subjunctive essay phrases spanish

CHAPTER SEVEN

Spanish subjunctive phrases: 33 incredibly useful phrases to help you master the subjunctive.

The Spanish Obsessive

• What is the subjunctive? A brief introduction
• Spanish subjunctive conjugations: Verb forms and quiz
• Spanish subjunctive uses and meanings
• Deep dive 1: Noun clauses
• Deep dive 2: Adjective clauses
• Deep dive 3: Additional uses
• 33 Spanish subjunctive phrases to memorise now (this chapter)

A little bit about these phrases

Download these phrases.

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Phrases with sea

Sea  comes from the verb  ser , “to be”. It’s an extremely common verb, and is the most common Spanish verb that you’ll find in the subjunctive:

O sea…  That is…

We’ve started with the most common expression that you’ll hear.  O sea  means “that is”, “in other words”, “or rather”, “that is to say”. You’ll hear it all the time, almost as a verbal tic among native Spanish speakers across the Spanish speaking world.

Sea como sea –   No matter how, at any cost

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/1-1+como+sea.mp3

Cuando sea –  Whenever

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/1-2+cuando+sea.mp3

Ya sea por x o y – whether it be for x or y

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/1-3+ya+sea+por.mp3

You can use ya sea por to mean “whether”, and this usually comes with an “or”, for example:  ya sea por motivos de trabajo o diversión   (“whether it be for reasons of work or fun”)

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/1-4+ya+sea+por+motivos+de.mp3

Phrases with aunque  sea

Aunque  means “although”, and  aunque sea  is one of the most common constructions you’ll hear. Learn these phrases using  aunque sea  to build fluency in your conversation:

Aunque sea poco –  Although it’s a little/not much

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/2-2+aunque+sea+poco.mp3

Aunque sea difícil –  Although it’s difficult

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/2-3+aunque+sea+dificil.mp3

Aunque sea pequeño –  Although it’s small

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/2-4+aunque+sea+pequeno.mp3

Aunque sea duro –  Although it’s difficult/tough

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/2-5+aunque+sea+duro.mp3

Phrases with  ojalá

Ojalá  stands out as a Spanish word, and it is  always followed by the subjunctive . The history of this little word is fascinating – it’s originally from the Arabic  Insha’Allah! , meaning “If God wills”. Today it’s used to mean “I hope”, or “may it be so”. Here are some of the most common phrases using  ojalá :

Ojalá sea pronto – I hope it is soon

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/2-6+ojala+sea+pronto.mp3

Ojalá puedas ayudarme – I hope you can help me

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-2+ojala+puedas+ayudarme.mp3

Ojalá hubiera más – I wish there were more

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-3+ojala+hubiera.mp3

Ojalá llegue – I hope he/she/it arrives

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-4+ojala+llegue.mp3

Although purists sometimes argue that  ojalá que  is incorrect, in everday Spanish it is used all the time. Here are some phrases using  ojalá que :

Ojalá que salga bien –  I hope it turns out ok

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-6+ojala+que+salga+bien.mp3

Ojalá que haya sido… –  I hope it’s been…

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/3-5+ojala+que+haya+sido.mp3

And while we’re at it, there’s a song called “ Ojalá que llueva café”  (“I hope it rains coffee”):

Phrases with cuando

Cuando  is often used with the subjunctive. It’s usually used with a verb to refer to some future action or event which is not yet a reality (hence the use of the subjunctive):

Cuando sea necesario  – When it’s necessary

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-1+cuando+sea+necesario.mp3

Cuando esté hecho  – When it’s done

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-2+cuando+este+hecho.mp3

Cuando esté conmigo  – When it/he/she is with me

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-3+cuando+este+conmigo.mp3

Cuando tengas tiempo – When you have time

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-4+cuando+tengas+tiempo.mp3

Cuando venga – When he/she/it arrives

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-5+cuando+venga.mp3

Cuando salga  – When he/she it leaves

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/4-6+cuando+salga.mp3

Phrases with quiero que

Quiero que (I want) almost always takes the subjunctive, as it refers to the imposition of will or desire. These very common short phrases illustrate that perfectly:

Quiero que sepas – I want you to know

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/5-1+quiero+que+sepas.mp3

Quiero que vuelva  – I want him/her/it to return

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/5-2+quiero+que+vuelva.mp3

Phrases with para que

Para que means “so that”, and is often used with the subjunctive:

Para que veas  – So that you see

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/6-1+para+que+veas.mp3

Para que funcione – So that it works

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/6-2+para+que+funcione.mp3

Para que sepas  – So that you know

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/6-3+para+que+sepas.mp3

Impersonal expressions with the Spanish subjunctive

An impersonal expression simply means that no personal pronoun (ie,  yo, tú, usted, etc)  is used. These take the form “es ADJECTIVE que”, and are often followed by the subjunctive. Note that when you are sure about the result of something, or affirming the reality of something, the indicative is used (e.g.  Es cierto que sabe ):

Es posible que haya…  – It’s possible that there is…

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-1+es+posible+que+haya.mp3

Es probable que sea  – It’s probable that it’s…

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-2+es+probable+que+sea.mp3

Es importante que sepas – It’s important that you know

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-5+es+importante+que+sepas.mp3

Es posible que exista  – It’s possible that it exists

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/spanishobsessedblogposts/subjunctive+phrases/7-3+es+posible+que+exista.mp3

These are some of the most common and popular expressions that you’ll hear using the Spanish subjunctive, and will help you build mastery of this “mood”. Are there any common expressions that you use? Let us know in the comments below!

