spanish essay phrases subjunctive

CHAPTER SEVEN

Spanish subjunctive phrases: 33 incredibly useful phrases to help you master the subjunctive.

The Spanish Obsessive

• What is the subjunctive? A brief introduction
• Spanish subjunctive conjugations: Verb forms and quiz
• Spanish subjunctive uses and meanings
• Deep dive 1: Noun clauses
• Deep dive 2: Adjective clauses
• Deep dive 3: Additional uses
• 33 Spanish subjunctive phrases to memorise now (this chapter)

A little bit about these phrases

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Phrases with sea

Sea  comes from the verb  ser , “to be”. It’s an extremely common verb, and is the most common Spanish verb that you’ll find in the subjunctive:

O sea…  That is…

We’ve started with the most common expression that you’ll hear.  O sea  means “that is”, “in other words”, “or rather”, “that is to say”. You’ll hear it all the time, almost as a verbal tic among native Spanish speakers across the Spanish speaking world.

Sea como sea –   No matter how, at any cost

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Cuando sea –  Whenever

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Ya sea por x o y – whether it be for x or y

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You can use ya sea por to mean “whether”, and this usually comes with an “or”, for example:  ya sea por motivos de trabajo o diversión   (“whether it be for reasons of work or fun”)

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/1-4+ya+sea+por+motivos+de.mp3

Phrases with aunque  sea

Aunque  means “although”, and  aunque sea  is one of the most common constructions you’ll hear. Learn these phrases using  aunque sea  to build fluency in your conversation:

Aunque sea poco –  Although it’s a little/not much

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Aunque sea difícil –  Although it’s difficult

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Aunque sea pequeño –  Although it’s small

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Aunque sea duro –  Although it’s difficult/tough

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Phrases with  ojalá

Ojalá  stands out as a Spanish word, and it is  always followed by the subjunctive . The history of this little word is fascinating – it’s originally from the Arabic  Insha’Allah! , meaning “If God wills”. Today it’s used to mean “I hope”, or “may it be so”. Here are some of the most common phrases using  ojalá :

Ojalá sea pronto – I hope it is soon

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Ojalá puedas ayudarme – I hope you can help me

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Ojalá hubiera más – I wish there were more

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Ojalá llegue – I hope he/she/it arrives

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Although purists sometimes argue that  ojalá que  is incorrect, in everday Spanish it is used all the time. Here are some phrases using  ojalá que :

Ojalá que salga bien –  I hope it turns out ok

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Ojalá que haya sido… –  I hope it’s been…

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-5+ojala+que+haya+sido.mp3

And while we’re at it, there’s a song called “ Ojalá que llueva café”  (“I hope it rains coffee”):

Phrases with cuando

Cuando  is often used with the subjunctive. It’s usually used with a verb to refer to some future action or event which is not yet a reality (hence the use of the subjunctive):

Cuando sea necesario  – When it’s necessary

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Cuando esté hecho  – When it’s done

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Cuando esté conmigo  – When it/he/she is with me

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Cuando tengas tiempo – When you have time

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Cuando venga – When he/she/it arrives

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Cuando salga  – When he/she it leaves

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Phrases with quiero que

Quiero que (I want) almost always takes the subjunctive, as it refers to the imposition of will or desire. These very common short phrases illustrate that perfectly:

Quiero que sepas – I want you to know

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Quiero que vuelva  – I want him/her/it to return

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Phrases with para que

Para que means “so that”, and is often used with the subjunctive:

Para que veas  – So that you see

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Para que funcione – So that it works

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Para que sepas  – So that you know

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Impersonal expressions with the Spanish subjunctive

An impersonal expression simply means that no personal pronoun (ie,  yo, tú, usted, etc)  is used. These take the form “es ADJECTIVE que”, and are often followed by the subjunctive. Note that when you are sure about the result of something, or affirming the reality of something, the indicative is used (e.g.  Es cierto que sabe ):

Es posible que haya…  – It’s possible that there is…

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-1+es+posible+que+haya.mp3

Es probable que sea  – It’s probable that it’s…

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Es importante que sepas – It’s important that you know

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Es posible que exista  – It’s possible that it exists

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-3+es+posible+que+exista.mp3

These are some of the most common and popular expressions that you’ll hear using the Spanish subjunctive, and will help you build mastery of this “mood”. Are there any common expressions that you use? Let us know in the comments below!

