⇒ The subjunctive (el subjuntivo) is one of three moods in Spanish, and it is often used to talk about emotions.
⇒ You can find more on the differences between the subjunctive and the indicative here.
⇒ Many of the verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive fit into the acronym WEIRDO: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial, and Ojalá
⇒ Although this topic doesn't fit into our fancy acronym, it's still important to learn. Let's get started!
⇒ This type of sentence describes what will happen if another action is completed.
⇒ These actions are conditional upon another action being completed, so the subjunctive is used to convey a sense of uncertainty.
⇒ Many phrases with conditional circumstances have a connecting phrase or conjunctive expressions which introduce time limitations, conditions, concessions, or results.
⇒ As you can see below, the the key action (the one that must be completed for the second action to occur) is in the subjunctive.
| Limpiaré el cuarto después de que salgan.I will clean the room after they leave. |
| Me hablará tan pronto como llegue.He will speak with me as soon as I arrive. |
| No iremos a la playa a menos que vayan también.We won’t go to the beach unless they go as well. |
⇒ These conjunctions or conjunctive expressions are often used in the type of sentence discussed in these notes.
⇒ These expressions introduce the idea of a time limitation.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| antes (de) que | before |
| hasta que | until |
| cuando | when |
| luego que | as soon as |
| después (de) que | after |
| siempre que | whenever |
| en cuanto | as soon as |
| tan pronto como | as soon as |
| mientras | while |
| Llámame antes de que vengan.Call me before they come. |
| Estemos aquí hasta que llegue nuestro amigo.Let’s stay here until our friend arrives. |
| Cuando vea a sus padres los saludaré.When I see your parents, I will tell them hello. |
⇒ These expressions introduce the idea of a condition, an action dependent on something else occurring.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| dado que | given that, since |
| a no ser que | unless |
| en caso (de) que | in case (that), if |
| a menos que | unless |
| sea que | whether, if |
| con/a condición de que | on condition that |
| siempre y cuando que | provided that, as long as |
| con tal (de) que | provided that |
| sin que | without |
| con tanto que | provided that |
| Debemos esperarnos aquí dado que regrese.We should wait here since she might return. |
| No voy, a no ser que vayas conmigo.I am not going unless you go with me. |
| Me iré, sea que se decidan a salir o no.I will leave whether they decide to go or not. |
⇒ These expressions introduce the idea of a concession, an action occurring despite something else.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| aunque | although, even if, though |
| aun cuando | even if, even when |
| a pesar de que | in spite of |
| por...que | however |
| Aunque sea un hombre difícil, sabe los negocios.Although he might be a difficult man, he knows business. |
| Aun cuando no tenga nada, no debe perder la esperanza.Even if you have nothing, you shouldn’t lose hope. |
| Por delicioso que sea, no quiero comerlo.However delicious it may be, I don’t want to eat it. |
⇒ Aunque and a pesar de que do not always take the subjunctive. If the conditional statement is considered hypothetical, you will use the subjunctive and if it is factual, you will use the indicative.
⇒ These expressions introduce the idea of a result.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| a fin de que | in order (that), so that, so as |
| de manera que | in order (that), so that, so as |
| de modo que | in order (that), so that, so as |
| para que | in order (that), so that, so as |
| que | in order (that), so that, so as |
| Vine para que tenga suficiente gente para el juego.I came so that you would have enough people for the game. |
| Voy a cerrar las ventanas a fin de que no entren moscas.I am going to close the windows so that flies won’t come in. |
| Estudiaré mucho de manera que entienda mejor el español.I will study a lot so I can understand Spanish better. |