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Español III h Libro-Realidades 2

El 16 de mayo 2016

Hora III y Hora IV

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CAPÍTULO 8A

When To Use the Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive Contrasts With the Indicative Mood

Subjunctive? Indicative? Mood? What in the world do those mean?

First of all, the mood (sometimes called the mode) of the verb expresses either the speaker's attitude toward the verb or describes how it is used in the sentence.

The most common mood, the indicativemood, is used to refer to what is real, to state facts, to make declarations. For example, the verb in "Leo el libro" (I am reading the book) is in the indicative mood.

The subjunctive moodis typically used in such a way that the verb's meaning relates to how the speaker feels about it. In the sentence "Espero que esté feliz" (I hope that she is happy), the second verb (esté or "is") may or may not be reality; what is important here is the speaker's attitude toward the final half of the sentence.

Another way of expressing the concept is that the indicative expresses reality or what is believed to be reality. But the subjunctive is used for different purposes:

It expresses facts that are contrary to reality. It expresses doubt that something is or will be a fact. It expresses how a person feels about a possible action or state of being. It expresses a wish, intent or command for a possible action or state of being.

It is usually used in subordinate clausesthat begin with que or si,although in some sentences (such as simple sentences expressing doubt), a subjunctive verb can be the main verb in the sentence.

How the subjunctive is used can best be seen through examples of various uses:

Quiero que no tengas frío.(I want you to be not cold.) It's irrelevant whether the person is cold or not. The sentence expresses a wish, not reality.

Siento que tengas frío. (I'm sorry you're cold.) The sentence expresses the speaker's emotions about a perceived reality. What is important in this sentence is the speaker's feelings, not whether the other person is cold.

Te doy mi chaqueta para que no tengas frío.(I'm giving you my coat so you won't be cold.) The sentence expresses the speaker's intent, not necessarily reality.

Se permite que lleven chaquetas allí.(People are allowed to wear jackets there.) The phrase expresses permission for an action to take place.

Di a ella que lleve una chaqueta.(Tell her to wear her jacket.) Expresses a command or wish of the speaker.

No hay nadie que tenga frío.(Nobody is cold.) Expression of negation of the action in a subordinate clause.

Tal vez tenga frío. (Perhaps he is cold.) This is an expression of doubt.

Si yo fuera un rico, tocaría el violín.(If I were a rich man, I would play the fiddle.) This is an expression of a statement contrary to fact.

Here are some examples of sentences showing differences between the indicative and subjunctive.

Indicative:Es cierto que sale tarde.(It is definitely leaving late.)

Subjunctive:Es imposible que salga tarde. Es probable que salga tarde.It is impossible that it is leaving late. It is likely that it will leave late.

Explanation: The indicative is used to express perceived reality, while the subjunctive is used to express doubt, negation or mere probability.

Indicative:Busco el carro barato que funciona. (I'm looking for the cheap car that works.)

Subjunctive:Busco un carro barato que funcione. (I'm looking for a cheap car that works.)

Explanation: In the first example, the speaker knows that there is a car that matches the description, so the indicative is used as an expression of reality. In the second example, there is doubt that such a car exists, so the subjunctive is used.

Indicative:Creo que es ella.(I believe it is her.)
Subjunctive:No creo que sea ella.(I don't believe it's her.)

Explanation: The subjunctive is used in the second example because the subordinate clause is negated by the main clause.

Generally, the indicative is used with creer que or pensar que, while the subjunctive is used with no creer que or no pensar que.

Indicative:Es obvio que tienes dinero.(It is obvious you have money.)

Subjunctive:Es bueno que tengas dinero.(It is good you have money.)

Explanation: The indicative is used in the first example because it expresses reality (or apparent reality). The subjunctive is used in the other example because the sentence is a reaction to the statement in the subordinate clause.

Words that lead you into the Subjunctive Mood

Indicative:Habla bien porque es experto.(He speaks well because he's an expert.)

Subjunctive:Habla como si fuera experto.(He speaks as if he were expert.)