9 Responses

muy útil! muchas gracias

Brilliant teaching! Just what I was looking for. A clear, logical, step-by-step introduction to a subject that seemed overwhelming to me. Thank you!!!

Thank you for helping me understand how and when to use the subjunctive. I have been studying Spanish for over 3 years and still struggle with the Subjunctive mood. Poco a Poco!! Thanks again!

Thank you. Fantastic and great way of mastering Subjunctive

Fantastic clarity for a change! Many thanks

This is a really great source for helping to master the subjuntive. Thank you!

Extremely helpful for my A level Spanish speaking exam! Muchas gracias:)

I echo these comments! Utterly helpful, and crystal clear! Muchas gracias…

This is a great tool, but doesn’t download in a form that is very useful on a Mac. A .pdf would be better! 🙂

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Your Best Guide To The Spanish Subjunctive (With Examples)

• Read time 14 mins

If you saw the word “subjunctive” in the title and felt a challenge coming on, you’re right - the Spanish subjunctive can be a bit difficult.

But don’t panic.

In this Spanish subjunctive guide, I’ll explain for you what subjunctive verbs are and provide lots of examples.

You’ll find that it’s quite straightforward. Let’s begin.

What is the Spanish subjunctive and when is it used?

You should use the Spanish subjunctive mood when mentioning a hypothetical situation or discussing something you hope will occur .

You should also use the subjunctive mood to talk about something you doubt will happen and when using a negated command .

Here are examples to show how to use the Spanish subjunctive for the situations mentioned above:

Ojalá pudiera hacer más ejercicio.

Quiero que vengas a la fiesta hoy.

No creo que estés muy contento.

¡No cantes tan alto! Estamos en la biblioteca.

Present and past Spanish subjunctive mood examples

Depending on the sentence you’re writing or saying, the Spanish subjunctive mood can take the present or past tense.

Here are two examples of the present subjunctive mood, one example of the imperfect past subjunctive mood, and one example of the pluscuamperfecto (compound) past subjunctive mood:

Espero que no tengas un catarro.

Daremos un premio al panadero que haga el mejor pastel.

Si tuviera más confianza en mí misma, no tendría tanta ansiedad.

Desearía que nunca hubieras dicho eso.

Continue reading for more information on these verb types for the subjunctive mood.

What is the present Spanish subjunctive mood?

The present Spanish subjunctive mood is just that - a mood demonstrated by certain verbs that your speech or writing reflects when you are doubtful or hopeful.

In other words, when you are doubtful or hopeful, you should use a new set of Spanish verbs to show this.

How do you conjugate the present subjunctive Spanish mood?

The table below shows how to conjugate the present subjunctive Spanish verbs.

It helps to understand how to conjugate the indicative present tense verbs first.

If you haven’t studied the Spanish subjunctive in a Spanish course, check the linked article to understand Spanish verb conjugation.

If you have already reached the B1 level and want to revise the present subjunctive conjugations, go straight to the following table:

If you cast your mind back to the conjugations of these three verbs in the indicative tense, you will remember that the suffixes are different.

That’s because, for the conjugations of the subjunctive verbs, the verbs with an IR or ER suffix must contain an -a in their suffixes, and the verbs with an AR suffix must now contain an -e in the suffix.

The verbs are “inverted” in terms of their suffixes! And this rule applies to every regular, present Spanish subjunctive verb.

What are some common irregular present subjunctive verbs in Spanish?

You will have to remember a few irregular present subjunctive verbs in Spanish.

It can be tricky to keep them in mind because you must conjugate the stem and the suffix.

Let’s look at the verb saber to see an example:

As you can see, even though the root or stem of the infinitive verb saber contains the letter -b, the conjugated present subjunctive verbs contain an -ep.

The root is different, and so is the suffix (which contains an -a).

Examples of the present subjunctive in Spanish and how to use it

You should use the present tense subjunctive mood if a sentence has two parts and each part contains a different subject.

Use the present tense subjunctive if the first part of your sentence contains a present, imperative or future tense verb.

Let’s now look at a few examples of the present subjunctive in Spanish.

Quiero que comas algo sano.

Dudo que me puedas ayudar.

No creo que sea posible que vengas al evento.