9 Responses

muy útil! muchas gracias

Brilliant teaching! Just what I was looking for. A clear, logical, step-by-step introduction to a subject that seemed overwhelming to me. Thank you!!!

Thank you for helping me understand how and when to use the subjunctive. I have been studying Spanish for over 3 years and still struggle with the Subjunctive mood. Poco a Poco!! Thanks again!

Thank you. Fantastic and great way of mastering Subjunctive

Fantastic clarity for a change! Many thanks

This is a really great source for helping to master the subjuntive. Thank you!

Extremely helpful for my A level Spanish speaking exam! Muchas gracias:)

I echo these comments! Utterly helpful, and crystal clear! Muchas gracias…

This is a great tool, but doesn’t download in a form that is very useful on a Mac. A .pdf would be better! 🙂

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A Simple Guide to Master the Spanish Subjunctive

The Spanish subjunctive mood is crucial for delivering messages as simple as wishing a person a good day or giving advice. In short, this verb mood is fundamental to understanding and communicating effectively. So, in this subjunctive Spanish guide, you’ll find key information about this mood. 

Here is what we’ll cover: 

• Subjunctive formula 
• When Not to Use the Subjunctive
• Present 
• Compound tenses
• Downloadable PDF

How & When to Use the Subjunctive in Spanish

The Spanish subjunctive mood refers to subjective and hypothetical situations. In simple words, el subjuntivo allows us to: 

• Express hopes and wishes
• Give advice or suggestions
• Describe qualities of unknown people or things
• Request or demand something
• Express feelings and emotions about an event
• Communicate doubts and possibilities 

Unlike the indicative mood that focuses on certainty and reality, the subjunctive in Spanish is highly hypothetical . Check these examples: 

Ojalá tengas un buen viaje.  I hope you have a good trip. 

Les recomendé que vieran esta película.  I recommended them to watch this movie. 

Busco una casa que sea grande y accesible.  I’m looking for a house that is big and affordable. 

Señora, es necesario que se quede quieta.  Ma’am, you need to stay still. 

Me da tristeza que ustedes no se lleven bien.  It makes me sad that you don’t get along . 

No creo que David vaya a venir.  I don’t think David is going to come. 

Let’s go over some of these sentences. The underlined words are Spanish verbs or phrases in indicative form that express wishes, doubts, feelings, demands, etc. The bolded ones (subjunctive) refer to the action or person towards which we direct this subjectivity.

Take sentence #2 as an example. In this statement, we must use the Spanish subjunctive because, despite my suggestions, we have no way of knowing if my friends are actually going to watch what I said. 

This logic applies to all applications except when referring to emotions (sentence #5), which expresses how someone’s action makes you feel. 

Take Note : WEIRDO is a popular acronym that provides a simplified explanation of the Spanish subjunctive. However, don’t forget that you must also use this mood to describe characteristics of unknown people or places.  

Me gustaría tener un celular que tome buenas fotos.  I would like to have a phone that takes good pictures. 

Bethany quiere un novio que sepa cocinar.  Bethany wants a boyfriend that knows how to cook. 

Formula for the subjunctive

In Spanish, sentences that use the subjunctive mood follow a distinctive structure –they have a main and a subordinate clause . In simple terms, subjunctive sentences have two verbs and two subjects.  

This structure conveys that a person wishes, feels a certain way, suggests, doubts, or demands that someone else does or has something. 

Here is the formula for the Spanish subjunctive: 

[Indicative verb] + que + [verb in subjunctive]

Yo quería que ustedes me ayudaran .  I wanted you guys to help me . 

Nos alegra que estés bien.  We are happy that you are okay. 

¿Quién crees que le haya dicho a Mary? Who do you think told Mary? 

Remember that Spanish subject pronouns can be omitted in a sentence since the conjugation already conveys who the subject is. Also, notice that the verb in subjunctive mood often matches the tense used in the main clause (verb #1). 

Simply put, if the first part of the sentence is in present indicative tense, the verb in subjunctive form must also be in present form.

The Spanish subjunctive is also formed with impersonal expressions . These triggers use a similar formula: 

[Impersonal expression] + que + [verb in subjunctive]

Es importante que leas las instrucciones.  It’s important that you read the instructions. 

Señora, no es necesario que regrese .  Ma’am, you don’t need to come back . 

Ojalá is a conjunction or interjection that triggers the subjunctive in Spanish, and it often omits the word ‘que’: 

Ojalá puedan venir.  I hope you can come. 

Take Note : Reflexive verbs in subjunctive form follow the same conjugation pattern as non-reflexive verbs. However, don’t forget to place the appropriate reflexive pronoun before the conjugated verb – E.g. Espero que te duermas temprano. 

When Not to Use the Subjunctive in Spanish

So, now that you know when to use the subjunctive in Spanish, let’s see when you should not use this mood. 

Use the Spanish indicative mood instead of the subjunctive to express certainty or objectivity . In short, to refer to real actions or events that are perceived as factual. Check these sentences: 

María no es muy amable.  Maria is not very nice. 

Espero que hoy María sea un poco más amable.  I hope that today Maria is nicer. 

Notice that the first example is a description based on facts and reality . We describe how Maria is based on our experience. However, the second example (in the present subjunctive ) conveys hope about her behavior; like any hope, there’s no certainty that it will happen. 

