Spanish conjugation explanation
Forming the present subjunctive verb forms
<p>For regular verbs and most irregular verbs, the stem of the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>
is derived directly from the <strong>first-person singular</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form) of the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/14/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
.</p><p>This allows you to correctly form the subjunctive even for verbs with irregular stems. The rule is simple: take the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form of the present indicative, drop the <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> ending, and add the appropriate subjunctive endings.</p>
<p>A common mistake is trying to base the stem on the infinitive rather than the conjugated <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form. Look at the examples below to see how irregular stems correspond between the two tenses.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">G-Verbs</div>
<p>Verbs that have a <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span> in the first person (often called
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_g_verb/" target="_blank">G-verbs</a>
) keep that <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span> in all forms of the present subjunctive.</p><p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/hacer/" title="Click to see conjugations for hacer" target="_blank">HACER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to do/make</span>):</p><p>Regular logic based on the infinitive words suggest <span class="red_emphasis">haca</span>, but since the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo hago</span>, the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">hag-</span>.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">haga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">haga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">hagan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/tener/" title="Click to see conjugations for tener" target="_blank">TENER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to have</span>):</p><p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo tengo</span>, so the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">teng-</span>.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tengan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/salir/" title="Click to see conjugations for salir" target="_blank">SALIR</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to leave/go out</span>):</p><p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo salgo</span>, so the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">salg-</span>.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salgas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salgamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salgáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">salgan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/o%C3%ADr/" title="Click to see conjugations for oír" target="_blank">OÍR</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to hear</span>):</p><p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo oigo</span>, so the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">oig-</span>.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiga<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oigan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Verbs ending in -CER and -CIR</div>
<p>Verbs ending in specific vowel + <span style="font-style: italic;">-cer/-cir</span> combinations often undergo a
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_orthograpic_change_cer_zc/" target="_blank">spelling change</a>
to <strong>-zco</strong> in the first person. This change carries over to the subjunctive.</p><p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/conocer/" title="Click to see conjugations for conocer" target="_blank">CONOCER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to know</span>):</p><p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo conozco</span>, so the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">conozc-</span>.</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozca<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozcas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozca<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozcamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozcáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">conozcan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/vencer/" title="Click to see conjugations for vencer" target="_blank">VENCER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to defeat</span>):</p><p>Forms ending in consonant + <span style="font-style: italic;">-cer</span> change <span style="font-style: italic;">c</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">z</span> (see
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_orthograpic_change_cer_z/" target="_blank">spelling change</a>
). Since the first person is <span style="font-style: italic;">yo venzo</span>, the stem is <span class="green_emphasis">venz-</span>.</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
yo
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venza<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
tú
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venzas<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
él
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venza<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
nosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venzamos<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
vosotros
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venzáis<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
ellos
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venzan<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exceptions</div>
<p>This rule works because the <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span> form ends in <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>. However, there are six verbs (often remembered with the acronym <strong>DISHES</strong>) where the first-person singular does <strong>not</strong> end in <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>. These verbs have unique subjunctive stems that must be memorized:</p>
<ul>
<li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/dar/" title="Click to see conjugations for dar" target="_blank">dar</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">doy</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">dé, des, dé...</span></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ir" target="_blank">ir</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">voy</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">vaya, vayas, vaya...</span></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">soy</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">sea, seas, sea...</span></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/haber/" title="Click to see conjugations for haber" target="_blank">haber</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">he</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">haya, hayas, haya...</span></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/estar/" title="Click to see conjugations for estar" target="_blank">estar</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">estoy</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">esté, estés, esté...</span></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/saber/" title="Click to see conjugations for saber" target="_blank">saber</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">sé</span>) → <span class="green_emphasis">sepa, sepas, sepa...</span></div></li></ul>