Each first of these sentences uses the present tense because they:

• Contain a present tense indicative verb in the first part
• Use a doubtful or hopeful mood
• Feature two parts with two subjects
• Have the relative pronoun “que”

But what if a sentence does not contain the relative pronoun “que”? and what if the sentence doesn’t contain two subjects? In these situations, you should use the indicative present tense, like this:

Quiero comer algo sano.

No puedo ayudar.

No voy al evento.

What is the imperfect Spanish subjunctive mood?

The imperfect Spanish subjunctive mood is also a mood that your speech or writing reflects when you express a point of view using the past tense.

When doubtful or hopeful, you must use a different set of Spanish verbs to reflect this in speech or writing.

In which situation should you use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive?

We use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive in the same situations as the present Spanish subjunctive, but the action in the sentence has happened in the past.

We can compare the present Spanish subjunctive with the imperfect Spanish subjunctive to see how the sentence differs.

Consider the examples below:

A mí me gusta que tengas suerte y salud.

A mí me gustaba que tuvieras suerte y salud.

The main difference between these examples is the tense.

The first verbs in the first and second halves of these sentences are different.

In the first example, the verb gustar is in the present tense, which requires us to use the present subjunctive verb tengas in the second half of the sentence.

In the second example, the verb gustar is in the imperfect past tense, which requires us to use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive verb tuvieras .

How do you conjugate imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs?

There’s an easy way to remember how to conjugate the imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs (regular ones).

Start by calling to mind the third-person preterite version of the regular verb you need to conjugate and then replace the -on with an -a.

The easiest way to understand this is with an example, so empecemos ! (Let’s make a start!)

To create the imperfect subjunctive form of the verb hablar begin by thinking back to its preterite ( simple past tense ) conjunctions and call to mind the third-person conjugation of this verb.

The verb you should have in your mind is hablaron .

Next, take the verb hablaron , remove the -on from the suffix, and replace it with the letter -a.

What you should end up with is the verb hablara .

NOTE - hablara, as the imperfect subjunctive verb, does not feature an accent mark over the final -a.

The lack of the accent mark distinguishes it from the third-person future tense verb hablará (meaning he, she, or it will speak).

Let’s now look at a verb table to see how to conjugate imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs in more detail.

You may have noticed that the verbs ending in an IR and ER ( existir and correr ) have different stems than the AR verb ( hablar ).

This difference is because the third-person preterite verb forms of the IR and ER verbs are different from the AR verbs.

Instead of the suffix -aron , in the third-person preterite form the verbs that end in IR and ER have the suffix - ieron .

How to use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive

There are a few rules that can guide you when you use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive.

Here are three rules to consider.

Use the imperfect subjunctive if a sentence contains the word si , has two parts and describes an unlikely situation; use the imperfect subjunctive after the word si .

Si tuviera tiempo suficiente, estudiaría más idiomas.

Si hubiera feliz, yo estaría más feliz.

Use the imperfect subjunctive if a sentence contains the word como si , has two parts and describes a hypothetical situation.

Cantas como si fueras un cantante profesional.

Hablamos como si estuviéramos discutiendo.

2 types of compound Spanish subjunctive verbs

Now comes the more challenging part - there are two types of compound Spanish subjunctive verbs you will also study in an upper intermediate Spanish course.

These verbs include the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo and the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo .

When should you use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo ?

We use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo when the subordinate clause’s action has finished and happened before the action in the main clause (and the mood of the sentence or statement is hopeful, hypothetical or doubtful).

In this case, the sentence should have two clauses and two actions; the verb in the main clause can describe a present action, and the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo compound verb should describe a past action that happened near the present moment.

Let’s consider two examples to understand when to use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo .

Deseamos que la sorpresa haya sido un éxito.

¡Ojalá que el trabajo haya ido bien!

In these examples, the sentences contain two parts.

They also reflect a hopeful mood and contain the relative pronoun que .

The subordinate clause happens before the action in the main clause.

For instance, the “surprise has been a success” takes place before the speakers hope it is successful.

How do you conjugate the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo ?

Since the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo is a compound subjunctive that contains the verb haya and a second verb in its participle form, to conjugate it, you first need to know how to conjugate the haber in the present tense subjunctive form.

Let’s look at how to do this.

You should use the correctly conjugated form of the verb haber before the second verb in the compound subjunctive.

For instance, if “he” or “she” is the subject of the subordinate clause, use haya .

If “we” is the subject of the subordinate clause, use hayamos .

