Subjunctive for Wishes, Doubt and Opinions
B1The subjunctive 7 min
After verbs of wishing, feeling and doubting, and after ojalá, a second subject takes the subjunctive: quiero que vengas. With one subject, the second verb stays an infinitive; with two, it takes que and the subjunctive: Quiero ir. Quiero que vayas.
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No information at the current level. This view starts at B1: choose B1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetB1
| Point | Rule | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wishes | querer / esperar / preferir / necesitar with que | Espero que estés bien. | I hope you're well. |
| ojalá | a hope, always with the subjunctive | Ojalá no llueva. | I hope it doesn't rain. |
| Feelings | me alegra / me molesta / me da miedo with que | Me alegra que estés aquí. | I'm glad you're here. |
| Doubt | no creo que / no pienso que / dudo que | No creo que venga. | I don't think she'll come. |
| Judgements | es importante que / es mejor que / es normal que | Es importante que duermas bien. | It's important that you sleep well. |
| One subject | the infinitive, with no que | Quiero descansar. | I want to rest. |
| Belief | creo que and pienso que take the indicative | Creo que viene. | I think she's coming. |
| Trap | “I want you to” is quiero que with the subjunctive | Quiero que vengas. | I want you to come. |
| Trap | a fact stated as true takes the indicative: es verdad que | Es verdad que es caro. | It's true that it's expensive. |
OverviewB1
- A main verb of wishing, feeling, doubting or judging, with que, puts the second verb in the subjunctive.
- The subjunctive needs two different subjects; with one, the infinitive follows.
- The forms: Present Subjunctive: Forms.
Use: wishes and requestsB1
| Verb | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| querer que | Mis padres quieren que estudie medicina. | My parents want me to study medicine. |
| esperar que | Espero que tengas un buen viaje. | I hope you have a good trip. |
| preferir que | Prefiero que vengas mañana. | I'd rather you came tomorrow. |
| necesitar que | Necesito que me ayudes. | I need you to help me. |
| pedir que | Te pido que hables más despacio. | I'm asking you to speak more slowly. |
| ojalá | Ojalá haga buen tiempo. | I hope the weather is good. |
- ojalá takes the subjunctive, with or without que: Ojalá que ganen. — I hope they win.
Use: feelingsB1
| Verb | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| me alegra que | Me alegra que estés mejor. | I'm glad you're better. |
| me molesta que | Me molesta que llegues tarde. | It annoys me when you arrive late. |
| me gusta que | Me gusta que me llames. | I like it when you call me. |
| me da miedo que | Me da miedo que se pierda. | I'm afraid she'll get lost. |
| siento que | Siento que no puedas venir. | I'm sorry you can't come. |
- Verbs like alegrar and molestar work like gustar: the clause with que is what causes the feeling.
- The pattern of these verbs: Gustar and Similar Verbs.
Use: belief and doubtB1
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| what the speaker believes | what the speaker doubts or denies |
| Creo que tiene razón. — I think he's right. | No creo que tenga razón. — I don't think he's right. |
| Pienso que es fácil. — I think it's easy. | No pienso que sea fácil. — I don't think it's easy. |
| Me parece que va a llover. — I think it's going to rain. | No me parece que vaya a llover. — I don't think it's going to rain. |
| Estoy seguro de que viene. — I'm sure he's coming. | Dudo que venga. — I doubt he's coming. |
- creer, pensar and parecer take the indicative, and the subjunctive in a negative statement.
- quizá and tal vez before the verb make a guess with the subjunctive or the indicative; the subjunctive is the more frequent: Quizá llueva mañana. / Tal vez tiene razón. — Maybe it'll rain tomorrow. / Maybe she's right.
- a lo mejor makes a guess with the indicative: A lo mejor viene mañana. — Maybe he'll come tomorrow.
Use: judgementsB1
| Expression | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| es importante que | Es importante que bebas agua. | It's important that you drink water. |
| es mejor que | Es mejor que salgamos temprano. | It's better if we leave early. |
| es necesario que | Es necesario que traigas el pasaporte. | You need to bring your passport. |
| es normal que | Es normal que estés nervioso. | It's normal for you to be nervous. |
| es una pena que | Es una pena que no puedas venir. | It's a pity you can't come. |
- A fact stated as true takes the indicative: es verdad que, es evidente que: Es verdad que hace frío. — It's true that it's cold.
One subject or twoB1
- The same subject: the infinitive follows, with no que: Quiero viajar. — I want to travel.
- Two subjects: que and the subjunctive: Quiero que viajes. — I want you to travel.
- A judgement about people in general takes the infinitive: Es importante dormir bien. — It's important to sleep well.
Typical errorsB1
| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Espero que tienes un buen viaje. | Espero que tengas un buen viaje. | esperar que takes the subjunctive |
| Ojalá tienes suerte. | Ojalá tengas suerte. | ojalá always takes the subjunctive |
| No creo que es verdad. | No creo que sea verdad. | no creo que takes the subjunctive |
| Creo que sea verdad. | Creo que es verdad. | creo que takes the indicative |
| Quiero que yo vaya. | Quiero ir. | for “I want to go”, one subject takes the infinitive |
| Quiero tú vienes. | Quiero que vengas. | “I want you to” is quiero que with the subjunctive |