Presente de Subjuntivo II

Me gusta que haga frío

Now, as you know how Presente de Subjuntivo works, let’s learn the most common Subjunctive mood markers, which indicate that the next verb should take the form of Subjuntivo.

There are many of them, but they can be grouped together by meaning. It’s much easier to learn them in groups, rather than individually.

As it was mentioned in the previous lesson, Subjuntivo reflects a personal view on surrounding things and events. Feelings and personal perception of reality are the core ideas that all Subjuntivo markers share.

However, it’s not enough to understand the general principles of Subjuntivo. It can be hard to distinguish what is a personal view on surrounding things and what is not. All in all, every phrase said by a human being can be considered a personal point of view. In terms of the language, everything is much easier. It all comes down to simply learning Subjuntivo markers and getting used to them.

1. Wishes and preferences

querer que – to want that

desear que – to wish that

preferir que – to prefer that

gustar que – to like that

Fernando quiere que salgamos a las cinco – Fernando wants us to go out at five

¿Desea usted que le haga un café? – Do you wish that I make you some coffee?

Prefiero que me llamen Pepe en lugar de José – I prefer that they call me Pepe instead of Jose

Me gusta que en esta ciudad haya pocos coches – I like that there are few cars in this city

Try it yourself:

We don’t want the summer to end

Do you wish that I bring you another cup of tea? (usted)

I prefer when it’s hot

Do you like that I call you ‘amorcito’?

2. Hope

esperar que – to hope that

Espero que el señor Sánchez no llegue hoy – I hope that Mr. Sanchez don’t come today

Chema espera que su novia le diga que sí – Chema hopes that his girlfriend say yes

Try it yourself:

We hope that you not be offended

I hope that they quit smoking

3. Requests and orders

pedir que – to ask that

decir que – to tell that

rogar que – to beg, to request, to urge that

suplicar que – to beg that

mandar que – to command that

ordenar que – to order that

exigir que – to demand that

Pido que me perdones – I ask you to forgive me

El profesor dice que escribamos una composición – The teacher tells us to write a composition

Rogamos que abandonen el edificio – We urge that you leave the building

Suplico que me hagas un favor – I beg you that you do me a favour

El gerente manda al traductor que traduzca el contrato – The manager commands the translator to translate the contract

La madre les ordena a los hijos que se queden en casa – Mother orders the children that they stay home

Exijo que usted me de todos los documentos necesarios – I demand that you give me all the necessary documents

Try it yourself:

I ask you to understand me (vosotros)

She tells me to wash the dishes

I beg you not to show it to anyone

I beg you to come to my concert (ustedes)

The boss requests that I go to the exposition

I order you not to come close to my daughter

You always demand that we go to sleep at ten

4. Uncertainty

dudar que – to doubt that

no estar seguro de que – to not be sure that

no creer que – not to think that

es incierto que – it’s uncertain that

Dudo que llueva por la tarde – I doubt that it will rain in the afternoon

No estoy seguro de que me ames – I’m not sure that you love me

No creo que se acuerden de mí – I don’t think that they remember me

Try it yourself:

We doubt that you can help us

I’m not sure that this shirt is made of silk

I don’t think that we’ll see each other soon

Notice, that the affirmative forms of these verbs express confidence. In this case Indicativo should be used, not Subjuntivo.

Compare:

Estoy seguro de que la película es buena – I’m sure that this movie is good

No estoy seguro de que la película sea buena – I’m not sure that this movie is good

Creo que mañana hará frío – I think that tomorrow will be cold

No creo que mañana haga frío – I don’t think that tomorrow will be cold

Try it yourself:

We are not sure that we will go on a vacation in August

We are sure that we will go on a vacation in August

I think that you know Raul

I don’t think that you know Raul

5. Possibility

puede ser que – it may be that

es posible que – it’s possible that

es probable que – it’s probable that

tal vez – maybe (without que)

quizá or quizás – perhaps (without que)

