EL SUBJUNTIVO

VS.

EL INDICATIVO

What is the subjunctive The subjunctive is a mood, it is used to

express a wish, hope, uncertainty or other similar attitudes toward a fact or an idea. Because it stresses the subject’s feelings about

the fact or idea, it is usually subjective about them. Examples: I wish he were here.

subject’s wish

subjunctive

The teacher insisted that the homework be neat

Subject’s wish subjunctive

What is meant by mood?In English….. MOOD is the grammatical term for a category of a verb used to

indicate the attitude of a speaker toward what he or she is saying Verbs can be divided into 3 moods.

The indicative mood (stated the action of a verb, facts) Robert studies Spanish (present) Anita was here. (past) They will arrive tomorrow (future)

The Imperative mood (commands) Robert study Spanish now! Anita, be home on time!

The subjunctive mood (expresses attitudes) The school requires that students study Spanish. I wish Anita were here. The teacher recommends that he do his homework.

In English…

The subjunctive verb is difficult to recognize because it is spelled like other tenses of the verb: the dictionary form and the simple past tense. It is also not used as frequently.

Indicative subjunctiveHe reads a lot. The course requires that he read a lot.

Indicative present to read

I am in Detroit right now. I wish I were in Madrid.

Indicative present to be.

Subjunctive (same as dictionary form)

Subjunctive

(same as the past tense)

En español…

The subjunctive is used frequently, unfortunately, English usage will rarely help you decide where or how to use it in Spanish.

So…….

we’ll brainstorm after to see how we can remember the subjunctive.

So… when do we use it?

The verb of wishing or wanting…Quiero que Uds. estudien mucho.

Querer (to want)

indicative

I want you to study a lot.

Word for word: I want that you study a lot.

estudiar (to study) subjunctive

OJO: It is not the verb or the

expressionitself that is put in the

subjunctive; it is the verb that follows.

Dudo que Roberto llegue hoy.

Dudar (to doubt)

indicative

I doubt that Robert will arrive today.

Word-for-word: I doubt that Robert arrives today.

An expression of doubt or uncertainty.

llegar (to arrive)

subjunctive

An impersonal expression (ES + adjective)

Es possible que compremos un coche nuevo.

It is possible that we will buy a new car.

word for word: It is possible that we buy a new car.

Es + adjective indicative

Comprar (to buy)

subjuntivo

A verb of advice or command

Te aconsejo que comas muchos vegetales.

I advise you to eat a lot of vegetables.

word-for-word: I advise that you eat a lot of vegetables.

Aconsejar (to advise)

indicative

Comer (to eat)

subjunctive

An expression of emotion

Siento que Julio esté enfermo.

I am sorry that Julio is sick.

Sentir (to feel)

indicative

estar (to be)

subjunctive

OJO:

• The tense of an English verb will rarely tell you if it should use the subjunctive in Spanish.

• As you have just seen with all of these examples, a variety of English verb forms can take the subjunctive in Spanish.

Do you know what tenses the examples are in? (in English) I want you to study a lot.

Quiero que Uds. estudien mucho. I advise you to eat a lot.

Te aconsejo que comas muchos vegetales.

I doubt that Roberto will arrive today.

Dudo que Roberto llegue hoy. It is possible that we will buy a new car.

Es posible que compremos un coche nuevo.

I’m sorry that Julio is sick.

Siento que Julio esté enfermo.

INFINITIVE

FUTURE

PRESENT

Review

Indicative OR subjunctive mood???

1) John wants Mary to go out with him.

2) I’m happy that you got a job.

3) My mother says that Tom is a good student.

4) The doctor suggests that you take two asprins.

5) It’s important for you to learn Spanish.

6) We doubt that he won the lottery.

7) I know that John lives in that house.

subjunctive

subjunctive

indicative

subj

subjunctive

subjunctive

indicative

The Subjunctive –Present Subjunctive REGULAR VERBS

The present subjunctive is formed by dropping the o of the first-person singular present indicative and adding the opposite vowel endings: e for ar verbs and a for ir/er verbs.

-ar -er -ir

Hablar Comer Vivir

yo hable coma viva

tύ hables comas vivas

él/ella/usted hable coma viva

nosotros hablemos comamos vivamos

vosotros habléis comáis viváis

ellos/ellas/ustedes hablen coman vivan