Explanation: The subjunctive is used in the second example because it's irrelevant to the sentence whether he's an expert.

Indicative:Quizás lo pueden hacer.(Perhaps they can do it (and I'm sure of it.)

Subjunctive:Quizás lo puedan hacer.(Perhaps they can do it (but I doubt it.)

Explanation: In a sentence such as this, the subjunctive is used to emphasize uncertainty or doubt, the indicative to emphasize certainly. Note how the Spanish verb form is used to indicate an attitude that might need further explanation in English.

Indicative:Hay políticos que tienen coraje.(There are politicians who have courage.)

Subjunctive:¿Hay políticos que tengan coraje?(Are there politicians with courage?)

Explanation: The subjunctive is used in the second example to express doubt.

Indicative:Llegaré aunque mi carro no funciona. (I will arrive even though my car isn't running.)

Subjunctive:Llegaré aunque mi carro no funcione.(I will arrive even if my car isn't running.)

Explanation: The indicative is used in the first sentence because the speaker knows his car isn't working. In the second sentence, the speaker doesn't know whether it is running, so the subjunctive is used. Fin

Forms of the Present Subjunctive

Summary of how to form the present subjunctive
Start with the first person singular (yo form) of the present indicative.

If this form does not end in an -o, the verb is irregular in the present subjunctive; memorize the forms: [ser: soy -> sea; estar: estoy -> esté; ir: voy -> vaya; dar: doy -> dé; saber: sé -> sepa; haber: he -> haya].

If the stem of the yo form is exactly the same as the stem of the infinitive, the verb is regular; use this stem and attach the appropriate endings [the endings for the subjunctive are for the most part the “opposite” conjugation endings of the present indicative].

If the stem of the yo form shows a stem change when compared to the stem of the infinitive (e -> ie, o -> ue, or u -> ue) and it's an -ar or -er verb, the stem will undergo the same changes as in the present indicative; substitute the subjunctive endings for the indicative ones [volver: vuelva, vuelvas, vuelva, volvamos, volváis, vuelvan].

If the stem yo form, when compared to that of the infinitive, shows that an -ir stem-changing verb is involved, all forms of the present subjunctive will have stem changes: the same ones as in the present indicative (e -> ie, o -> ue), plus special changes in the nosotros and vosotros forms (e -> i, o -> u) [sentir: sienta, sientas, sienta,sintamos, sintáis, sientan;

dormir: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos,durmáis, duerman].

We are left with a yo form stem which is NOT the same as the one for the infinitive and which is NOT a stem changing verb: use this stem for all forms of the present subjunctive [conocer: conozca, conozcas, conozca, conozcamos, conozcáis, conozcan; tener: tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan]

The subjunctive is used in various ways; for example, it appears in all negative commands as well as all formal commands, and is used in dependent clauses to indicate doubt, non-existence, or an emotional reaction. Other handouts will deal with the various uses; this one will deal only with the formation of the present subjunctive.

Endings: For all but the most irregular of verbs, the endings for the present subjunctive are as follows:

-ar verbs: / -e, / -es, / -e, / -emos, / -éis, / -en
-er and -ir verbs: / -a, / -as, / -a, / -amos, / -áis, / -an

Regular verbs: Attach the above endings to the present indicative stem (the infinitive minus the last two letters):

hablar / comer / vivir
hable / hablemos / coma / comamos / viva / vivamos
hables / habléis / comas / comáis / vivas / viváis
hable / hablen / coma / coman / viva / vivan

Stem changing verbs of the first (-ar) and second (-er) conjugations:

These verbs experience the same stem changes as the present indicative; that is, the stem vowel changes into a diphthong whenever it is stressed. To put it another way, the vowel in the stem changes in all forms except those for nosotros and vosotros.

e-ie / pensar:piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, penséis, piensen
[Sample verbs: cerrar (close), *comenzar (begin), *empezar (begin), encender (burn, turn on), entender (understand), *negar (deny), pensar (think), perder (lose), querer (want), sentar (sit)]
o->ue / mover: mueva, muevas, mueva, movamos, mováis, muevan
[Sample verbs: acordar (remember), *almorzar (lunch), apostar (bet), colgar (hang up), contar (count, relate), costar (cost), demostrar (demonstrate), encontrar (find), llover (rain), mostrar (show), mover (move), poder (be able), recordar (remember), volver (return)]
u-ue / jugar: juegue, juegues, juegue, juguemos, juguéis, jueguen
Jugar (to play) and its compounds is the only one verb which has this change; note that it also undergoes an orthographic change (g -> gu) to maintain the hard “g” sound.