As you must use these verbs before a participle verb to form the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo , look at the section below to learn how to form participle verbs.

Forming participle verbs for the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo

Remembering the required suffixes to form participle verbs for the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo is key.

A participle verb will end in -ado or -ido depending on the ending of the infinitive verb form.

If the infinitive verb you want to use has an -ar suffix, you should replace this with -ado to form the past participle verb.

If the infinitive verb you want to use has an -er or -ir suffix, you should replace this with -ido.

Check the table below to see how this works with some examples.

To form the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo , you must combine the auxiliary verb haya with the participle verb.

Me decepciona que no haya habido el tratamiento hasta ahora.

Me alegro de que no haya ganado el Deportivo.

When should you use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ?

We use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo to express an action that precedes another action in the past when the sentence has a doubtful, hypothetical or hopeful mood.

You will notice that the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo features in sentences with two parts, which are separated by the relative pronoun que .

Let’s look at two examples to see how this works.

Me deprimó que me hubieras insultado antes.

Le dio pena que no lo hubieran invitado a la fiesta antes.

Can you spot the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo in these sentences? The main two compound verb examples are hubieras insultado and hubieron invitado .

How do you conjugate the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ?

The pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo is another compound verb that requires two verbs: the auxiliary verb haber in the imperfect subjunctive form and a second verb in the past participle form.

Here’s how to conjugate the verb haber in the imperfect subjunctive form

Always use the correctly conjugated form of the verb haber before the second verb in the compound subjunctive.

For instance, if the subject of your sentence is “they” or ellos , use hubieran .

If the subject of your sentence is “all of you” or vosotros , use hubierais .

Since the second part of the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo requires a past participle verb, use the same method described in the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo section for past participles to conjugate it.

Comparing the pluscuamperfecto with the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo

So, what is the difference between the pluscuamperfecto and the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ? Let’s compare two sentences to understand this better.

Pensé que mi familia había llegado a tiempo.

Dudaba mucho que mi amigo hubiera llegado a tiempo.

The main difference is the mood of the sentences.

Even though both sentences contain two clauses and the relative pronoun que , we use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo for situations where we doubt or hope something has happened (and the thing we hope or doubt has happened before the action of hoping).

Spanish subjunctive: What to remember

The Spanish subjunctive can be difficult to understand but remember:

You should use it when the mood of the sentence is doubtful, hopeful or hypothetical.

With time and practise, you’ll grasp the Spanish subjunctive mood.

Keep at it! 😊

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Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

7  Comments

May 30, 2019

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Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

Get the PDF ( + MP3!)

No time to read now? Then you might opt to get the list in PDF instead. If you sign up to the newsletter, you'll get the list of Spanish essay phrases in PDF format plus free audio files. 

Spanish Essay Phrases

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

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A Simple Guide to Master the Spanish Subjunctive

The Spanish subjunctive mood is crucial for delivering messages as simple as wishing a person a good day or giving advice. In short, this verb mood is fundamental to understanding and communicating effectively. So, in this subjunctive Spanish guide, you’ll find key information about this mood. 

Here is what we’ll cover: 

• Subjunctive formula 
• When Not to Use the Subjunctive
• Present 
• Compound tenses
• Downloadable PDF

How & When to Use the Subjunctive in Spanish

The Spanish subjunctive mood refers to subjective and hypothetical situations. In simple words, el subjuntivo allows us to: 

• Express hopes and wishes
• Give advice or suggestions
• Describe qualities of unknown people or things
• Request or demand something
• Express feelings and emotions about an event
• Communicate doubts and possibilities 

Unlike the indicative mood that focuses on certainty and reality, the subjunctive in Spanish is highly hypothetical . Check these examples: 

Ojalá tengas un buen viaje.  I hope you have a good trip. 

Les recomendé que vieran esta película.  I recommended them to watch this movie. 

Busco una casa que sea grande y accesible.  I’m looking for a house that is big and affordable. 

Señora, es necesario que se quede quieta.  Ma’am, you need to stay still. 

Me da tristeza que ustedes no se lleven bien.  It makes me sad that you don’t get along . 

No creo que David vaya a venir.  I don’t think David is going to come. 

Let’s go over some of these sentences. The underlined words are Spanish verbs or phrases in indicative form that express wishes, doubts, feelings, demands, etc. The bolded ones (subjunctive) refer to the action or person towards which we direct this subjectivity.