As you know, sentences with the subjunctive are formed with two subjects or an impersonal expression. However, the subjunctive is not used if those hopes, demands, advice, or doubts are directed toward the same subject. In such cases, you must use an infinitive verb . 

[Verb conjugated] + [infinitive]

Espero llegar temprano.  I hope I arrive early. 

Ustedes necesitan descansar más.  You guys need to rest more. 

Sandra quería viajar con su familia.  Sandra wanted to travel with her family. 

Take Note: The subjunctive is one of the three Spanish verb moods . Although they’re often confused, the indicative and subjunctive express different meanings. So, you should take the time to understand when to use subjunctive or indicative in Spanish . 

Spanish Subjunctive Tenses & Conjugations

There are four main subjunctive Spanish tenses used in the modern-day Spanish language: 

Simple subjunctive tenses: 

• Present subjunctive
• Imperfect or past subjunctive 

Compound subjunctive tenses: 

• Present perfect subjunctive
• Past perfect subjunctive

Let’s check the endings that you’ll use for each tense. 

Take Note : The subjunctive mood also has future and future perfect tenses. However, these tenses have fallen out of use and, as a result, you shouldn’t worry about learning them. 

Present subjunctive 

The Spanish present subjunctive is used to express current wishes, demands, emotions, and doubts and describes unknown people or things in the present. The regular endings to form this tense are: 

Ojalá que Juan compre más galletas.  I hope Juan buys more cookies. 

Ven a verme cuando termines .  Come to see me when you finish . 

Check the rules to conjugate the Spanish present subjunctive since these forms are heavily based in the present indicative. 

Imperfect subjunctive

On top of expressing past hopes, skepticism, and suggestions, the imperfect subjunctive in Spanish is also used to express politeness. The past subjunctive endings for regular and irregular verbs are: 

Esperaba que tuvieras tiempo de ayudarme.  I was hoping that you had time to help me. 

Mis amigos querían que fuésemos a correr.  My friends wanted us to go running. 

As you can probably tell, the past perfect subjunctive conjugation leverages the past preterite tense forms. 

Take Note: The past imperfect subjunctive tense has two different endings (conjugation models) depending on whether you’re using Latin American or Castilian Spanish. Check out the guide on this tense to learn more.

Compound tenses 

The compound forms of the Spanish subjunctive are formed with the same elements – the auxiliary verb haber and a past participle . 

Although they’re formed with the same elements, these forms have different purposes. 

The Spanish present perfect subjunctive conveys current emotions, wishes, or uncertainty about a past action relevant to the present. For instance: 

No creo que Luis se haya enojado contigo.  I don’t think Luis got upset with you. 

Dudo que los niños hayan limpiado su cuarto.  I doubt that the kids have cleaned their room. 

On the other hand, the past perfect subjunctive in Spanish allows you to express regrets and hypotheses about things that could have happened: 

Ojalá me hubieras dicho antes.  I wish you had told me sooner. 

Si hubieras ido , te habrías divertido. If you had gone , you would have had fun.  

Key Points: Subjunctive Rules

The subjunctive mood is crucial for communicating clearly and effectively in Spanish. Here are some important rules and main ideas to remember: 

• The Spanish subjunctive conveys the speaker’s subjectivity . 
• As a result, it’s used to express uncertainty, hopes, feelings about an action or behavior, requests, and suggestions, and describe the qualities of an unknown person or place.
• The actions expressed with the subjunctive are hypothetical because they have not occurred, and we do not know if they will happen. 
• Sentences with the subjunctive use two subjects and two verbs . 
• Subjunctive statements express that someone wishes, suggests, or has a certain emotion or doubts about another person’s actions, behaviors, or states. 
• We must use an infinitive verb when the hopes, needs, or recommendations are directed toward the same subject . 
• The subjunctive mood in Spanish has four main tenses : present, past, present perfect, and past perfect. 

Subjunctive Spanish Additional Resources

For many Spanish learners, the subjunctive mood can be challenging. To master it, you should first know what Spanish verb moods are and how they work. Understanding the differences between indicative and subjunctive can help you familiarize yourself with the applications of this mood. 

Also, identifying phrases and verbs that trigger the subjunctive will allow you to quickly know when to use the subjunctive. Finally, I encourage you to check our conjugation hub page so that you can practice the conjugation endings for the subjunctive forms. 

Download the Spanish Subjunctive Mood PDF

The Spanish subjunctive mood is by far the most difficult mood and set of tenses for most learners to understand and use in their daily conversations. I’ve created a PDF for this guide you can download for free to review whenever you need. It has all the graphics, key points, and rules for how and when to use the subjunctive in Spanish

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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52 Spanish Essay Phrases for Your AP Exam

In order to do well on the AP Spanish exam’s   free-response  section, you must be able to write a persuasive essay based on three Spanish-language sources.

Here we’ve put together a list of 52 vocabulary words and essays phrases that will come in handy for making and supporting arguments in your AP Spanish essays.

Handy Essay Phrases for Writing a Strong Spanish AP Composition

Starting your essay, agreeing and disagreeing, stating an opinion, supporting an opinion, contrasting (or comparing), transitional phrases, changing topics, concluding your essay, how to prepare for the ap spanish essay, what are the details of the ap spanish essay, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Para empezar – To begin with

Hoy en día – Nowadays…

Hoy en día, las personas están en Internet hasta ocho horas por día. (Nowadays, people are on the Internet up to eight hours per day.)

