The 'subjuntivo' is a verb tense that describes an action which the speaker considers as unreal or maybe
possible. It helps us with expressing doubts, uncertainty, wishes, commands, emotions and state of mind.
(Opposite the 'subjuntivo' is the 'indicativo' (indicative
or indicative mood). That is the mood that indicates certainty
about what is being said.)
Indicativo
Subjuntivo
Affirmative
Not affirmative
To be shure
Not to be shure
Probably, a bit certain
Doubt, a bit unsure
Give an opinion
Value an opinion
Declare
Declare nothing
Informing
Not informing
With the Subjuntivo I only tell my
attitude or
intention before an information
With the Subjuntivo I declare nothing I tell nothing new
(to order,
to request) (to beg, to pray) (to ask for,
to apply)
Commands, demands
(to clean, to command, to
order, to arrange) (to claim)
Consent
(to leave, to leave
behind) (to permit)
Prohibit
(to prohibit, to
forbid)
Recommend
(to recommend, to
advise) (to recommend)
Possibility
(to be able to, to
can)
Doubt
(to doubt, to
hesitate)
Emotions and feelings
(to gladden; to
please) (to please; to sample; to
taste) (to pity; to regret) (to bother; to
molest) (to feel; to pity; to
regret) (to marvel; to surprise; to
wonder)
que no
I prefer that he doesn’t come back
que te
conmigo
I want you to marry me
que
me
un
lápiz
I need you to give me a pencil
Te
que
a
recogerme al aeropuerto
I beg you to come pick me up from the airport
Me que
este trabajo
I have been ordered to do this job
Te
que
tarde
esta
noche
I'll let you come back late tonight
Te que
tantos
dulces
You are forbidden to eat so many sweets
Te
que
a
clase
I recommend that you go to class
que
a
mi
fiesta, pero no
segura
He may come to my party, but I'm not sure
que le
bien
I doubt it works out
que no
I'm sorry you can't come
que tu
padre
enfermo
I regret that your father is ill
Me que
la
casa a menudo
I'd like you to clean the house often
Me de que
todas las asignaturas
I'm glad you passed all the subjects
Es improbable que
(It's unlikely that they return)
Es cierto que
(Indicative!)
It's certain that we go
NO seguro de que
delicioso
(I'm not sure it's delicious)
(Con verbos de opinión - uso negativo)
(to consider; to nominate) (to believe) (to say; to tell)
convencido de
(to be convinced of)
seguro de (to be sure of) (to expect; to imagine; to think) (to keep; to maintain),
(to believe; to think) (to think) (to presume; to suppose; to suspect) (to hold up; to maintain; to support) (to assume; to suppose)
¡ Subjuntivo !
NO seguro de
que
delicioso
I'm not sure it's delicious
¡ Indicativo !
seguro de
que
delicioso
I'm sure it's delicious
Ojalá no tarde
(Hopefully you won't be late)
(Con determinados adverbios)
Ojalá (Hopefully)
Always with subjuntivo
Ojalá no tarde
Hopefully you won't be late
A lo mejor (Probably)
Always with indicativo
A lo mejor razón
Probably he's right
Quizás (Maybe, pherhaps) Tal vez (Maybe, pherhaps) Posiblemente (Possibly) Probablemente (Probably)
When placed before the verb: Subjuntivo - if we refer to the present
or future
Indicativo - if we refer to the past
Quizás nos
mañana Maybe he will visit us tomorrow
Probablemente la
película They probably saw the movie
When placed after the verb: always with Indicativo
probablemente a las siete I'll probably be there at seven
una casa que jardín
(I want a house with a garden)
(En frases de relativo)
In case of real persons or things we use the
indicativo
a un hombre
que barba
He hired a man with a beard
Ahí hay un trébol que cuatro hojas
There you have a clover with four leaves
In case of imaginary persons or things we use the
Subjuntivo
una
casa que jardín
I want a house with a garden
a un hombre que
barba
I want to hire a man with a beard
un trébol
que
cuatro hojas I'm looking for a clover with four leaves
Te igual que si
mi madre
(You talk the same as if you we're my mother)
(Con conjunciones)
Conditional
a no ser que (unless)
siempre y cuando (as long as)
excepto que (except that)
a menos que (unless)
salvo que (unless)
en el caso de que (in case that)
A no ser que
,
mañana
yo la
cena.
Unless I work, I'll make dinner tomorrow.
Cuenta conmigo siempre y cuando te
.
Count on me as long as you behave
Manner
como si (like)
igual que si (the same as)
igual que si
mi
madre.
You talk the same as if you were my mother.
Successive
de ahí que (hence)
mucho
carácter,
de ahí que
enfadado.
He has a lot of character, hence he seems angry.
Concessive
por + adjective + que
por muy + adjectived + que
Por muy listo que
, a mí no me
a
.
No matter how smart he is, he will not fool me.
Conjunctions of time
cuando (when)
siempre que (as long as)
cada vez que (everytime that)
hasta que (until)
desde que (since)
en cuanto (as soon as)
tan pronto como (as soon as)
antes de (before)
después de (after)
mientras (while)
Used in the present or past tense:
Indicativo
(or infinitive)
Cuando
pequeña
a la escuela en
bicicleta.
When I was little I used to go to school by bike.
Antes de
a casa
por el supermercado.
Before going home, go to the supermarket.
Used in the future tense:
Subjuntivo
Cuando
mayor enfermera.
When I grow up I will be a nurse.
los, antes
de que
tarde.
Let them know, before it's too late.
Spanish verbs
French verbs
Italian verbs
Portuguese verbs
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