Take sentence #2 as an example. In this statement, we must use the Spanish subjunctive because, despite my suggestions, we have no way of knowing if my friends are actually going to watch what I said. 

This logic applies to all applications except when referring to emotions (sentence #5), which expresses how someone’s action makes you feel. 

Take Note : WEIRDO is a popular acronym that provides a simplified explanation of the Spanish subjunctive. However, don’t forget that you must also use this mood to describe characteristics of unknown people or places.  

Me gustaría tener un celular que tome buenas fotos.  I would like to have a phone that takes good pictures. 

Bethany quiere un novio que sepa cocinar.  Bethany wants a boyfriend that knows how to cook. 

Formula for the subjunctive

In Spanish, sentences that use the subjunctive mood follow a distinctive structure –they have a main and a subordinate clause . In simple terms, subjunctive sentences have two verbs and two subjects.  

This structure conveys that a person wishes, feels a certain way, suggests, doubts, or demands that someone else does or has something. 

Here is the formula for the Spanish subjunctive: 

[Indicative verb] + que + [verb in subjunctive]

Yo quería que ustedes me ayudaran .  I wanted you guys to help me . 

Nos alegra que estés bien.  We are happy that you are okay. 

¿Quién crees que le haya dicho a Mary? Who do you think told Mary? 

Remember that Spanish subject pronouns can be omitted in a sentence since the conjugation already conveys who the subject is. Also, notice that the verb in subjunctive mood often matches the tense used in the main clause (verb #1). 

Simply put, if the first part of the sentence is in present indicative tense, the verb in subjunctive form must also be in present form.

The Spanish subjunctive is also formed with impersonal expressions . These triggers use a similar formula: 

[Impersonal expression] + que + [verb in subjunctive]

Es importante que leas las instrucciones.  It’s important that you read the instructions. 

Señora, no es necesario que regrese .  Ma’am, you don’t need to come back . 

Ojalá is a conjunction or interjection that triggers the subjunctive in Spanish, and it often omits the word ‘que’: 

Ojalá puedan venir.  I hope you can come. 

Take Note : Reflexive verbs in subjunctive form follow the same conjugation pattern as non-reflexive verbs. However, don’t forget to place the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb – E.g. Espero que te duermas temprano. 

When Not to Use the Subjunctive in Spanish

So, now that you know when to use the subjunctive in Spanish, let’s see when you should not use this mood. 

Use the Spanish indicative mood instead of the subjunctive to express certainty or objectivity . In short, to refer to real actions or events that are perceived as factual. Check these sentences: 

María no es muy amable.  Maria is not very nice. 

Espero que hoy María sea un poco más amable.  I hope that today Maria is nicer. 

Notice that the first example is a description based on facts and reality . We describe how Maria is based on our experience. However, the second example (in the present subjunctive ) conveys hope about her behavior; like any hope, there’s no certainty that it will happen. 

As you know, sentences with the subjunctive are formed with two subjects or an impersonal expression. However, the subjunctive is not used if those hopes, demands, advice, or doubts are directed toward the same subject. In such cases, you must use an infinitive verb . 

[Verb conjugated] + [infinitive]

Espero llegar temprano.  I hope I arrive early. 

Ustedes necesitan descansar más.  You guys need to rest more. 

Sandra quería viajar con su familia.  Sandra wanted to travel with her family. 

Take Note: The subjunctive is one of the three Spanish verb moods . Although they’re often confused, the indicative and subjunctive express different meanings. So, you should take the time to understand when to use subjunctive or indicative in Spanish . 

Spanish Subjunctive Tenses & Conjugations

There are four main subjunctive Spanish tenses used in the modern-day Spanish language: 

Simple subjunctive tenses: 

• Present subjunctive
• Imperfect or past subjunctive 

Compound subjunctive tenses: 

• Present perfect subjunctive
• Past perfect subjunctive

Let’s check the endings that you’ll use for each tense. 

Take Note : The subjunctive mood also has future and future perfect tenses. However, these tenses have fallen out of use and, as a result, you shouldn’t worry about learning them. 

Present subjunctive 

The Spanish present subjunctive is used to express current wishes, demands, emotions, and doubts and describes unknown people or things in the present. The regular endings to form this tense are: 

Ojalá que Juan compre más galletas.  I hope Juan buys more cookies. 