A manera de introducción – We can start by saying…

Como punto de partida – As a starting point

Al principio – At the beginning… 

En primer lugar  – To start… 

Empecemos por considerar – Let’s begin by considering…

Estoy de acuerdo/No estoy de acuerdo — I agree/I disagree

Estoy de acuerdo con lo que dice el autor. (I agree with what the author says.)

No estoy de acuerdo con la idea principal de la fuente número dos . (I disagree with the main idea of source number two.)

En mi opinión — In my opinion

En mi opinión, los jóvenes deberían comer más sano. (In my opinion, young people should eat healthier.)

La verdad es   — The truth is

La verdad es que todavía hay mucha desigualdad en los Estados Unidos . (The truth is there is still a lot of inequality in the United States.)

Es verdad  — It’s true

Es verdad que las redes sociales pueden ser peligrosas . (It’s true that social media can be dangerous.)

Es falso   —   It’s false

Hay gente que dice que las redes sociales son peligrosas, pero esto es falso . (There are people who say that social media is dangerous, but this is false.)

Me parece/No me parece   —   It seems to me/It doesn’t seem to me

Me parece bien que los niños asistan a colegios bilingües . (I think it’s a good idea that children attend bilingual schools.)

No me parece bien que los niños asistan a colegios bilingües . (I don’t think it’s a good idea that children attend bilingual schools.)

Remember that since me parece implies an opinion or emotion, you must conjugate the verb in the subjunctive tense.

(Yo) pienso que   —   I think that

Yo pienso que no hay nada más importante que la familia . (I think that there is nothing more important than family.)

(Yo) creo que  — I believe that

Yo creo que todos los adolescentes deberían aprender a tocar un instrumento . (I believe that all adolescents should learn to play an instrument.)

The following phrases all have the same structure: Es  + adjective +  que .

This structure is similar to the English “It’s [adjective] that…” and is great for expressing and supporting opinions in a strong and confident manner. Here are some phrases that are especially useful when making and defending claims in a persuasive essay:

Es evidente que   —   It’s evident that

Es claro que   —   It’s clear that

Es cierto que  —   It’s certain that

Es obvio que   — It’s obvious that

Es importante que  — It’s important that

Es necesario que   — It’s necessary that

Es probable que   —   It’s probable that

Es dudoso que  — It’s doubtful that

For some of these phrases, the verb following the word que must be conjugated in the indicative, while others require the subjunctive . A good rule of thumb is that when implying that something is certain, use the indicative. When expressing doubt or expressing some other emotion, use the subjunctive.

On this list, evidente, claro, cierto  and obvio use indicative verbs, and importante, necesario, probable  and dudoso use subjunctive verbs.

Es cierto que nuestro clima está cambiando . (It is certain that our climate is changing.)

Es importante que la gente sepa hablar más de un idioma . (It’s important that people know how to speak more than one language.)

These words will help you refer to your three sources, which contain information that will help you support your argument. This section also contains transition words to connect one part of your argument to the next.

Según   — According to  

Según el autor… (according to the author…)

La fuente  —   The source

Según la fuente numero 1… (According to source number one…)

El tema   —   The theme/topic

Esto es un tema muy importante. (This is a very important topic.)

Mostrar   —   To show

La fuente muestra la importancia de la diversidad. (The source shows the importance of diversity.)

Remember, mostrar is an o-ue stem-changing verb—pay attention to conjugation!

Demostrar   —   To demonstrate

La tabla demuestra que muchos jóvenes en España juegan al fútbol. (The table demonstrates that many youths in Spain play football.)

Demostrar is also an o-ue stem changing verb. Luckily for you, it follows the exact same conjugation rules as mostrar !

Indicar   —   To indicate

La tabla indica que hay muchas familias pobres en ese barrio. (The table indicates that there are many poor families in that neighborhood.)

Apoyar   —   To support

Estos datos apoyan la idea de que el clima está cambiando. (This data supports the idea that the climate is changing)

Sin duda   — Without a doubt

Sin duda, el cambio climático es el problema más grave que enfrenta nuestra planeta. (Without a doubt, climate change is the most serious problem that our planet faces.)

Por otra parte   — On the other hand

Es importante que la economía crezca, pero por otra parte, tenemos que cuidar el medio ambiente. (It’s important that the economy grows, but on the other hand, we have to care for the environment.)

Aunque   — Even though/Although

Aunque is followed by an indicative verb when the outcome is known, but a subjunctive verb when the outcome is speculative.

Aunque cuesta mucho dinero, tenemos que buscar una solución. (Even though it costs a lot of money, we have to search for a solution.)

Aunque cueste mucho dinero, tenemos que buscar una solución . (Even though it may cost a lot of money, we have to search for a solution.)

Al igual que  —   Just like

Al igual que en los años 40, hoy en día hay mucha gente que no quiere ayudar a los refugiados de guerra . (Just like in the 40s, today there are many people who don’t want to help war refugees.)

Tanto… como… — … as well as…

Fill in this phrase with two nouns to emphasize that you’re talking equally about two different things.

Tanto chicos como chicas deberían aprender a cocinar, limpiar, coser y cuidar a los bebés. (Boys as well as girls ought to learn how to cook, clean, sew and care for babies.)  

Sino   —   But rather

Remember that Spanish has two translations for the English word “but.” The word sino is like the English phrase “but rather,” used to introduce an alternative.

