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Guide · B1 · 5 min read
The Spanish subjunctive, explained simply
The short answer
The subjunctive is the verb form Spanish uses after que when the sentence is about wishes, hopes, feelings, judgments, purpose or doubt, usually about someone or something else: quiero que vengas, espero que tengas suerte, no creo que sea verdad. To form it, take the yo form of the present, drop the -o and swap the vowel: hablo → hable, tengo → tenga.
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Key points
- It usually comes after que, when someone or something else does the second thing.
- Triggers: wanting, hoping, feeling, judging, purpose (para que) and doubt.
- Form it from the yo form: drop -o, swap the vowel (-ar verbs take e, -er and -ir verbs take a).
- Same person both times? Use the infinitive: Quiero viajar.
What the subjunctive does
The ordinary verb forms state facts. The subjunctive is for things that aren’t facts yet: what you want someone to do, what you hope happens, how you feel about it, what you doubt. It usually sits after que.
- Quiero que seas feliz.I want you to be happy.
- Espero que puedas venir.I hope you can come.
- No creo que tenga razón.I don’t think he is right.
The triggers
| When you… | Starts with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| want someone to | quiero que | Quiero que vayas a la fiesta. |
| hope | espero que, ojalá | Ojalá haga sol mañana. |
| feel something about it | me alegra que | Me alegra que estés aquí. |
| judge or recommend | es importante que | Es importante que hables con ella. |
| give a purpose | para que | Te lo explico para que lo entiendas. |
| doubt or deny | no creo que, dudo que | Dudo que venga hoy. |
Memory hookBelief takes the ordinary form, doubt takes the subjunctive: creo que es verdad but no creo que sea verdad.
How to form it in three steps
- Take the yo form of the present: hablo, tengo, hago.
- Drop the -o: habl-, teng-, hag-.
- Add the “opposite” vowel: -ar verbs take e, -er and -ir verbs take a: hable, tenga, haga.
| hablar | tener | |
|---|---|---|
| yo | hable | tenga |
| tú | hables | tengas |
| él / ella / usted | hable | tenga |
| nosotros | hablemos | tengamos |
| vosotros | habléis | tengáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablen | tengan |
A handful don’t follow the pattern, and they’re very common: sea (ser), esté (estar), vaya (ir), dé (dar), sepa (saber).
Same person, or people in general? Use the infinitive
The subjunctive needs a second subject: someone or something else doing the second thing. If it’s the same person, or you mean people in general, Spanish uses the infinitive instead.
- Quiero viajar.I want to travel. (same person)
- Es importante escuchar.It is important to listen. (people in general)
Quick check
1 Quiero que ___ a la fiesta. (ir, tú)
vayas: You want someone else to: subjunctive, and ir is irregular.
2 Espero que ___ suerte. (tener, tú)
tengas: A hope: subjunctive, built from tengo.
3 Creo que ___ verdad. (ser)
es: A belief, not a doubt: the ordinary form.
4 No creo que ___ verdad. (ser)
sea: A doubt: subjunctive.
Tap a question to check your answer.
Practise this in Huerta
These levels teach it, with every word and example reviewed at just the right moment:
Questions
When do you use the subjunctive in Spanish?
After que when the sentence is about wanting, hoping, feeling, judging, purpose or doubt, and someone else does the second action: quiero que vengas, espero que tengas suerte.
Does “ojalá” take the subjunctive?
Always. Ojalá haga sol mañana (I hope it’s sunny tomorrow). With the imperfect subjunctive it becomes a wish that’s unlikely: ojalá tuviera más tiempo (if only I had more time).
Is it “creo que sea” or “creo que es”?
Creo que es: belief takes the ordinary form. No creo que sea: doubt takes the subjunctive.
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