When to use the Spanish subjunctive: the WEIRDO triggers

The subjunctive isn't a time, it's a mood. It appears in a second part of the sentence, usually after que, when the first part expresses something other than a plain fact.

The pattern

Trigger + que + a different subject in the subjunctive. "Quiero que vengas": I want (trigger) that you come (subjunctive). With the same subject, use the infinitive instead: "Quiero venir."

W: wishes and wants

Quiero que vengas.I want you to come.

Espero que tengas suerte.I hope you're lucky.

E: emotions

Me alegra que estés aquí.I'm glad you're here.

Siento que no puedas venir.I'm sorry you can't come.

I: impersonal expressions

Es importante que lo sepas.It's important that you know.

Es posible que llueva.It may rain.

R: recommendations and requests

Te recomiendo que vayas.I recommend you go.

Te pido que me digas la verdad.I'm asking you to tell me the truth.

D: doubt and denial

Dudo que sea verdad.I doubt it's true.

No creo que tenga tiempo.I don't think he has time.

Note the switch: "creo que tiene tiempo" (I think he has time) is a belief stated as fact, so it uses the indicative.

O: ojalá

Ojalá que haga sol.Hopefully it'll be sunny.

The imperfect subjunctive after past triggers

A past wish often takes the imperfect subjunctive:

Quería que vinieras.I wanted you to come.

The imperfect subjunctive also appears after si in hypothetical situations. Here it can refer to the present or future:

Si tuviera tiempo, iría.If I had time, I'd go.

How to form the present subjunctive

Take the yo form of the present, drop the -o, and add the "opposite" endings: -ar verbs take -e endings (hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen), and -er/-ir verbs take -a endings (coma, viva). Because it starts from the yo form, irregular yo forms carry over: tengo → tenga, hago → haga, digo → diga.

Six verbs don't follow this rule and are worth learning by heart: ser (sea), estar (esté), ir (vaya), saber (sepa), dar (dé) and haber (haya).

After certain conjunctions

Some linking words always take the subjunctive: para que (so that), antes de que (before), sin que (without), a menos que (unless).

Te lo explico para que lo entiendas.I'll explain it so that you understand.

Llámame antes de que salgas.Call me before you leave.

Cuando: future or habit?

After cuando, use the subjunctive when talking about the future, and the indicative for habits or the past. "Cuando llegues, llámame" (when you arrive, call me) but "Cuando llego, siempre te llamo" (when I arrive, I always call you).

Indicative or subjunctive with creer and pensar

Affirmative creer and pensar state what you believe, so they take the indicative: "Pienso que es buena idea." Negated, they express doubt and take the subjunctive: "No pienso que sea buena idea." This is one of the most common errors, even for advanced learners.

Common mistakes

• Quiero que tú vienes. → Quiero que tú vengas.

  A wish about someone else takes the subjunctive.

• Quiero que yo vaya. → Quiero ir.

  Same subject in both parts: use the infinitive, not que.

• Creo que sea verdad. → Creo que es verdad.

  Affirmative creer states a belief: indicative.

• Cuando tendré tiempo, te llamo. → Cuando tenga tiempo, te llamo.

  Cuando + a future event takes the subjunctive, never the future tense.

• Ojalá que tienes razón. → Ojalá que tengas razón.

  Ojalá always takes the subjunctive.

More examples

Busco un piso que tenga terraza.I'm looking for a flat that has a terrace.

Es una pena que no puedas venir.It's a shame you can't come.

Prefiero que me llames.I'd rather you call me.

Mis padres no quieren que salga tan tarde.My parents don't want me to go out so late.

Aunque llueva, iremos.Even if it rains, we'll go.

Test yourself

1. Espero que tú ___ (estar) bien.
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   estés
2. Es necesario que nosotros ___ (hablar).
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   hablemos
3. Creo que él ___ (tener) razón.
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   tiene: affirmative creer takes the indicative.
4. No creo que él ___ (tener) razón.
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   tenga
5. Cuando ___ (llegar, tú), llámame.
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   llegues: cuando + future takes the subjunctive.
6. Es mejor que vosotros ___ (descansar).
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   descanséis
7. Ojalá ___ (poder, nosotros) ir.
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   podamos
8. Te lo digo para que lo ___ (saber, tú).
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   sepas