En comparación  —   In comparison

En comparación, la fuente número 2 indica que hay más obesidad en Estados Unidos que en España . (In comparison, source number 2 indicates that there is more obesity in the United States than in Spain.)

Leer no es una pérdida de tiempo, sino una manera de aprender y de conocer otras culturas . (Reading isn’t a waste of time, but rather a way to learn and understand other cultures.)

Además  — Additionally

This word is usually seen at the beginning of a sentence, and it’s useful for transitioning from one idea or argument to another.

Además, es evidente que la tecnología nos ayuda mucho. (Additionally, it’s evident that technology helps us a lot.)

Sin embargo   —   However

This is another good transition word. In your essay, you may want to present an alternate argument and then explain why you disagree with it. Sin embargo is very helpful for this.

Obviamente, estudiar es muy importante. Sin embargo, es necesario que los adolescentes tengan tiempo para jugar con sus amigos . (Obviously, studying is very important. However, it’s necessary that teenagers have time to play with their friends.)

Por lo cual   —   For this reason/That’s why/Which is why

This phrase is used in the middle of a sentence to connect ideas.

La Amazonía tiene un alto nivel de biodiversidad, por lo cual la conservación de esta región debe ser una prioridad.  (The Amazon has a high level of biodiversity, which is why the conservation of this region must be a priority.)

Sobre un tema relacionado — On a related topic

Sobre un tema relacionado con la inteligencia artificial, se están llevando a cabo investigaciones para mejorar la capacidad de aprendizaje de los algoritmos de machine learning.  (Regarding a topic related to artificial intelligence, research is being conducted to enhance the learning capacity of machine learning algorithms.)

Cuando se trata de –  When it comes to

Relacionado con esta idea — Related to this idea

Una idea similar es — A similar idea is

Una idea similar es utilizar la realidad virtual como herramienta educativa para mejorar la experiencia de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. (A similar idea is to use virtual reality as an educational tool to enhance the learning experience of students.)

Ahora estoy pasando a  — Now moving onto

In your final paragraph, you’ll want to provide a summary of your main argument and your main supporting points. You can use the following helpful phrases:

En conclusión   —   In conclusion

En resumen   —   In summary

En fin   —   Finally

En conclusión,/En resumen,/En fin, las tres fuentes muestran que la contaminación del aire es un problema muy grave para todo el mundo . (In summary, the three sources show that air pollution is a very serious problem for the whole world.)

After summarizing your essay, you’ll want to restate your main argument in a succinct, strongly-worded sentence. Start with these phrases:

Por estas razones   —   For these reasons

Por eso  — That is why

Así que   —   Therefore

Entonces  — So

Por estas razones,/Por eso,/Así que/Entonces, afirmo que los adolescentes no deberían usar las redes sociales. (For these reasons, I affirm that teenagers should not use social media.)

In many ways, preparing for the free-response section is the same as preparing for the rest of the AP exam.

It involves studying grammar and vocabulary, and it also means immersing yourself in the Spanish language as much as possible.

There are also some targeted ways to practice for the free-response section.

• Do practice exams and read sample essays. The College Board  has posted the full AP exams from the last several years. Try to read the sources and write the essay in the allotted 55 minutes. When you’re done, go back and slowly revise your essay for errors in grammar, spelling and logic. After that, you can also check out the grading rubric provided by the College Board and several sample persuasive essays . Try to compare your essay against the rubric and the samples to see how you can improve your writing.
• Practice summarizing and analyzing Spanish-language sources. Remember all those great resources listed above? Well, it’s not enough to just read or listen to them. The whole point of the presentational essay is to measure your ability to summarize, synthesize and argue. So, after you read or listen to a Spanish-language source, take five minutes to summarize it—on paper. Identify the main argument, and then make a bulleted list of important points. Finally, write a few sentences summarizing your personal opinion.
• Learn targeted vocabulary for talking about opinions and arguments. Is there anything more frustrating than knowing exactly what you want to say, but not having the vocabulary to say it? This article lists many crucial vocabulary words for expressing and supporting opinions in persuasive essays. Using these words and phrases will help make your writing flow more smoothly, and allow you to argue with more credibility.

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You can also find some great info on great news outlets , podcasts , YouTube channels  and blogs —all in Spanish. Even following some Spanish Twitter feeds or listening to Spanish music can be a great way to work a little language practice into your day.

The free-response section of the exam is meant to test your ability to communicate with others in spoken and written Spanish.

There are two essays in the free-response section. The interpersonal essay asks you to respond to an email. The presentational essay  tests how well you can draw information from Spanish-language sources, form an argument and write formally. This second essay is a little less straightforward, so we’ll walk you through it here.

So, how does it work?

The presentational essay is based on three sources . Two of them are written sources and one is an audio source.

These sources can be just about anything: Advertisements, articles, infographics, letters, maps, interviews, radio programs, podcasts and conversations are just some examples of the types of sources you may encounter.

You’ll have about 55 minutes to complete this particular essay. First, you’ll have six minutes to read the prompt and the two written sources, and then you’ll hear the audio source twice. Finally, you’ll have 40 minutes to plan and write your essay.

The essay is graded on the basis of Spanish language skills like reading, listening, writing and grammar—but it’s also based on your general ability to analyze the sources and make a strong, coherent argument.

Of course, learning vocabulary and essay phrases is just one way to prepare for the free-response section.

