How To Know When To Use The Spanish Subjunctive

How To Know When To Use The Spanish Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is the form a verb takes when it reflects uncertainty or subjectivity. In Spanish it is used when a sentence gives information that is important to the way we perceive an action. If an action is improbable, coerced, conditional or emotion-provoking it is described by a subjunctive verb. Some of ways in which the Spanish subjunctive is used are explained below.

Probability

If the speaker or the subject of the main clause remarks on the probability that an action will take place, the verb expressing that action takes the subjunctive form. Whenever a sentence begins with ‘es possible’ (it is possible) or ‘es dudoso’ (it is doubtful) the verb in the following clause will be subjunctive.

Influence on action

The subjunctive is used in sentences where someone influences another person to do something. When the action described by the verb is in response to someone’s advice, command, or desire, it takes the subjunctive form. If a sentence includes the verb ‘decir’ (to tell someone to do something), the verb that describes what they were told to do will be in the subjunctive.

Emotional impact of action

When a person expresses an emotional response to an action, the action verb will be subjunctive. If a sentence starts off with a phrase such as ‘es bueno que’ (it is good that) or ‘es terrible’ (it is terrible), the speaker is making a value judgement so the verb in the clause that follows will be in the subjunctive form.

Conditional Events

If an action may or may not occur depending on something else happening, it is conditional. Verbs describing conditional events take the subjective. Sentences containing ‘con tal’ (provided) and ‘tan pronto como’ (as soon as) will include subjunctive verbs.

The subjunctive mood is used in most instances where the speaker is not making a purely objective statement. If a sentence makes a value judgement about an action or introduces doubt about whether an action will take place, it will usually include a subjunctive verb.

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