espanido

Present Subjunctive Tense in SpanishHow to Conjugate Verbs

The present subjunctive tense in Spanish is essential for learners looking to express emotions, doubts, or wishes. It's a mood used frequently in both spoken and written language, making it an important part of Spanish grammar.

What is the present subjunctive tense?

The subjunctive mood in Spanish is used to express things that are uncertain, hypothetical, or subjective, such as desires, doubts, or possibilities. It's different from the indicative, which is used to express facts and reality.

To learn more about the indicative tense in Spanish, check out this guide.

When to use the present subjunctive

The present subjunctive tense is used in a variety of situations, most commonly to express:

  • Desires: "Espero que tengas un buen día." (I hope you have a good day.)
  • Emotions: "Me alegra que estés aquí." (I'm glad you're here.)
  • Doubt: "Dudo que venga mañana." (I doubt he’ll come tomorrow.)
  • Uncertainty: "Es posible que llueva hoy." (It’s possible that it will rain today.)

How to conjugate regular verbs in the present subjunctive

Regular verbs in Spanish follow specific patterns in the subjunctive mood. Let's take a look at how to conjugate -ar, -er, and -ir verbs in the present subjunctive.

Subjunctive of -ar verbs (e.g., hablar)

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Hable
Hables
Él/Ella/Usted Hable
Nosotros Hablemos
Vosotros Habléis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Hablen

-er verbs in the subjunctive (e.g., comer)

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Coma
Comas
Él/Ella/Usted Coma
Nosotros Comamos
Vosotros Comáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Coman

-ir verbs subjunctive conjugation (e.g., vivir)

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Viva
Vivas
Él/Ella/Usted Viva
Nosotros Vivamos
Vosotros Viváis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Vivan

Irregular verbs in the present subjunctive

Some verbs don’t follow the regular conjugation patterns. These include haber, tener, saber, dar, ser, and ir. Let’s take a look at their conjugations.

Conjugation of haber subjunctive

Haber

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Haya
Hayas
Él/Ella/Usted Haya
Nosotros Hayamos
Vosotros Hayáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Hayan

Conjugation of tener subjunctive

Tener

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Tenga
Tengas
Él/Ella/Usted Tenga
Nosotros Tengamos
Vosotros Tengáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tengan

Conjugation of saber subjunctive

Saber

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Sepa
Sepas
Él/Ella/Usted Sepa
Nosotros Sepamos
Vosotros Sepáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Sepan

Conjugation of dar subjunctive

Dar

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Dé
Des
Él/Ella/Usted Dé
Nosotros Demos
Vosotros Déis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Den

Conjugation of ser in present subjunctive

Ser

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Sea
Seas
Él/Ella/Usted Sea
Nosotros Seamos
Vosotros Seáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Sean

Conjugation of subjunctive of ir

Ir

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Vaya
Vayas
Él/Ella/Usted Vaya
Nosotros Vayamos
Vosotros Vayáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Vayan

Conjugation of estar subjunctive

Estar

Pronoun Conjugation
Yo Esté
Estés
Él/Ella/Usted Esté
Nosotros Estemos
Vosotros Estéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Estén

What are the common trigger phrases for the present subjunctive

Common phrases that typically trigger the use of the present subjunctive are tied to expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, necessity, and uncertainty. Below are some examples with explanations to illustrate their usage.

Expressions of doubt

When there is doubt or disbelief about a situation.

  • No creo que él venga a la fiesta. (I don't think he'll come to the party.)
  • Dudo que ella diga la verdad. (I doubt that she is telling the truth.)
Expressions of emotion

When there is an emotional reaction to something.

  • Me alegra que tú estés aquí. (I'm glad that you are here.)
  • Lamento que él no pueda venir. (I'm sorry that he can't come.)
Expressions of desire

When someone wants, prefers, or wishes for something.

  • Quiero que tú limpies tu cuarto. (I want you to clean your room.)
  • Prefiero que nosotros hablemos mañana. (I prefer that we talk tomorrow.)
Expressions of necessity

When something is necessary or important.

  • Es necesario que ellos sepan la verdad. (It's necessary that they know the truth.)
  • Es importante que tú estudies mucho. (It's important that you study a lot.)
Expressions of uncertainty

When there is uncertainty or something is not known.

  • No estoy seguro de que ella venga. (I am not sure that she will come.)
  • Es posible que ellos salgan tarde. (It's possible that they will leave late.)

How to form negative and interrogative sentences in the present subjunctive

Understanding how to form negative and interrogative sentences using the present subjunctive can greatly enhance your Spanish communication. Let's explore the structure and common patterns for these types of sentences.

Negative sentences

To create a negative sentence in the present subjunctive, you simply place the word no before the verb. Here are a few examples:

  • No creo que él tenga razón. (I don't think he is right.)
  • No es posible que ella venga hoy. (It's not possible for her to come today.)
  • No pienso que nosotros podamos ir. (I don't think we can go.)
Interrogative sentences

Forming questions with the present subjunctive involves a slight change in tone and often inverting the subject and the verb, much like in English. Here are some examples:

  • ¿Crees que él tenga razón? (Do you think he is right?)
  • ¿Es posible que ella venga hoy? (Is it possible for her to come today?)
  • ¿Piensas que nosotros podamos ir? (Do you think we can go?)

These basic structures can help you form both negative and interrogative sentences using the present subjunctive more confidently.

Practice exercises

Practice Spanish subjunctive you've learned by creating sentences with conjugations for expressing emotions, doubts, and desires. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident you'll become!

Usage Examples Present Subjunctive

  • Dudo que tú puedas asistir. - I doubt that you can attend.
  • Dudo que ellos terminen a tiempo. - I doubt that they will finish on time.
  • Es importante que laves tus manos. - It is important that you wash your hands.
  • Ojalá que ganemos el partido. - I hope we win the game.
  • Espero que tengas un buen día. - I hope you have a good day.
  • No pienso que tú lo termines hoy. - I don't think you'll finish it today.
  • Espero que vengas a la fiesta mañana. - I hope you come to the party tomorrow.
  • Es necesario que tú lo veas. - It is necessary that you see it.
  • Es posible que tú necesites ayuda. - It is possible that you need help.
  • Tal vez ella compre ese libro. - Maybe she will buy that book.
  • Ojalá que tú puedas venir mañana. - I hope you can come tomorrow.
  • Prefiero que no fumes. - I prefer that you don't smoke.
  • Ojalá que llueva mañana. - I hope it rains tomorrow.
  • Es posible que tú lo pierdas. - It is possible that you may lose it.
  • Es probable que te guste. - It is likely that you will like it.
  • Es mejor que no comas tanto. - It's better that you don't eat so much.
  • Es posible que tengas razón. - It's possible that you are right.
  • Tal vez tú quieras comer algo. - Maybe you want to eat something.
  • Quiero que seas feliz. - I want you to be happy.
  • Me alegra que estés aquí. - I'm glad you're here.