• Spanish
  • English
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Españolé

Españolé

Tu escuela de español en Valencia

  • Why Españolé?
    • A very special school
    • International House
    • Valencia
  • Spanish courses
    • ALL THE COURSES
      • Intensive courses
      • Exam preparation
      • Special courses
      • Teacher training
      • Work and study
      • Summer camp
      • Preparation for University
    • OUR SPANISH COURSES
      • Methodology
      • I want to study Spanish because…
      • Get to know your teachers
      • What is your level of Spanish?
  • Accommodation
  • Live the Españolé experience
  • BLOG
  • Book now
All courses
Intensive courses Intensive 20 Intensive 25 and 30 Intensive Plus Super intensive
Exam preparation Dele Siele
Special courses Private classes Spanish and cooking Family programme Group programme Spanish in the teacher’s home
Teacher training Spanish teacher training for native teachers
Preparation for University University pathway
Summer courses Spanish and sailing Teen summer programmes
Work and study Internship Demipair Volunteer
Our Spanish courses Methodology I want to study Spanish because... Get to know your teachers What's your level of Spanish?
Learning Spanish

Spanish Subjunctive Mode: Complete Learning Guide

11 November 2022

If you are studying Spanish, you will have noticed that one of the most difficult grammar topics to learn has to do with conjugating verbs. In this article we are going to explain how to use the subjunctive mode, always a complicated topic for Spanish learners!

Let’s start by taking a look at verbs, tenses and verb modes to go deeper into the main topic: the subjunctive mode in Spanish.

Verbs: tenses and verb modes

In grammar, verbs are a type of word or grammatical category that expresses an action, that is, a movement, a condition, an achievement or a state of the subject. The verb plays a fundamental role in a sentence, since there must be at least one verb in every sentence. 

The verb contains all the information about what the subject does. This information is known as verb accidents: number, person, tense, mood and voice. 

The number and person refer to who is doing the action expressed by the verb. Voice can be active or passive. The tense indicates whether the action is past, present or future. And finally, the verb mode indicates the way in which the action is performed, as well as the attitude of the speaker with respect to what is said. 

Verb Modes

In Spanish there are three verb modes:

The Indicative mode: it is used when we want to describe real or possible actions to be carried out. It is the most commonly used. It is used to describe what is happening, what happened or what will happen. Examples:

  • Ayer nevó 
  • Hoy esta nevando
  • Mañana nevará

The Imperative mode: This mode is used exclusively to give orders. To order something to the receiver of the message in the hope of influencing his or her behavior. Example: 

  • ¡Come! 

The Subjunctive mode: The subjunctive is used to express desires, probabilities or hypothetical situations. Examples: 

  • ¡Espero que venga!
  • ¡Ojalá llueva mañana!

The subjunctive mode in Spanish

When a sentence is expressing a desire, a feeling, a doubt, a probability, an opinion or giving advice or a suggestion, the subjunctive mode is used.  Let’s see, with some practical examples, what the subjunctive mode is and how it is used in Spanish:

To express desire, feeling:

  • Espero que el examen sea fácil
  • ¿Quieres que vayamos al cine?

To express doubt:

  • No creo que pueda ir hoy a tu casa

To express probability:

  • ¡Ojalá vinieras a la fiesta!

To express advice or suggestion:

  • Te aconsejo que vendas el coche. Tiene ya muchos años.

Subjunctive mood verb tenses

The subjunctive mood has six verb forms or tenses: three simple (present, imperfect preterite and imperfect future) and three compound (perfect preterite, pluperfect preterite and future perfect). 

The future imperfect and future perfect are two verb tenses that are not normally used in everyday Spanish. They are only used in old books, legal or very formal language.

How to learn the subjunctive mode in Spanish

We are going to explain some tips for you to know when you can use the subjunctive mode in Spanish:


“Querer que…”


The subjunctive mode is very often used together with the expression “querer que…”. Let’s look at some examples:

  • Quiero que hagas la tarea del colegio: the verb hacer is conjugated in the present subjunctive. In this case it expresses desire.
  • Quieres que tu equipo gane el partido de fútbol: The verb ganar is conjugated in the present subjunctive. In this case, it also expresses desire.

“Ojalá…”

Verbs in the subjunctive mood also often appear behind the word ojalá. This word is an interjection that expresses desire for something to happen. Subjunctive mode verbs are used after the word ojalá. Let’s see some examples:

Ojalá haga sol mañana y podamos ir a la playa

Ojalá apruebe el examen y obtenga el carnet de conducir

“Para que…”

In sentences where the expression para que is used, the verb appears in the subjunctive mood. This type of expression is used in sentences to provide a purpose. Let’s see how the subjunctive is used with some examples:

Enciende el fuego para que se caliente la casa.

Estudia bien el temario para que apruebes el curso.

The subjunctive mode in Spanish is a bit complicated, it’s true. But you have to lose the fear of using it when you are learning. It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes. You have to practice and the best way is to take the plunge and not miss the opportunity to use it when you are learning.

At Españolé we can help you to improve your Spanish level. Visit our website and find out about all the Spanish courses we offer.


Check the latest posts on our blog

Visit our blog for more information about Valencia, culture and news

Advice for studentsLearning Spanish
The big Spanish family: what is a host family? 27 January 2023

Are you planning to come to Spain to study? If your answer is a clear “yes”, one of the things you will have to do is decide where you are […]

Advice for studentsLearning Spanish
How to speak Spanish? Tips and common mistakes to avoid 16 January 2023

Would you like to travel to Spain? Are you thinking of studying at a Spanish university? Do you want to learn Spanish? Have you been living in Spain for a […]

Culture and Gastronomy
Christmas sweets in Spain that are a must 5 December 2022

We are just a few days away from Christmas and I’m sure you’re already thinking about the meals you’re going to prepare! In Spain, all celebrations end with sweets, but […]

Footer
Interesting links
  • Level test
  • Courses dates and fees
  • Accommodation prices
  • Downloads
  • Photo gallery
  • Student welfare
Information
  • Enrolment conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Web developer
School address

C/ Caballeros 36
46001 Valencia (Spain)

+34 963 530 404

info@ihvalencia.com

Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube

Newsletter

Subscribe and receive news and useful info

  • Level test
  • Courses dates and fees
  • Accommodation prices
  • Downloads
  • Photo gallery
  • Student welfare
Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}