Puede ser que él esté enojado conmigo – Maybe he is angry with me

Es posible que no sepan nada – It’s possible that they don’t know anything

Es probable que no te guste mi idea – Probably, you won’t like my idea

Tal vez podamos vernos mañana – Maybe we can see each other tomorrow

Quizá sea mejor comprar otro sillón – Perhaps it will be better to buy another armchair

Try it yourself:

Maybe Miguel has a bulb

It’s possible that they pay me less this month

Probably you know this song

Perhaps the boys are very busy now

Maybe the apples are still green

All these expressions mean possibility and in many contexts can be used interchangeably. Tal vez and quizá(s) don’t need the que conjunction. Quizá and quizás are just two ways of saying the same thing.

There is one more expression that mean possibility, but it doesn’t require Subjuntivo.

a lo mejor – maybe

A lo mejor podemos tomar un descanso este finde – Maybe we can take a rest this weekend

A lo mejor Pablo ya está lejos – Maybe Pablo is already far away

6. Necessity

necesitar que – to need that

es necesario que – it’s necessary that

es importante que – it’s important that

Necesito que me envíes ese fichero – I need that you send me that file

Es necesario que el fontanero tenga buena experiencia – It’s necessary that the plumber have a good experience

Es importante que el material del calzado sea de alta calidad – It’s important that the footwear material be of high quality

Try it yourself:

We need you to be at the meeting

To make mate it’s necessary that the water be hot

It’s important that you agree

7. Recommendations

aconsejar que – to advise that

recomendar que – to recommend that

Te aconsejamos que pruebes la sopa de marisco – We advise you that you try the seafood soup

Los abuelos nos recomiendan que nos casemos lo más pronto posible – Grandparents recommend us that we get married as soon as possible

Try it yourself:

I advise you that you get ready

Do you recommend me that I go to the cinema?

8. Permission

permitir que – to allow that

dejar que – to let that

prohibir que – to prohibit that

impedir que – to prevent that

Mis compañeros me permiten que fume en el piso – My roommates allow me to smoke in the flat

Déjame que te explique – Let me explain to you

Os prohibo que salgáis – I prohibit that you go out

La lluvia nos impide que vayamos al río – The rain stops us from going to the river

Try it yourself:

I don’t allow you to talk to me like that

Why don’t you let me eat these sweets?

The wife prohibits her husband to go to the bar without her

The law prevents me from building a house here

9. Happiness

alegrarse de que – to feel happy that

estar alegre de que – to be happy that

agradar que – to delight, to please that

Me alegro de que os acordéis de mí – I feel happy that you remember me

Luís está alegre de que sus padres le compren un piso – Luis is happy that his parents buy him a flat

Me agrada que usted se encargue del asunto – It delights me that you take care of the issue

Try it yourself:

I feel happy that you will come with me (vosotros)

We are happy that soon the new season will start

It delights me that you like my present

10. Pity

sentir que – to be sorry that

lamentar que – to feel sorry that (less common)

es una pena que – it’s a pity that

es una lástima que – it’s a pity that

The words pena and lástima are synonyms and can be used with the verb dar and dative pronouns.

Me da pena que – It makes me sad that

Me da lástima que – It saddens me that

Siento que no puedas venir mañana – I’m sorry that you can’t come tomorrow

Lamento que esté enfermo tu abuelo – I feel sorry that your grandfather is ill

Me da pena que tengas que soportarme – It makes me sad that you have to stand me

Hugo dice que le da lástima que no vayamos a Miami – Hugo says that it makes him sad that we won’t go to Miami

Try it yourself:

I’m very sorry that you don’t have a job

We are sorry that you can’t visit us (vosotros)

It’s a pity that Lucia lives with that bastard

It makes us sad that children in Africa are short of food

There are a lot more Subjuntivo markers in Spanish. These are simply the most common ones. If you understand and get used to them, it won’t be hard to learn others.