Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Verb Tenses, Second ... - Ktooba.com

Uses of the present subjunctive
Use the subjunctive whenever there is a degree of desire, ignorance, emotion, or impersonal opinion
on the part of the subject.
A sentence containing a subjunctive clause has two parts: the main clause and the subordinate
clause. Th ese two clauses are generally separated by que (meaning “that”). Th e main clause
contains the statement of desire, ignorance, emotion, or opinion; this clause is in the indicative.
Th e subordinate clause contains whatever is being considered; this clause is in the subjunctive.
Consider the following sentence.
I doubt that he works much.
Th e main clause “I doubt” is in the indicative, because it is reporting. Th e subordinate clause, “he
works much,” is in the subjunctive because of the uncertainty expressed in the main clause. Th is
sentence is expressed in Spanish as follows.
Yo dudo que él trabaje mucho.
Note that although subjunctive verb forms are identifi able by a distinct conjugated verb form in
Spanish, the subjunctive is not necessarily expressed by a distinct verb form in English.
Expressions of desire
Verbs in the main clause that express a wish, a preference, a request, or similar desire set up the
need for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. In these situations, the subject tells what he or
she would like to happen; whether it will actually happen is not certain.
Below are several common verbs of desire that require the use of the subjunctive.
VOCABULARIO
esperar to hope preferir (e ie) to prefer
exigir to demand querer (e ie) to want
insistir en to insist (on) rogar (o ue) to pray, beg
ojalá God willing, I strongly hope sugerir (e ie) to suggest
pedir (e i) to request
EJERCICIO
Él prefi ere que yo hable. He prefers that I speak.
Ellos esperan que podamos bailar. Th ey hope that we can dance.
Insistimos en que tengas el dinero. We insist that you have the money.
Ella pide que sirváis el café. She requests that you all serve the coff ee.
Quiero que Juan estudie. I want John to study. (literally, I want that
John study.)
Espero que ellos vivan en esa casa. I hope that they live in that house.
¿Cuál es verdadero o falso para ti?
1. Ojalá que no tenga un examen hoy.
2. Espero que haga buen tiempo mañana.
214 practice makes perfect Spanish Verb Tenses