Ven a verme cuando termines .  Come to see me when you finish . 

Check the rules to conjugate the Spanish present subjunctive since these forms are heavily based in the present indicative. 

Imperfect subjunctive

On top of expressing past hopes, skepticism, and suggestions, the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish is also used to express politeness. The past subjunctive endings for regular and irregular verbs are: 

Esperaba que tuvieras tiempo de ayudarme.  I was hoping that you had time to help me. 

Mis amigos querían que fuésemos a correr.  My friends wanted us to go running. 

As you can probably tell, the past perfect subjunctive conjugation leverages the past preterite tense forms. 

Take Note: The past imperfect subjunctive tense has two different endings (conjugation models) depending on whether you’re using Latin American or Castilian Spanish. Check out the guide on this tense to learn more.

Compound tenses 

The compound forms of the Spanish subjunctive are formed with the same elements – the auxiliary verb haber and a past participle . 

Although they’re formed with the same elements, these forms have different purposes. 

The Spanish present perfect subjunctive conveys current emotions, wishes, or uncertainty about a past action relevant to the present. For instance: 

No creo que Luis se haya enojado contigo.  I don’t think Luis got upset with you. 

Dudo que los niños hayan limpiado su cuarto.  I doubt that the kids have cleaned their room. 

On the other hand, the past perfect subjunctive in Spanish allows you to express regrets and hypotheses about things that could have happened: 

Ojalá me hubieras dicho antes.  I wish you had told me sooner. 

Si hubieras ido , te habrías divertido. If you had gone , you would have had fun.  

Key Points: Subjunctive Rules

The subjunctive mood is crucial for communicating clearly and effectively in Spanish. Here are some important rules and main ideas to remember: 

• The Spanish subjunctive conveys the speaker’s subjectivity . 
• As a result, it’s used to express uncertainty, hopes, feelings about an action or behavior, requests, and suggestions, and describe the qualities of an unknown person or place.
• The actions expressed with the subjunctive are hypothetical because they have not occurred, and we do not know if they will happen. 
• Sentences with the subjunctive use two subjects and two verbs . 
• Subjunctive statements express that someone wishes, suggests, or has a certain emotion or doubts about another person’s actions, behaviors, or states. 
• We must use an infinitive verb when the hopes, needs, or recommendations are directed toward the same subject . 
• The subjunctive mood in Spanish has four main tenses : present, past, present perfect, and past perfect. 

Subjunctive Spanish Additional Resources

For many Spanish learners, the subjunctive mood can be challenging. To master it, you should first know what Spanish verb moods are and how they work. Understanding the differences between indicative and subjunctive can help you familiarize yourself with the applications of this mood. 

Also, identifying phrases and verbs that trigger the subjunctive will allow you to quickly know when to use the subjunctive. Finally, I encourage you to check our conjugation hub page so that you can practice the conjugation endings for the subjunctive forms. 

Download the Spanish Subjunctive Mood PDF

The Spanish subjunctive mood is by far the most difficult mood and set of tenses for most learners to understand and use in their daily conversations. I’ve created a PDF for this guide you can download for free to review whenever you need. It has all the graphics, key points, and rules for how and when to use the subjunctive in Spanish

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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Spanish Subjunctive

Relevant lessons:, explanation.

The subjunctive ( el subjuntivo ) is one of the three moods in Spanish, the other two being the indicative and the imperative . The subjunctive is used to express desires , doubts , wishes , conjectures , emotions , and possibilities . The subjunctive mood includes many of the same verb tenses as the indicative mood , including the perfect , the past , and the future , which is rarely used in modern Spanish, but good to know for literature.

The subjunctive is often compared with the indicative . Check out our comparison here!

Articles on the Different Subjunctive Tenses

• Spanish Present Subjunctive
• Spanish Present Perfect Subjunctive
• Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive
• Past Perfect Subjunctive Forms
• Spanish Future Subjunctive
• Spanish Future Perfect Subjunctive

Elements of the Subjunctive

There are often three main parts to a subjunctive sentence :

1. Two Different Subjects

Subjunctive sentences often have one subject in the main/independent clause and one in the noun/dependent clause.

2. A Conjunction

Subjunctive sentences often have parts linked by a conjunction , such as que ( that ), aunque ( although ), a no ser que ( unless ) or a fin de que ( so that ).

