When to use the Spanish subjunctive
Short answer: use the subjunctive in a que-clause when the main clause expresses a wish, emotion, doubt or denial, request, impersonal judgement or something not yet real, and the two clauses have different subjects. Quiero que vengas — I want you to come.
Triggers (remember WEIRDO)
- Wishes: quiero que, espero que, ojalá (que)
- Emotions: me alegra que, siento que, me molesta que
- Impersonal expressions: es importante que, es necesario que, es posible que
- Requests and recommendations: te pido que, te recomiendo que
- Doubt and denial: dudo que, no creo que, no es verdad que
- Ojalá: ojalá llueva
Indicative or subjunctive?
- Creo que viene (belief → indicative) vs No creo que venga (doubt → subjunctive)
- Busco al chico que habla ruso (he exists) vs Busco a alguien que hable ruso (might not exist)
- Cuando llego, como (habit) vs Cuando llegues, come (future)
Which subjunctive tense
Present main clause → present subjunctive (quiero que vengas). Past or conditional main clause → imperfect subjunctive (quería que vinieras; si tuviera tiempo, iría). Completed actions → perfect subjunctive (espero que hayas comido).
Drill it on its own
The subjunctive is the tense most learners want to practice by itself. In Verbizo you can select only the subjunctive tenses in Practice, and each form shows its English meaning, like “(that) you come”.
FAQ
Why “creo que viene” but “no creo que venga”?
Belief takes the indicative; doubt or denial takes the subjunctive. Saying “I don't think” turns it into doubt.
Does “cuando” take the subjunctive?
Only for the future: “cuando llegues, llámame”. For habits or the past it takes the indicative: “cuando llego, llamo”.
Do I need the -se forms (hablase)?
No — hablara and hablase mean the same. -ra is more common in speech; -se appears in writing and in Spain.