Spanish conjugation explanation

Subjunctive vs. indicative

<p>

The <strong>indicative</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">indicativo</span>) and <strong>subjunctive</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">subjuntivo</span>) moods are used to express different things in Spanish. We usually use the indicative mood to talk about things that are considered to be <strong>facts or truths</strong>. In contrast, we use the subjunctive mood to talk about <strong>desires, doubts, emotions, and imaginary situations</strong>. It is also used after certain expressions followed by "que". Let's have a look at examples for the most common uses of the subjunctive mood.</p>

<li><strong>ADVICE:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Te <span class="green_emphasis">aconsejo que</span> <strong>dejes</strong> de fumar. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I advise you to stop smoking.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>DOUBT:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Dudo que</span> él <strong>venga</strong> a tiempo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I doubt if he will come on time.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>EMOTION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Estoy <span class="green_emphasis">feliz de que</span> <strong>estés</strong> feliz. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm happy you're happy.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>FEAR:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Tengo miedo de que</span> un día <strong>dejes </strong> de quererme. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm afraid that one day you'll stop loving me.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>IMPROBABILITY:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Eso <span class="green_emphasis">es improbable que</span> <strong>ocurra</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">That's unlikely to happen.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>REGRET:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Es triste que</span> nos <strong>dejes</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is sad that you are leaving us. </span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>SUGGESTION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Él <span class="green_emphasis">sugiere que</span> no lo <strong>hagas</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He suggests that you don't do that.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>WISH:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Te <span class="green_emphasis">deseo que</span> <strong>tengas</strong> un estupendo año. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I hope you'll have a great year.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjunctions with <span style="font-style: italic;">que</span></div>

<ul>

<li><strong>A MENOS QUE</strong> (unless):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">No podemos ayudarle <span class="green_emphasis">a menos que</span> usted nos <strong>ayude</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We can't help you unless you help us.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>A NO SER QUE</strong> (unless):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Le veré, <span class="green_emphasis">a no ser que</span> <strong>venga</strong> demasiado tarde. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll see him if he doesn't come too late.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ADONDEQUIERA QUE</strong> ([to] wherever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Adondequiera que</span> <strong>vayas</strong>, te seguiré. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll follow you wherever you go.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>CUALQUIERA QUE</strong> (anyone, whatever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ayuda a <span class="green_emphasis">cualquiera</span> que lo <strong>necesite</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Give help to anyone who needs it.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tomaré <span class="green_emphasis">cualquiera que</span> <strong>tengas</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll take whatever you've got.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>DONDEQUIERA QUE</strong> (wherever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sal de <span class="green_emphasis">dondequiera que</span> <strong>estés</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Get out from wherever you are.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ES IMPORTANTE QUE</strong> (it's important that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Es importante que</span> <strong>guardes</strong> este secreto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is important for you to keep this secret.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ES / SERÁ / SERÍA MEJOR QUE</strong> (it is/will be/would be better if):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Es mejor que</span> lo <strong>hagas</strong> ahora. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You'd better do that now.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Creo que <span class="green_emphasis">será mejor</span> que <strong>vuelvas</strong> a casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I think you'd better come back home.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Sería mejor que</span> <strong>hablaras</strong> con ella. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You'd better talk to her.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>HASTA QUE</strong> (until):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Me quedaré aquí <span class="green_emphasis">hasta que</span> <strong>vuelvas</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll stay here till you get back.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>OJALÁ (QUE)</strong> (hopefully):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ojalá que</span> la primavera <strong>llegue</strong> pronto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Hopefully spring will come soon.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">¡<span class="green_emphasis">Ojalá</span> <strong>sea</strong> así! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let's hope so!</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PARA QUE</strong> (so that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Habla más fuerte <span class="green_emphasis">para que</span> todos <strong>puedan</strong> oírte. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Speak louder so everyone can hear you.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>POR MUCHO QUE</strong> (no matter how much):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Por mucho que</span> lo <strong>intente</strong>, él no tendrá éxito. (<span style="font-style: italic;">However hard he may try, he won't succeed.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUE...</strong> (desire or permission):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> esto te <strong>sirva</strong> de lección. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let this be a lesson to you.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> <strong>haga</strong> lo que quiera. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let him do what he wants.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUE + SABER</strong> (as far as I know):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Que</span> yo <strong>sepa</strong>, no está casado. (<span style="font-style: italic;">As far as I know, he is not married.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>QUIENQUIERA / QUIENESQUIERA QUE</strong> (whoever):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Quienquiera que</span> <strong>venga</strong> será bienvenido. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Whoever comes will be welcome.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>SIN QUE</strong> (without):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Es imposible ganar <span class="green_emphasis">sin que</span> otro <strong>pierda</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is impossible to win without another one losing.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjunctions without <span style="font-style: italic;">que</span></div>