3. Two Verbs: One WEIRDO and One Subjunctive

Subjunctive sentences often contain a WEIRDO verb (see uses below) that signals that the verb in the next clause will be in the subjunctive.

The acronym WEIRDO stands for: Wishes , Emotions , Impersonal expressions , Recommendations , Doubt/Denial , and Ojalá .

W ishes and Desires with the Subjunctive

Wishing, wanting, demanding, desiring, expecting, ordering, and preferring all fall into the category of wishes . Learn more about wishes and desires here .

E xpressing Emotions with the Subjunctive

Being annoyed, angry, happy, regretful, sad, scared, or surprised all fall into this category. Learn more about expressing emotions here .

I mpersonal Expressions with the Subjunctive

Impersonal expressions work a lot like emotions in that they express someone’s opinion or value judgment. They focus on the subjectivity of the statement and not on the actual truth or reality of the situation. Learn more about impersonal expressions here .

R ecommendations and Requests with the Subjunctive

When a person recommends, suggests, wants, or asks another person to do (or not do) something, the subjunctive is used. Learn more about recommendations and requests here .

D oubt and Denial with the Subjunctive

To doubt or deny something is to question its connection with reality or to express that it is hypothetical. Learn more about doubts and denial here .

Ojalá with the Subjunctive

Ojalá means I hope/pray to God , God willing , I hope , I wish , or if only . Learn more about ojalá here.

Learn more about the subjunctive with the following articles:

• Expressing Doubt and Denial with the Subjunctive
• Expressing Uncertainty or Conditional Outcomes with the Subjunctive
• Expressing Recommendations and Requests with the Subjunctive
• Impersonal Expressions with the Subjunctive
• Present Perfect Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
• Sequence of Tenses in Spanish

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• 20 Most Common Subjunctive Triggers in Spanish

In your Spanish-learning process, chances are that you’ve faced some challenges while dealing with the subjunctive. The secret to mastering this mood is to simply start using it, instead of trying to understand exactly how it works. And you can achieve this by learning the subjunctive triggers! 

Sometimes grammar rules are too dry. If you have a chance to put what you’re learning into practice immediately, you’ll understand it better. 

Remember that scene from the film Blast from the Past starring Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone? The father (Fraser’s character) explains the rules of baseball to his son Adam while living in a nuclear bunker, but Adam can’t seem to understand. One day, when he leaves the bunker and watches a baseball game, he finally gets it.    

He had to see it to understand it. Same thing with the subjunctive: you’ve got to see it to understand it. What’s more, you’ve got to use it to understand it. For that reason, today we’ll learn 20 of the most commonly used subjunctive triggers in Spanish to help you master this tricky mood and start using it today.

Join more than 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish! Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today. ➡️

The Subjunctive in Spanish 

In Spanish, three moods exist to conjugate verbs: indicative, subjunctive, and imperative. The subjunctive is the one that causes headaches to Spanish learners, as it deals with vague and non-existent situations.

Here at Homeschool Spanish Academy (HSA), we have deeply explored the question of what the subjunctive is and how it works in a three-part series . I strongly recommend reading it if you haven’t done so yet. 

What Is a Subjunctive Trigger? 

Subjunctive triggers are words that force the verb in a sentence to be used in its subjunctive form. Sometimes, these subjunctive triggers already contain the subjunctive verb within them.

In other words, when you see one of these subjunctive triggers, you must use the subjunctive. Learning these words and phrases is a useful practice to help Spanish students master the use of the subjunctive mood.

Subjunctive Triggers vs Subjunctive Phrases

In a previous post, I provided our readers with 25 common subjunctive phrases to use in real-life conversations in Spanish. Learning complete phrases is like learning new words. It increases your vocabulary, and you can practice adding them to your conversations when needed. 

Learning subjunctive triggers is different. They are not “ready-to-use” phrases, but rather words that help you identify the use of this mood. It happens with the Spanish word ojalá which means “God willing” or “hopefully.” Every time you see or hear that word, you can be sure that you’re in the land of the non-existent, and you should switch to the subjunctive mood. 

Both subjunctive phrases and subjunctive triggers are useful, the former as ready-to-use blocks for your conversations, the latter as clues or warnings to switch to subjunctive and as formulas that allow you to create your own sentences in Spanish. 

