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El indicativo -- el subjuntivo -- el imperativo
Spanish Language
In the Mood: The Subjunctive, Part 1
Learning when to use the subjunctive mood can be particularly challenging for English-speakers learning Spanish. That's probably because the subjunctive mood is distinguished from the indicative mood so infrequently in English.
Subjunctive? Indicative? Mood? What in the world do those mean?
OK. Let's start with the basics. (If you already know these basics of grammar, skip ahead to the explanation of when the subjunctive is used.) 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. This can better better be described by examples of the six moods in both English and Spanish.
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Mood |
Description |
Examples |
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infinitive (infinitivo) |
The name of a verb. It can be used as the subject or object of a sentence. In English it takes the form of "to + verb." In Spanish, infinitives end in -ar, -er, or -ir. |
I want to go. Quiero ir. |
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gerund (gerundio) |
The gerund is used with the auxiliary "to be" (estar), and it can also be used as a noun (far more frequently in English than in Spanish). |
He is speaking. El esta hablando. |
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participle (participio) |
The participle is used with the auxiliary "to have" (haber) to form various tenses. In both languages, the participles frequently are used as adjectives. |
I have fallen. Me he caido. |
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imperative (imperativo) |
Commands or suggestions. |
Click here. Haz clic aqui. |
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indicative (indicativo) |
Indicates action, process, or identity as taking place in reality. |
See examples below. |
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subjunctive (subjuntivo) |
Indicates action, process, or identity as dependent on the speaker's reaction to it. |
See examples below. |
That may seem as clear as Mexico City on a smoggy day. 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 clauses that 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 subjective is used can best be seen through examples of various uses:
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Example |
Reason |
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Quiero que no tengas frio. I want you to be not cold. |
It's irrelevant whether the person is cold or not. The sentence expresses a wish, not reality. |
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Siento que tengas frio. 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. |
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Te doy mi chaqueta para que no tengas frio. I'm giving you my coat so you won't be cold. |
The sentence expresses the speaker's intent, not necessarily reality. |
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Se permite que lleven chaquetas alli. People are allowed to wear jackets there. |
The phrase expresses permission for an action to take place. |
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Di a ella que lleve una chaqueta. Tell her to wear her jacket. |
Expresses a command or wish of the speaker. |
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No hay nadie que tenga frio. Nobody is cold. |
Expression of negation of the action in a subordinate clause. |
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Tal vez tenga frio. Perhaps he is cold. |
Expression of doubt. |
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Si yo fuera un rico, tocara el violin. If I were a rich man, I would play the fiddle. |
Expression of a statement contrary to fact. |
Here are some examples of sentences showing differences between the indicative and subjunctive.
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Indicative |
Subjunctive |
Explanation |
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Es cierto que sale tarde. It is definitely leaving late |
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. |
The indicative is used to express perceived reality, while the subjunctive is used to express doubt, negation or mere probability. |
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Busco el carro barato que funciona. I'm looking for the cheap car that works. |
Busco un carro barato que funcione. I'm looking for a cheap car that works. |
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. |
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Creo que es ella. I believe it is she. |
No creo que sea ella. I don't believe it's she. |
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. (The Spanish verb pensar has more of a feeling of definitiveness than does the English equivalent, "to think." |
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Es obvio que tienes dinero. It is obvious you have money. |
Es bueno que tengas dinero. It is good you have money. |
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 subordinte clause. |
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Habla bien porque es un experto. He speaks well because he's an expert. |
Habla como si fuera un experto. He speaks as if he were an expert. |
The subjunctive is used in the second example because it's irrelevant to the sentence whether he's an expert. |
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Quizas lo pueden hacer. Perhaps they can do it (and I'm sure of it). |
Quizas lo puedan hacer. Perhaps they can do it (but I doubt it). |
In a sentence such as this, the subjunctive is used to emphasize uncertainty or doubt, the indicative to emphasize certainly. |
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Hay politicos que tienen coraje. There are politicians who have courage. |
Hay politicos que tengan coraje? Are there politicians with courage? |
The subjunctive is used in the second example to express doubt. |
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Llegara aunque mi carro no funciona. I will arrive even though my car isn't running. |
Llegara aunque mi carro no funcione. I will arrive even if my car isn't running. |
The indicative is used in the first sentence because the speaker knows his car isn't working. In the second sentence, the speaker does |
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