Present subjunctive: forms
B1Grammar path · Lesson 44 of 86 · Stage B1 · The subjunctive
You need the present subjunctive whenever one person wants, hopes, doubts or feels something about what someone else does: Quiero que vengas. It describes actions that are wished for, uncertain or not yet real, not facts. To build it, take the yo form of the present, drop the -o and switch the vowel: -ar verbs take -e (hablo → hable), while -er and -ir verbs take -a (como → coma, tengo → tenga). Learners most often mix it up with the ordinary present: habla states a fact, while hable appears after triggers like quiero que or ojalá.
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
quiero que + sujeto + raíz de yo + -e (-ar) / -a (-er, -ir)no + quiero que + sujeto + verbo en subjuntivo¿quieres que + verbo en subjuntivo?When to use it
Wishes and requests
After verbs like querer, esperar or pedir + que, when the two clauses have different subjects, the second verb goes into the subjunctive.
Emotions and doubt
When you express a feeling or a doubt about something, the verb after que takes the subjunctive.
Purpose and things not yet done
After para que you always use the subjunctive; after cuando or antes de que you use it when talking about the future.
Present subjunctive: swap the vowel (-ar → -e, -er / -ir → -a)
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
The two basically swap vowels: the ordinary present is habla, come, while the subjunctive is hable, coma. If you state a fact, use the ordinary present; if the verb follows a wish, doubt or emotion with que, use the subjunctive.
Imperfect subjunctiveChoose by the main verb: if it is in the present or future (quiero que), use the present subjunctive vengas; if it is in the past or conditional (quería que), use the imperfect subjunctive vinieras.
Frequently asked questions
How do you form the present subjunctive?
Take the yo form of the present, drop the -o and add the opposite vowel endings: -ar verbs take -e (hablo → hable), -er/-ir verbs take -a (vivo → viva).
Which irregular verbs must I memorize in the present subjunctive?
The main six are ser → sea, ir → vaya, estar → esté, haber → haya, saber → sepa and dar → dé.
Why does tengo become tenga?
Because the subjunctive is built on the yo form, so any yo irregularity carries over: tengo → tenga, hago → haga, conozco → conozca.
Does ojalá always take the subjunctive?
Yes. ojalá is always followed by the subjunctive, with or without que: Ojalá llueva mañana.
Why is it busque and not busce for buscar?
To keep the same sound, verbs ending in -car change to -que, -gar to -gue and -zar to -ce: busque, llegue, empiece.
How do dormir and pedir work in the nosotros form?
Stem-changing -ir verbs keep a small change in nosotros: durmamos, pidamos, even though the ordinary present is dormimos, pedimos.