doubt get angry hope demand prevent insist (on) invite regret mandar pedir preferir prohibir querer tener miedo (de) temer sentir sorprenderse (de) sospechar sugerir to to to to to to to to to to to order ask prefer forbid want be afraid (of) be afraid of regret be surprised (of) suspect suggest

verbs that work like gustar and take the subjunctive (note that the noun clause is the subject) agradar asustar enfadar enojar gustar molestar preocupar sorprender Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es Es bueno conveniente dudoso hora importante imposible interesante justo lstima natural necesario cierto claro evidente innegable to to to to to to to to please frighten anger anger like bother worry surprise Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its Its good advisable doubtful time important impossible interesting just, fair a pity natural necessary Me agrada que hablen tan bien el espaol Nos asustan que hagan esas cosas Le enfada a usted que hagamos tanto ruido Me enoja que no trates bien a los perros Te gusta que te den muchos regalos Les molesta a mis padres que coma yo dulces Les preocupa que no estudiemos todos los das Le sorprende que ganes tanto dinero Es posible Es preciso Es preferible Es probable Es raro Basta Conviene No importa Parece mentira Puede ser Its possible Its necessary Its preferable Its probable Its odd Its sufficient Its advisable It doesnt matter It seems incredible It may be

impersonal (Its ) expressions that take the subjunctive

impersonal (Its ) expressions that take the indicative certain clear evident undeniable Es verdad Es un hecho Es una realidad Its true Its a fact Its a reality

impersonal expressions that take the subjunctive when negative No es cierto No es seguro No es verdad Its not certain Its not certain Its not true No es evidente No es claro Its not evident Its not certain

ADJECTIVE CLAUSES BASICS There are three ways of identifying an adjective clause 1) In Spanish, it usually begins with the words que or (a) quien(es); in English, it usually begins with the words that or who (though that is often omitted) The book [that] you gave me is missing several pages 2) 3) It answers the question which? or what kind of? Which book is missing? The one you gave me It functions as an adjective: it describes a noun or pronoun. As a result, you can expect to find a noun or pronoun either right in front of it, or just a little distance back Im looking for a house that has three bathrooms We were talking to a man who had missed his train ex: Use the subjunctive in an adjective clause when the noun or pronoun the clause modifies is either negative or indefinite Conoce un hombre que sepa hablar ruso? No veo nada que me guste No tenemos libros que lo expliquen Conoce al hombre que sabe hablar ruso hombre is indefinite, may not exist nada is negative libros are negative, do not exist speaker knows that this man exists

but: ex:

I dont know anyone who can play the piano You wanted a roomate who wouldnt party all night Theres nothing in this book that explains why we go to war We dont like pizzas that have lots of anchovies on them You are dealing with an indefinite noun if you can mentally insert the words some or any in front of that noun, and having still meaning the same thing You wanted some roomate who wouldnt party all night We dont like any pizzas that have lots of anchovies on them

but:

We found a dollar bill that had one corner torn off

Look at the noun the clause modifies and ask yourself this question: does it exists? If your answer is yes, then youll use the indicative; but, if your answer is either no or I dont know, then youll use the subjunctive in the adjective clause Caution: It doesnt matter what kind of verb you have in the main clause, or whether you have a change of subject those are rules for using the subjunctive in a noun clause ADVERB CLAUSES BASICS There are lots of different kinds of adverbs: adverbs of time, of place, of manner, of purpose, of proviso, etc. If youre not sure whether or not a dependent clause is adverbial, one of the easiest ways to figure it out is simply to eliminate the possibility of its being a noun or an adjective: if its neither of those, then all thats left is an adverb! Lavaremos los platos en cuanto termine el programa Well wash the dishes as soon as the program finished Note: an adverbial conjunction frequently ends in que, so be sure you identify the whole dependent clause Te vendo el carro con tal de que no me vengas despus con quejas Nadie har nada sin que t lo digas Los nios fueron al parque luego que salieron de la escuela Use the indicative in an adverb clause if the action in the clause has taken place (is a fact); otherwise, use the subjunctive

Once you know youre dealing with an adverb clause no matter what kind of adverb it is look at the sentence, focus in on the action in the adverb clause (not in the main clause!) and ask yourself this question: Did it happen? or Has it happened? if your answer is yes, use the indicative in the adverb clause Entramos en el cine tan pronto como lleg Marta did Marta arrive? yes, she did No cenamos anoche hasta que volvi nuestro hijo mayor did our oldest son come back? yes, he did Te empeas en comprar ese vestido a pesar de que vale menos de lo que piden is it worth less than theyre asking? yes

a)

b)

if your answer is either no or Im not sure, use the subjunctive in the adverb clause No vamos a cenar hasta que llegue Marta has Marta arrived? no yet En caso de que no estemos en casa, espranos en el caf will we be at home? unknown

ex:

Cuando lo vea hablar con l I havent seen him yet Vmonos antes de que vuelvan they havent return yet Aunque est lloviendo, saldr it isnt raining yet, and may not Habl sin que yo le oyera I didnt hear him Cuando lo veo, hablo con l Aunque est lloviendo, saldr I always do, its an accomplished fact its raining now a fact

but: Note:

In Spanish it is very common for the adverb clause to come at the beginning of the sentence, before the main clause. Be careful that youre asking your question about what happened in the adverb clause, not about what happened in the main clause common adverbial conjunctions before as soon as

antes (de) que as que en cuanto luego que tan pronto como cuando siempre que despus (de) que hasta que mientras (que) siempre y cuando siempre que para que a fin de que de manera que de modo que como con tal (de) que (en) caso (de) que supuesto que

when whenever after until while as long as in order that, so that

provided in case supposing

sin que a menos que a no ser que como no a pesar de que aun cuando aunque

without unless

in spite of the fact that although, even though, even if