Remember to expose yourself to as many Spanish-language sources as you can before test day, and don’t forget to think critically about those sources as you read them!

If you've made it this far that means you probably enjoy learning Spanish with engaging material and will then love FluentU .

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FluentU has a wide variety of videos, as you can see here:

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Review a complete interactive transcript under the Dialogue tab, and find words and phrases listed under Vocab .

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Lesson Topics

• Show All | Collapse All
• 1. Gender of Nouns I
• 2. Gender of Nouns II
• 3. Numbers: 1-10
• 4. Plural Forms of Nouns
• 5. Def. & Indef. Articles
• 6. The Verb Form "hay"
• 7. Subject Pronouns
• 8. Reg. Verbs I
• 9. Reg. Verbs II
• 10. Reg. Verbs III
• 11. Adjectives I
• 12. Adjectives II
• 13. Days of the Week
• 14. Numbers: 11-30
• 15. Ser and Estar I
• 16. Ser and Estar II
• 17. Ser and Estar III
• 18. Ser and Estar IV
• 19. Negation
• 20. Questions
• 21. Poss. Adjectives
• 22. Tener, venir
• 23. Tener que / Hay que
• 24. Exp. with "Tener"
• 25. Weather Expressions
• 26. The Personal "a"
• 27. Contractions
• 28. Stem-Changing Verbs: o:ue
• 29. Stem-Changing Verbs: e:ie
• 30. Stem-changing verbs: e:i
• 31. Estar, Ir, Dar
• 32. "Ir a" + infinitive
• 33. Acabar de
• 34. Volver a
• 35. Ordinal Numbers
• 36. Months, Seasons, and Dates
• 37. Comparisons of Inequality
• 38. Comparisons of Equality
• 39. Superlatives
• 40. Pronouns as Objects of Prepositions
• 41. Dir. Object Pronouns I
• 42. Dir. Object Pronouns II
• 43. Dir. Object Pronouns III
• 44. Ind. Object Pronouns I
• 45. Ind. Object Pronouns II
• 46. Ind. Object Pronouns III
• 47. DO and IO Pronouns Together
• 48. Verbs Like Gustar
• 49. Present Progressive
• 50. Verbs with Irregular 1st Persons
• 51. Saber vs Conocer / Pedir vs Preguntar
• 52. Numbers: 31-1000
• 53. Telling Time
• 54. Por and Para
• 55. Irreg. Comparatives
• 56. Demonstratives
• 57. Time Expressions With Hacer
• 58. Possessive Pronouns
• 59. Reflexive Verbs I
• 60. Reflexive Verbs II
• 61. Definite Article II
• 62. Pret. vs Imp. I
• 63. Preterite I
• 64. Imperfect I
• 65. Preterite II
• 66. Imperfect II
• 67. Pret. vs Imp. II
• 68. Preterite III
• 69. Imperfect III
• 70. Preterite IV
• 71. Preterite V
• 72. Preterite VI
• 73. Pret. vs Imp. III
• 74. Pret. vs Imp. Review
• 75. "Hace ..." to mean "ago"
• 76. Formation of Adverbs
• 78. Subjunctive II: Conjugating regular and stem-changing verbs
• 79. Subjunctive III: Verbs that change orthographically
• 80. Subjunctive IV: Irregular verbs
• 81. Subjunctive V: Desire
• 82. Subjunctive VI: Ignorance, doubt
• 83. Subjunctive VII: Impersonal Expressions
• 84. Subjunctive VIII: Actions not yet completed
• 85. Rel. Pronouns - que
• 86. Rel. Pronouns - quien
• 87. Rel. Pronouns - el que and lo que
• 88. Rel. Adjective - cuyo
• 89. Rel. Pronouns and Adjectives - Review
• 90. Formal Commands
• 91. Inform. Commands - tú
• 92. Irreg. Commands - tú
• 93. Using Object Pronouns with Commands
• 94. Commands Review I
• 95. Informal Commands - vosotros
• 96. 1st Person Commands - nosotros
• 97. Indirect Commands
• 98. Commands Review II
• 100. Past Participle
• 101. Present Perfect
• 102. Past Perfect (Pluperfect)
• 103. Future Perfect
• 104. Conditional
• 105. Imperfect Subjunctive I
• 106. Imperfect Subjunctive II
• 107. Imperfect Subjunctive III
• 108. Rules of Accentuation

Subjunctive: Part I

• The written lesson is below.
• Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

All too frequently, the topic of the subjunctive is made far more difficult than is necessary. Let’s try a slightly different approach, with the goal of making this topic less troublesome.

The subjunctive is not a tense; rather, it is a mood. Tense refers to when an action takes place (past, present, future), while mood merely reflects how the speaker feels about the action. The subjunctive mood is rarely used in English, but it is widely used in Spanish.

Here are some examples of the subjunctive being used in English:

The doctor recommends that he take the pills with food. Subjunctive conjugation: he take The law requires that you be 18 years old to vote. Subjunctive conjugation: you be If I were a rich man, I wouldn’t have to work hard. Subjunctive conjugation: I were

So far, you have studied verb tenses in the indicative mood. The indicative mood is used to express factual information, certainty, and objectivity.

Usted va al Perú en diciembre. You are going to Peru in December.

The above sentence merely reports the fact that you are going to Peru in December, so the indicative mood is used.

