Impersonal Expressions with the Subjunctive

Subjects | Spanish Notes | Spanish Verbs & Tenses

Introduction

⇒ The subjunctive (el subjuntivo) is one of three moods in Spanish, and it is often used to talk about emotions.

WEIRDO

⇒ Many of the verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive fit into the acronym WEIRDO: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial, and Ojalá

⇒ In these notes, we're going to take a look at impersonal expressions.

Impersonal Expressions

⇒ Impersonal expressions work a lot like emotions in that they express someone’s opinion or value judgement.

⇒ They focus on the subjectivity of the statement and not on the actual truth or reality of the situation.

  • Almost any phrase using the formula es + adjective + que can be an impersonal expression as long as it doesn’t state a truth (like es verdad que), certainty (like es cierto que), or fact (like es un hecho que). Phrases beginning with these statements use the indicative.
  • Phrases beginning with the negated forms of the above phrases (no es verdad que, etc.) use the subjunctive.

⇒ Check out these examples.

Es necesario que Jaime lea este libro.
It is necessary that Jaime read this book.
Es extraño que reciba un regalo porque no es mi cumpleaños.
It’s odd for me to receive a gift because it isn’t my birthday.
No es cierto que mi hermano venga.
It is not certain that my brother is coming.
Es probable que vayamos a la playa.
It is probable that we are going to the beach.

Useful Impersonal Expressions

⇒ The table below shows some useful impersonal expressions you can use with the subjunctive.

Spanish English Spanish English
es agradable it is nice es estupendo it is great
es necesario it is necessary es urgente it is urgent
es bueno it is good es extraño it is strange
es probable it is probable es vergonzoso it is a disgrace
es curioso it is curious/weird es importante it is important
es raro it is rare/strange no es cierto it is not certain
es dudoso it is doubtful no es hecho it is not a fact
es esencial it is essential es malo it is bad
es recomendable it is recommended es increíble it is incredible
es una lástima it is a pity no es verdad it is not true

⇒ You can find more on the differences between the subjunctive and the indicative here!