-Irstem changing verbs:

In the nosotros and vosotros forms -ir stem changing verbs show a special change; the stem vowel is reduced to a single vowel: o -> ue -> u; e -> ie -> i. The other forms undergo the same

changes as in the present indicative (a stem vowel change occurs whenever the stem vowel is stressed, that is, in all forms except for nosotros and vosotros).

o->ue->u / dormir: duerma, duermas, duerma, durmamos, durmáis, duerman
[Sample verbs: dormir (sleep) and morir (die)]
e->ie->i / sentir: sienta, sientas, sienta, sintamos, sintáis, sientan
[Sample verbs: consentir (consent), convertir (convert), herir (injure), preferir (prefer), mentir (lie) and sentir (feel, regret), and sugerir (suggest)]
e->i->i / pedir: pida, pidas, pida, pidamos, pidáis, pidan
[Sample verbs: competir (compete), *conseguir (get), *corregir (correct), despedir (say goodbye, dismiss), *distinguir (distinguish), *elegir (elect), medir (measure), pedir (request), reír (laugh), *repetir (repeat), *seguir (follow, continue), servir (serve), and vestir (dress)]

*Spelling (or orthographic) change also involved. See section 5.

Orthographic changes:

First conjugation (-ar) verbs whose stem ends in -c, -g, or -z undergo a spelling change, as do -er and -ir verbs whose stem ends in -gu or -g. These changes are necessary to preserve the sound occurring in the infinitive.

-car:c->qu / buscar: busque, busques, busque, busquemos, busquéis, busquen
[Sample verbs: atacar (attack), buscar (look for), clasificar (classify), criticar (criticize), indicar (indicate), practicar (practice), publicar (publish), sacar(take out), secar (dry), tocar (touch, play)]
-gar:g->gu / pagar: pague, pagues, pague, paguemos, paguéis, paguen
[Sample verbs: cargar (load, charge), castigar (punish), entregar (deliver), *jugar (play), obligar (oblige), pagar (pay), pegar (hit), and tragar (swallow)]
-zar:z->c / abrazar: abrace, abraces, abrace, abracemos, abracéis, abracen
[Sample verbs: abrazar (hug), cazar (hunt), *comenzar (begin), *empezar (begin), lanzar (throw), rechazar (rejectsimbolizar (simbolize)]
-guir:gu->g / distinguir: distinga distingas distinga distingamos distingáis distiguen
[Sample verbs: *conseguir (get), distinguir (distinguish), *perseguir (persecute), and *seguir (follow, continue)]
-gir:g->j / dirigir: dirija, dirijas, dirija, dirijamos, dirijáis, dirijan
[Sample verbs: *corregir (correct), dirigir (direct), *elegir (elect), exigir (demand), fingir (pretend), and *regir (rule)]

*Stem change also involved. See sections 3 and

Verbs with a special yo form (but one which still ends in -o):

Verbs which in the present indicative have a special yo form ending in an -o use the stem of that form for all the present subjunctive forms: Verbs with the addition of a -g- in the yo form:

decir / say / digo: / diga, digas, diga, digamos, digáis, digan
hacer / do / hago: / haga, hagas, haga, hagamos, hagáis, hagan
oír / hear / oigo: / oiga, oigas, oiga, oigamos, oigáis, oigan
poner / put: / pongo: / pongas, ponga, ponga, pongamos, pongáis, pongan
salir / go out: / salgo / salga, salgas, salga, salgamos, salgáis, salgan
tener / have: / tengo / tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan
traer / bring: / traigo / traiga, traigas, traiga, traigamos, traigáis, traigan
valer / be worth: / valgo / valga, valgas, valga, valgamos, valgáis, valgan
venir / come: / vengo / venga, vengas, venga, vengamos, vengáis, vengan