Let’s change the above example slightly:

No dudo que usted va al Perú en diciembre. I don’t doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

In the above sentence, the clause “no dudo” introduces a quality of certainty , — the speaker has no doubt, so the indicative mood is used in the second clause (va) as well as the first (no dudo) .

Let’s make another slight change to our example:

Dudo que usted vaya al Perú en diciembre. I doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

In the above sentence, the clause “dudo” introduces a quality of uncertainty , — the speaker does have doubt, so here the subjunctive mood is used in the second clause (vaya) .

The subjunctive mood is used to express everything except certainty and objectivity: things like doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, etc.

Yo dudo que usted vaya al Perú en diciembre. I doubt that you are going to Peru in December.

Since the above statement does not express certainty, the subjunctive (vaya) is required in the second clause.

The difference between indicative and subjunctive is the difference between certainty/objectivity (indicative) and possibility/subjectivity (subjunctive).

John goes to the store. (This sentence merely states the certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.) I know that John goes to the store. (The clause “I know” tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.) There is no doubt that John goes to the store. (The clause “there is no doubt” tells us that the speaker feels that it is a certain, objective fact that John goes to the store.)

Subjunctive

I want John to go to the store. (The clause “I want” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.) I hope that John goes to the store. (The clause “I hope” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.) It is possible that John will go to the store. (The clause “it is possible” tells us that the speaker feels that there is uncertainty as to whether John goes to the store.) It’s good that John goes to the store. (The clause “it’s good” alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.) It’s important that John goes to the store. (The clause “it’s important” alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)

Because there must be some uncertainty or subjectivity to warrant the use of the subjunctive, you will usually see it in sentences that contain a main clause which introduces a quality of uncertainty or subjectivity.

I hope she will come. I hope = main clause I know she will come. I know = main clause I feel she will come. I feel = main clause.

The above examples all have main clauses, but only the first and the third introduce an element of uncertainty or subjectivity.

In learning to use the subjunctive, it is quite helpful if one can first recognize such clauses. The following is a list of clauses commonly associated with the use of the subjunctive:

a menos que … unless … antes (de) que … before … con tal (de) que … provided that … cuando … when … conviene que … it is advisable that … después (de) que … after … dudar que … to doubt that … en caso de que … in case … en cuanto … as soon as … es aconsejable que … it’s advisable that … es bueno que … it’s good that … es difícil que … it’s unlikely that … es dudoso que … it is doubtful that … es fácil que … it’s likely that … es fantástico que … it’s fantastic that … es importante que … it’s important that … es imposible que … it’s impossible that … es improbable que … it’s unlikely that … es incierto que … it’s uncertain that … es increíble que … it’s incredible that … es (una) lástima que … it’s a pity that … es malo que … it’s bad that … es mejor que … it’s better that … es menester que … it’s necessary that … es necesario que … it’s necessary that … esperar que … to wish that … es posible que … it’s possible that … es preciso que … it’s necessary that … es preferible que … it’s preferable that … es probable que … it’s probable that … es raro que … it’s rare that … es ridículo que … it’s ridiculous that … estar contento que to be happy that … es terrible que … it’s terrible that … hasta que … until … insistir en que … to insist that … mandar que … to order that … más vale que … it’s better that … mientras que … while … negar que … to deny that … no creer que … not to believe that … no es cierto que … it’s not certain that … no estar convencido de que … to not be convinced that … no estar seguro de que … to not be sure that … no es verdad que … it’s not true that … no imaginarse que … to not imagine that … no parecer que … to not seem that … no pensar que … to not think that … no suponer que … to not suppose that … ojalá que … if only he would … para que … in order that … pedir que … to ask that … preferir que … to prefer that … prohibir que … to prohibit that … puede ser que … it may be that … querer que … to want that … recomendar que … to recommend that … rogar que … to plead that … sentir que … to regret that … sin que … without … sugerir que … to suggest that … tan pronto como … as soon as … temer que … to fear that … tener miedo de que … to be afraid that …

As you can see, the list is quite long, and this isn’t even a complete list! There are even more expressions that trigger use of the subjunctive that we haven’t included. Instead of trying to memorize such a long list, why not familiarize yourself with a much shorter list of expressions with which the subjunctive is not used?

creer que … to believe that … no dudar que … to not doubt that … es cierto que … it is certain that … es claro que … it is clear that … es evidente que … it is certain that … es obvio que … it is obvious that … estar seguro que … to be sure that … es verdad que … it is true that … no cabe duda que … there’s no doubt that … no es dudoso que … it is not doubtful that … no hay duda que … there is no doubt that …

Since these expressions introduce a quality of certainty , they do not trigger the use of the subjunctive.

If you encounter a sentence with a main clause followed by a second clause, and the main clause introduces a quality of certainty or objectivity , the sentence will use the indicative mood in the second clause, since the sentence will be reporting something certain.

If you encounter a sentence with a main clause followed by a second clause, and the main clause does not introduce a quality of certainty or objectivity , the sentence will usually use the subjunctive mood in the second clause, since the sentence will not be reporting something certain.

Let’s add another flashcard to remind us of the fundamental difference between the indicative and subjunctive moods:

Verb Flashcards Complete List

Indicative Mood certainty and objectivity Subjunctive Mood uncertainty and subjectivity

Your Best Guide To The Spanish Subjunctive (With Examples)

• Read time 14 mins

If you saw the word “subjunctive” in the title and felt a challenge coming on, you’re right - the Spanish subjunctive can be a bit difficult.

But don’t panic.

