El subjuntivo del presente / Present Subjunctive

This is a very hard tense because the subjunctive mood is almost non-existent in English. It is used in Spanish to express doubt or emotion. Here are the most common uses:

• Informal commands, requests, or recommendations. Examples: He wants that she study (He wants her to study), I recommend that we leave, She ordered that he stay.
• Talking about something that doesn't exist. Example: I am looking for a person who can answer my question.
• Expressing doubt or denial. Example: I doubt that they come (I doubt they will come).
• Expressing emotion. Example: I am happy that you accompany us; my friend is disappointed that he can't join us too.
• Impersonal expressions. Example: It's important that we avoid this area, It's interesting that he speaks Swahili.
• Hypothetical or unrealized situations. Examples: I'll stay here while you go to the market, Until I see a change the rule stays.
  
• There are certain conjunctions or phrases that take the subjunctive after them (see below). A verb in the subjunctive will never appear in a clause without a conjunction unless it is a command (which are not yet covered on this site).

The best way to learn subjunctive is to learn how to form it, and then see which conjunctions/phrases require it. To make it a little easier, some sentences have been provided below so you can see it in context. Its translation in English is often the same as the present indicative, which is why it is so difficult. You will want to review the other tenses and the verb conjugations before attempting to master this tense.

Most verbs get their subjunctive stem from taking the ending off the "yo" form. Some verbs, however, have irregular stems. Some verbs conjugate entirely irregularly. Not to worry! Examples follow! Here are the subjunctive endings, then we will get to irregular stems and conjugations:

Subjunctive endings for -ar verbs:

• yo: -e
• tú: -es
• él/ella/Usted: -e
• nosotros: -emos
• (vosotros: -éis)
• ellos/ellas/Ustedes: -en

Subjunctive endings for -er and -ir verbs:

• yo: -a
• tú: -as
• él/ella/Usted: -a
• nosotros: -amos
• (vosotros: -áis)
• ellos/ellas/Ustedes: -an
  

Here are some examples of verbs that conjugate regularly in the subjunctive.

hacer (to do, to make) - "yo" form is "hago"
que yo haga=that I make
que tú hagas=that you make
que él/ella/Usted haga=that he/she/you make
que nosotros hagamos=that we make
(que vosotros hagáis=that you make)
que ellos/ellas/Ustedes hagan=that they/you make

acabar (to turn off) - "yo" form is "acabo"
que yo acabe=that I turn off
que tú acabes=that you turn off
que él/ella/Usted acabe=that he/she/you turn off
que nosotros acabemos=that we turn off
(que vosotros acabéis=that you turn off)
que ellos/ellas/Ustedes acaben=that they/you turn off

NB: Stem-changing verbs, just as in the present indicative, do not change their stem in the "nosotros" and "vosotros" forms in the present subjunctive either. An example:

pensar (to think) - "yo" form is "pienso"
que yo piense=that I think
que tú pienses=that you think
que él/ella/Usted piense=that you think
que nosotros pensemos=that we think
(que vosotros penséis=that you think)
que ellos/ellas/Ustedes piensen=that they/you think

NB: Car/Gar/Zar verbs discussed in the Preterite tense use the stem change for the "yo" form as the subjunctive stem. (For example the subjunctive stem for "pagar" is "pagu-," for "sacar" it is "saqu-" and for "almorzar" it is "almorc-"). If the verb is stem changing, however, be sure to follow the stem-changing rules as well! (See above)

NB: -Ir verbs whose stems end in "g" (eligir for example) change the "g" to a "j" (elij-).

The following are irregular stems. They still follow the same rules for endings:

Irregular stems
saber (to know) --> sep-
haber (helping verb to have) --> hay-
ir (to go) --> vay-
ser (to be) --> se-

The following verbs have some irregularly placed accents:

estar (to be)
que yo esté=that I be
que tú estés=that you be
que él/ella/Usted esté=that he/she/you be
que nosotros estemos=that we be
(que vosotros estéis=that you be)
que ellos/ellas/Ustedes estén=that they/you be

dar (to give)
que yo dé=that I give
que tú des=that you give
que él/ella/Usted dé=that he/she/you give
que nosotros demos=that we give
(que vosotros deis=that you give)
que ellos/ellas/Ustedes den=that they/you give

Conjunctions/phrases that take the subjunctive:

• ojalá que (hopefully)
• siempre que (provided that)
• para que (so that)
• afin de que (so that)
• quizás (maybe)
• tal vez (perhaps)
• puede que (it can be that)
• menos que (unless)
• hasta que (until)
  

Some sentences illustrating common uses of the subjunctive

Quiero que vengas conmigo.
I want you to come with me. [lit. I want that you come with me.]

Para que entiendas el concepto, lee el libro.
So that you understand the concept, read the book.

Duda que Juan vaya a la fiesta.
He doubts that Juan will go/is going to the party.

Necesito que compres esto.
I need you to buy that. [lit. I need that you buy that]

Ojalá que sepa hacerlo.
Hopefully he knows how to do it.

Busco una calculadora que funcione bien.
I am looking for a calculator that works well.

Es intereste que hable Swahili.
It's interesting that he speaks Swahili.

Me alegro de que nos acompañes.
I am happy that you come with us.

Roberto siente que su esposa no pueda asistir.
Roberto regrets that his wife can't attend.

Me quedo aquí hasta que regreses.
I'll stay until you return.