20 Common Subjunctive Triggers in Spanish

Now let’s learn some of the most frequently used subjunctive triggers in Spanish. The conjugated verb in subjunctive form is in bold . 

1. Quiero que – I want that

This is one of the most common subjunctive triggers in Spanish, as we use the verb querer to express wishes and desires, which are by definition the realm of the subjunctive. 

Quiero que gane el Real Madrid. I want Real Madrid to win. 

2. Ojalá – Hopefully

This word of Arabic origin that, as mentioned before, means “God willing.” However, in practice, it translates as “hopefully.” 

Ojalá can be followed by a verb or a noun. Let’s see an example of each case: 

Ojalá pierda el Real Madrid. I hope Real Madrid lose. ( ojalá + verb)

Ojalá que Ronaldo meta un gol.   I hope Ronaldo scores. ( ojalá + noun)

3. Evitar que – To avoid that

Quería evitar que se rompiera el florero.   I wanted to avoid breaking the vase.  

4. Necesitar que – To need that

With this trigger, you use the subjunctive when there’s doubt as to something’s existence. 

Necesitamos un presidente que sea honesto. We need a president who’s honest. 

5. A menos que – Unless 

Este teléfono es para ti, a menos que prefieras otro regalo. This phone is for you, unless you prefer another gift. 

6. Antes de que – Before 

Me voy a casa antes de que empiece a llover. I’m going home before it starts raining. 

7. Después de que – After 

Después de que acabe la película, pido la pizza. After the movie ends, I’ll order the pizza. 

8. Tener miedo de que – To be afraid that

Tengo miedo de que te vayas . I’m afraid that you may leave.  

9. Para que – In order to, for 

Te compré este libro para que lo leas.   I bought you this book for you to read it. 

10. Tal vez, quizás – Maybe

Tal vez esto sea lo mejor para todos. Maybe this is the best for everyone. 

11. Más vale que – It’s better that

Más vale que pongas atención. It’s better that you pay attention. 

12. Preferir que – To prefer that

Prefiero que no me compres nada. I prefer that you don’t buy me anything.

13. Siento (mucho) que – To be (very) sorry that

The verb sentir in Spanish means “to feel.” However, when accompanied by mucho (“very”), it’s used to express that you’re sorry or that you regret something. 

Siento mucho que pienses así. I’m very sorry that you think that way.

14. Me molesta que – It bothers me that

Me molesta que digas eso de mí. It bothers me that you say that about me. 

15. Hacer gracia que – It’s funny that

Me hace gracia que lo menciones. It’s funny that you mention it. 

16. Alegrarse de que – To be pleased that

Me alegro de que estés aquí. I’m pleased that you’re here. 

17. Insistir en que – To insist on

Insisto en que te pongas la vacuna. I insist on you getting the vaccine.

18. Dudar que – To doubt that

Dudo que él me escuche. I doubt that he listens to me. 

19. Estar… – To be…

The verb “to be” in Spanish translates as both estar and ser . Each one has different subjunctive triggers depending on the words that follow it. In the case of estar , you should use the subjunctive when it’s followed by:

• contento de que – happy that 
• molesto de que – annoyed that
• triste de que – sad that
• a favor de que – in favor of
• en contra de que – against that

Estoy contento de que vinieras. I’m happy that you came. 

Estamos en contra de que lastimen animales.   We’re against hurting animals. 

20. Es… – It’s…

The other Spanish “to be” verb is ser . We use ser in impersonal expressions that follow the formula es + adjective + que . The adjectives that trigger the subjunctive with this formula include: 

• absurdo – absurd
• bueno – good
• difícil – hard
• dudoso – doubtful
• fácil – easy, likely
• importante – important
• increíble – incredible
• interesante – interesting
• justo – fair
• malo – (too) bad
• mejor – better if
• natural – natural
• posible – possible
• ridículo – ridiculous
• una lástima – a pity

Es bueno que hagas ejercicio. It’s good that you exercise. 

Es una lástima que te vayas. It’s a pity that you’re going. 

Practice with Subjunctive Triggers Today

The subjunctive is a concept that becomes easier with practice, and these 20 subjunctive triggers give you a lot of flexibility to create your own expressions in Spanish and start mastering this mood.

Sign up for a free trial class with one of our native Spanish-speaking teachers, and start practicing your subjunctive triggers today! You’ll be thrilled by how quickly you can progress and attain fluency in Spanish.

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“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

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