<p>We can use either the subjunctive or the indicative with the expressions below. It depends on whether we want to express a future/imaginary action or what actually happens. Study the examples to understand the distinction better.</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>ADONDE</strong> ([to] where):

<ul>

<li>

<p>Subjunctive:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Puedes ir a <span class="green_emphasis">adonde</span> <strong>quieras</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You can go anyplace you like.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p>Indicative:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Madrid es <span class="green_emphasis">adonde</span> yo <strong>quiero</strong> ir. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Madrid is where I want to go.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>COMO</strong> (as):

<ul>

<li>

<p>Subjunctive:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Te escribiré cartas tan a menudo <span class="green_emphasis">como</span> <strong>pueda</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will write letters to you as often as I can.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p>Indicative:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Puede que Tom no esté tan ocupado <span class="green_emphasis">como</span> <strong>parece</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Tom may not be as busy as he seems.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>CUANDO / EN CUANTO</strong> (when / as soon as):

<ul>

<li>

<p><span class="green_emphasis">Cuando / en cuanto</span> + <strong>subjunctive</strong> + <span class="brown_emphasis">future</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Cuando</span> <strong>crezca</strong>, <span class="brown_emphasis">seré</span> piloto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">When I grow up, I'll be a pilot.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">En cuanto</span> <strong>esté</strong> en el aeropuerto te <span class="brown_emphasis">llamaré</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">As soon as I am at the airport, I will call you.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p><span class="green_emphasis">Cuando / en cuanto</span> + <strong>subjunctive</strong> + <span class="brown_emphasis">imperative</span>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Cuando</span> <strong>venga</strong> por aquí cerca, <span class="brown_emphasis">pase</span> a visitarnos. (<span style="font-style: italic;">When you're in the area, come and visit us.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Llámame</span> <span class="green_emphasis">en cuanto</span> <strong>llegues</strong> ahí. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Call me up when you get there.</span>)</div>

<li>

<p>Indicative:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Cuando</span> <strong>comes</strong> tortitas, ¿cuántas sueles comer? (<span style="font-style: italic;">When you eat pancakes, how many do you usually eat?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">En cuanto</span> <strong>nace</strong> un hombre, empieza a morir. (<span style="font-style: italic;">As soon as man is born, he begins to die.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>CUANTO MÁS/MENOS</strong> (the more..., the less...):

<ul>

<li>

<p>Subjunctive:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Cuanto más</span> <strong>comas</strong>, más gordo te pondrás. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The more you eat, the fatter you will get.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p>Indicative:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Cuanto más</span> corto <strong>es</strong> un proverbio, más son las preguntas. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The shorter a proverb is, the more questions it raises.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>MIENTRAS</strong> (while, as long as):

<ul>

<li>

<p>Subjunctive:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Mientras</span> más cosas <strong>tenga</strong>, más voy a tener que limpiar. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The more stuff I have, the more I'm going to have to clean.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p>Indicative:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Algunos profesores pelan patatas <span class="green_emphasis">mientras</span> <strong>enseñan</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Some teachers peel potatoes while teaching.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>QUIZÁ / QUIZÁS / TAL VEZ</strong> (maybe, perhaps):

<p>Both the indicative and the subjunctive can be used with these words depending on the level of certainty. For example:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<p>if there is a <strong>reasonable chance</strong> that I'm going to the party tonight, we use the <strong>indicative</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Tal vez</span> <strong>voy</strong> a la fiesta esta noche. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe I'm going to the party tonight.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<p>if there is <strong>very little chance</strong> that I'm going to the party tonight, we use the <strong>subjunctive</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Tal vez</span> <strong>vaya</strong> a la fiesta esta noche. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe I'm going to the party tonight.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

<li><strong>TAN PRONTO COMO</strong> (as soon as):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Te llamaré <span class="green_emphasis">tan pronto como</span> <strong>pueda</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will call you as soon as I can.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">In relative clauses</div>

<p>We have to use the subjunctive in relative clauses where the word that the clause modifies is indefinite:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Necesito a <span class="green_emphasis">alguien que</span> me <strong>entienda</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I need someone to understand me.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">No tenemos a <span class="green_emphasis">nadie que</span> nos <strong>guíe</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We have no one to guide us.</span>)</div>

<p>Note the difference between the following two sentences (<span style="font-style: italic;">un hombre</span> as <strong>indefinite</strong> [+subjunctive] and <strong>definite</strong> [+indicative]). Also note that the <strong>personal a</strong> disappears when <span style="font-style: italic;">un hombre</span> is indefinite:

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Contrataremos <span class="green_emphasis">un hombre que</span> <strong>sepa</strong> hablar inglés. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We will employ a man who can speak English.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Contratamos a <span class="green_emphasis">un hombre que</span> <strong>sabe</strong> hablar inglés. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We hired a man who can speak English.</span>)</div>