Verbs with the infinitive ending -cer (with -zco in the yo form):

conocer / know / conozco: / conozca, conozcas, conozca, etc.
nacer / be born / nazco: / nazca, nazcas, nazca, etc.
obedecer / obey / obedezco: / obedezca, obedezcas, obedezca, etc.
pertenecer / belong / pertenezco: / pertenezca, pertenezcas, pertenezca, etc.

Special case: ver (original stem was ve-):

ver / see / veo: / vea, veas, vea, veamos, veáis, vean

Irregular verbs (verbs where the yo form does not end in -o):

Verbs whose first person singular form of the present indicative does not end in -o have irregular present subjunctive forms:

dar / give / doy / dé, des, dé, demos, deis, den
estar / be / Estoy / esté, estés, esté, estemos, estéis, estén
haber / have / he / haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan
saber / know / sé / sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan
ser / be / soy / sea, seas, sea, seamos, seáis, sean
ir / go / voy / vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayáis, vayan

Fin

Subjunctive: Part II

All too frequently, the topic of the subjunctive is made far more difficult than is necessary. Let's try a slightly different approach, with the goal of making this topic less troublesome.

The subjunctive is not a tense; rather, it is a mood. Tense refers to when an action takes place (past, present, future), while mood merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action. The subjunctive mood is rarely used in English, but it is widely used in Spanish.

Here are some examples of the subjunctive being used in English:

The doctor recommends that he take the pills with food.
Subjunctive conjugation: he take

The law requires that you be 18 years old to vote.
Subjunctive conjugation: you be

If I were a rich man, I wouldn't have to work hard.
Subjunctive conjugation: I were

So far, you have studied verb tenses in the indicative mood. The indicative mood is used to express factual information, certainty, and objectivity.

Usted va al Perú en diciembre.

You are going to Peru in December.

The above sentence merely reports the fact that you are going to Peru in December, so the indicative mood is used.

Let's change the above example slightly:

No dudo que usted va al Perú en diciembre.

I don't doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

In the above sentence, the clause "no dudo" introduces a quality of certainty, -- the speaker has no doubt, so the indicative mood is used in the second clause (va) as well as the first (no dudo).

Let's make another slight change to our example:

Dudo que usted vaya al Perú en diciembre.

I doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

In the above sentence, the clause "dudo" introduces a quality of uncertainty, -- the speaker does have doubt, so here the subjunctive mood is used in the second clause (vaya).

The subjunctive mood is used to express everything except certainty and objectivity: things like doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, etc.

Yo dudo que usted vaya al Perú en diciembre.

I doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

Since the above statement does not express certainty, the subjunctive (vaya) is required in the second clause.

The difference between indicative and subjunctive is the difference between certainty/objectivity (indicative) and possibility/subjectivity (subjunctive).

Indicative

John goes to the store.
(This sentence merely states the certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.)

I know that John goes to the store.
(The clause "I know" tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.

There is no doubt that John goes to the store.
(The clause "there is no doubt" tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.)

Subjunctive

I want John to go to the store.
(The clause "I want" tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.)

I hope that John goes to the store.
(The clause "I hope" tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.)

It is possible that John will go to the store.
(The clause "it is possible" tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.)

It's good that John goes to the store.
(The clause "it's good" alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)

It's important that John goes to the store.
(The clause "it's important" alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)

Because there must be some uncertainty or subjectivity to warrant the use of the subjunctive, you will usually see it in sentences that contain a main clause which introduces a quality of uncertainty or subjectivity.

I hope she will come.
I hope = main clause

I know she will come.
I know = main clause

The above examples all have main clauses, but only the first and the third introduce an element of uncertainty or subjectivity.