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Modo subjuntivo

Spanish subjunctive mood

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA
Last updated: 2024-11-08

The Spanish Subjunctive Mood, el modo subjuntivo, is mainly used for hypothetical, uncertain statements or desires.

The subjunctive can be very confusing for English speakers as it is almost no longer in use in English, but it is still common in Latin-based / Romance languages. The easiest way for English speakers to understand el modo subjuntivo is to look at the few cases where it's still used in English.

In English, the subjunctive is noticeable only because it seems a bit archaic (it appears a lot in Shakespeare, for example).  Where it is still in common use, it's often invisible because it's identical to other forms.  These English sentences are all in the subjunctive:

If I were you... (still in use)

Were I so kind! (modern: if only I was so kind)

Be that as it may! (still in modern use)

Note that all these cases express a hypothetical situation, which is the hallmark of the subjunctive mood. In English, it's often found in expressions like "I wish..." or "If X were true..."

Spanish has a whole set of tenses for the subjunctive mood, which makes learning it more difficult, but like anything it's just a matter of practice.

It helps to know that El Subjuntivo generally follows que:

Ojalá que gane la loteria.
If only I won the lottery.

Espero que vengáis.
I hope you come.

 

There are six tenses within subjunctive mood:

  1. El Presente de Subjuntivo
  2. El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo
  3. El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo
  4. El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo
  5. Futuro simple de subjuntivo
  6. Futuro perfecto de subjuntivo

 

Related lesson: Tense / Mood

Lessons with more detail on Modo subjuntivo

Querer que followed by the Spanish present subjunctive (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
Using ojalá + the present subjunctive to express hope (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
Cuando + the present subjunctive vs Cuando + the present indicative in Spanish
Conjugate regular -ar verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate Spanish verbs in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive tense (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate Spanish regular -ar, -er and -ir verbs in present perfect subjunctive tense in Spanish (El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo)
Using the subjunctive or the indicative after tal vez and quizás to express doubt in Spanish
Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by the Spanish conditional simple
Aunque + the present indicative vs the present subjunctive in Spanish
Conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
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Conjugate irregular verb saber in the present subjunctive in Spanish (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
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Conjugate haber in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate estar in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Conjugate Spanish verb tener in the Spanish imperfect subjunctive (El Imperfecto de Subjuntivo)
Using the Spanish present perfect subjunctive after esperar que to express a completed action in the past
Using esperar que + present subjunctive in Spanish to express hope
Using the Spanish subjunctive with negative opinion phrases
Using the Spanish subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling"
Using the Spanish subjunctive with impersonal expressions
Using the Spanish subjunctive to express doubt or uncertainty
Using the Spanish present perfect subjunctive after esperar que to express a completed action in the future
Using antes de que/después de que with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish (subordinate time clauses) (Spain)
Using the Spanish subjunctive after "puede que" to express possibility
Cuando + indicative for past events in Spanish (subordinate time clauses)
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Spanish relative clauses with the indicative and the subjunctive (subordinate relative clauses)
Spanish impersonal statements followed by the infinitive or by the subjunctive with que
Using the Spanish subjunctive with verbs that express "wish" and "feeling" (conditional in the main clause)
Using the Spanish present subjunctive with verbs giving advice / order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive with verbs giving advice/order (sugerir, recomendar, prohibir)
Subjunctive + relative pronoun or adverb + subjunctive = whatever/wherever/whenever/whoever
Using hacer with subjunctive/infinitive for to make [someone] do something in Spanish
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