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Present SubjunctiveRegular Verbs

Nearly all verbs in the present subjunctive are formed the same way. There are three steps

in this formation:

1. Take the YO form of the present indicative.2. Remove the O ending.

3. Add the following endings:

-ar verbs: -e, -emos-es, -is

-e -en

-er verbs:

-ir

-a -amos

-as -is

-a -an

tomar comer escribirtome coma escribatomes comas escribastome coma escribatomemos comamos escribamos

tomis comis escribistomen coman escriban

Caber quepo quepa, quepas, quepa, quepamos, quepis, quepanCoger cojo coja, cojas, coja, cojamos, cojis, cojanConocer conozco conozca, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcis, conozcan

Destruir destruyo destruya, destruyas, destruya, destruyamos, destruyanDistinguir dinstingo distinga, distingas, distinga, distingamos, distingis, distinganSalir salgo salga, salgas, salga, salgamos, salgis, salgan

NOTE: Present tense stem changes will still occur in all forms EXCEPT nosotros & vosotros.O > UE PODER pueda, puedas, pueda, podamos, podis, puedanE > IE PENSAR piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, pensis, piensenE > I PEDIR pida, pidas, pida,pidamos, pidis, pidan

(*see below for preterite ir verb stem changing notes)U > UE JUGAR juegue, juegues, juegue, juguemos, juguis, jueguen

*(see below for gar verbs)

NOTE: There is no stem change in the nosotros or vosotros forms, except in ir stem-changingverbs. With these verbs, the following changes will take place:

O > UE verbs: O changes to U. durmamos; durmisE > IE verbs: E changes to I. mintamos; mintis

E > I verbs: E changes to I. pidamos; pidis

NOTE: -CAR, -GAR, - ZAR verbs

1. Go to the PRETERITE indicative yo2. Drop the accent mark3. What you are left with is the subjunctive yo4. Keep any present tense stem changes *except inthe nosotros & vosotros forms

1. Go to the YO

2. Drop the O

3. Flip Flop your vowels

CAR -- > QUE

GAR --> GUE

ZAR --> CE

TOCARtoque toquemostoques toquistoque toquen

EMPEZARempiece empecemosempieces empecis

empiece empiecen

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Expression of Desire: Verbs in the main clause which express a wish, apreference, a request, etc., will set up the need for the subjunctive in thesubordinate clause. In these situations, the subject tells what he or she would liketo happen: whether it will actually happen is not certain.

Commonly used verbs of desire that require the use of the Subjunctive:

esperar to hope preferir (e>ie) - to prefer

exigir to demand querer (e>ie) - to wantinsisitir en to insist (on) rogar (o>ue) - to pray, beg

ojal God willing; sugerir (e>ie) to suggest

I strongly hopepedir (e>ie) to request

Examples:

l prefiere que yo hable. Ellos esperan que podamosbailar.He prefers that I speak. They hope that we can dance.

Insistimos en que tengas el dinero. Ella pide que sirvan el caf.We insist that you have the money. She requests that you all serve the coffee.

Quiero que Juan estudie. Espero que ellos vivan en esa casa.I want John to study. -- I hope that they live in that house.Literally: I want that John study.

1. Ignorance: Verbs in the main clause that express ignorance or doubt will setup the need for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. In these situations,the subject acknowledges uncertainty or ignorance of the outcome of the actiondescribed in the subordinate clause.

Commonly used verbs of ignorance that require the use of the Subjunctive:

Dudar que to doubt thatNo creer que* - to not believe thatNo estar convencido / a de que - to not be convinced thatNo estar seguro / a de que to not be sure thatNo imaginarse que to not imagine thatNo parecer que To not seem thatNo pensar que to not think thatNo suponer que To not suppose that

Temer que to suspect, fear that

*Note: While the verbs listed in the negative will set up the use of the subjunctive, these sameverbs in the affirmative will set up the indicative in the subordinate clause.

Affirmative / indicative: Negative/subjunctiveYo creo que Juan tiene el dinero.

I think that John has the money.Yo no creo que Juan tenga el dinero.

I dont think that John has the money.

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3. Impersonal Opinion: An impersonal expression in the main clause whichexpresses emotion, uncertainty, unreality, or an indirect or implied command willset up the need for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause

conviene que it is advisable thates fantstico que it is fantastic thates importante que it is important thates imposible que it is impossible that

es improbable que it is unlikely thates increble que it is incredible thates (una) lstima que it is a pity that; it is a shame thates mejor que it is better thates necessario que it is necessary thates posible que it is possible thates probable que it is probable thates preferible que it is preferable thates ridculo que it is ridiculous thates terrible que it is terrible thatms vale que it is better that

ojal (que) I hope (that); if only he (it, they, etc.) would, couldmight; God willing (that)pueder ser que it may be that

examples:

Es una lstima que yo est enfermo.Its a pity that Im sick.

Es necesario que te vayas ahora.It is necessary that you go now.

Ojal que no llueva maana.I hope it doesnt rain tomorrow.

Es mejor que comamos el apio.Its better that we eat the celery.

Es importante que miren este programa.Its important that you all watch this program.

Conviene que ellos sepan su direccin.Its advisable that they know their address.

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There are six verbs that do not follow the format described for formation in thepresent subjunctive. DISHES

Dar Ir Saber Haber Estar Ser

d vaya sepa haya est seades vayas sepas hayas ests seasd vaya sepa haya est sea

demos vayamos sepamos hayamos estemos seamosdeis vayis sepis hayis estis seisden vayan sepan hayan estn sean