In this Spanish subjunctive guide, I’ll explain for you what subjunctive verbs are and provide lots of examples.

You’ll find that it’s quite straightforward. Let’s begin.

What is the Spanish subjunctive and when is it used?

You should use the Spanish subjunctive mood when mentioning a hypothetical situation or discussing something you hope will occur .

You should also use the subjunctive mood to talk about something you doubt will happen and when using a negated command .

Here are examples to show how to use the Spanish subjunctive for the situations mentioned above:

Ojalá pudiera hacer más ejercicio.

Quiero que vengas a la fiesta hoy.

No creo que estés muy contento.

¡No cantes tan alto! Estamos en la biblioteca.

Present and past Spanish subjunctive mood examples

Depending on the sentence you’re writing or saying, the Spanish subjunctive mood can take the present or past tense.

Here are two examples of the present subjunctive mood, one example of the imperfect past subjunctive mood, and one example of the pluscuamperfecto (compound) past subjunctive mood:

Espero que no tengas un catarro.

Daremos un premio al panadero que haga el mejor pastel.

Si tuviera más confianza en mí misma, no tendría tanta ansiedad.

Desearía que nunca hubieras dicho eso.

Continue reading for more information on these verb types for the subjunctive mood.

What is the present Spanish subjunctive mood?

The present Spanish subjunctive mood is just that - a mood demonstrated by certain verbs that your speech or writing reflects when you are doubtful or hopeful.

In other words, when you are doubtful or hopeful, you should use a new set of Spanish verbs to show this.

How do you conjugate the present subjunctive Spanish mood?

The table below shows how to conjugate the present subjunctive Spanish verbs.

It helps to understand how to conjugate the indicative present tense verbs first.

If you haven’t studied the Spanish subjunctive in a Spanish course, check the linked article to understand Spanish verb conjugation.

If you have already reached the B1 level and want to revise the present subjunctive conjugations, go straight to the following table:

If you cast your mind back to the conjugations of these three verbs in the indicative tense, you will remember that the suffixes are different.

That’s because, for the conjugations of the subjunctive verbs, the verbs with an IR or ER suffix must contain an -a in their suffixes, and the verbs with an AR suffix must now contain an -e in the suffix.

The verbs are “inverted” in terms of their suffixes! And this rule applies to every regular, present Spanish subjunctive verb.

What are some common irregular present subjunctive verbs in Spanish?

You will have to remember a few irregular present subjunctive verbs in Spanish.

It can be tricky to keep them in mind because you must conjugate the stem and the suffix.

Let’s look at the verb saber to see an example:

As you can see, even though the root or stem of the infinitive verb saber contains the letter -b, the conjugated present subjunctive verbs contain an -ep.

The root is different, and so is the suffix (which contains an -a).

Examples of the present subjunctive in Spanish and how to use it

You should use the present tense subjunctive mood if a sentence has two parts and each part contains a different subject.

Use the present tense subjunctive if the first part of your sentence contains a present, imperative or future tense verb.

Let’s now look at a few examples of the present subjunctive in Spanish.

Quiero que comas algo sano.

Dudo que me puedas ayudar.

No creo que sea posible que vengas al evento.

Each first of these sentences uses the present tense because they:

• Contain a present tense indicative verb in the first part
• Use a doubtful or hopeful mood
• Feature two parts with two subjects
• Have the relative pronoun “que”

But what if a sentence does not contain the relative pronoun “que”? and what if the sentence doesn’t contain two subjects? In these situations, you should use the indicative present tense, like this:

Quiero comer algo sano.

No puedo ayudar.

No voy al evento.

What is the imperfect Spanish subjunctive mood?

The imperfect Spanish subjunctive mood is also a mood that your speech or writing reflects when you express a point of view using the past tense.

When doubtful or hopeful, you must use a different set of Spanish verbs to reflect this in speech or writing.

In which situation should you use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive?

We use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive in the same situations as the present Spanish subjunctive, but the action in the sentence has happened in the past.

We can compare the present Spanish subjunctive with the imperfect Spanish subjunctive to see how the sentence differs.

Consider the examples below:

A mí me gusta que tengas suerte y salud.

A mí me gustaba que tuvieras suerte y salud.

The main difference between these examples is the tense.

The first verbs in the first and second halves of these sentences are different.

In the first example, the verb gustar is in the present tense, which requires us to use the present subjunctive verb tengas in the second half of the sentence.

In the second example, the verb gustar is in the imperfect past tense, which requires us to use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive verb tuvieras .

How do you conjugate imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs?

There’s an easy way to remember how to conjugate the imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs (regular ones).

Start by calling to mind the third-person preterite version of the regular verb you need to conjugate and then replace the -on with an -a.

The easiest way to understand this is with an example, so empecemos ! (Let’s make a start!)

To create the imperfect subjunctive form of the verb hablar begin by thinking back to its preterite ( simple past tense ) conjunctions and call to mind the third-person conjugation of this verb.

The verb you should have in your mind is hablaron .

Next, take the verb hablaron , remove the -on from the suffix, and replace it with the letter -a.

What you should end up with is the verb hablara .

NOTE - hablara, as the imperfect subjunctive verb, does not feature an accent mark over the final -a.

The lack of the accent mark distinguishes it from the third-person future tense verb hablará (meaning he, she, or it will speak).

Let’s now look at a verb table to see how to conjugate imperfect Spanish subjunctive verbs in more detail.

You may have noticed that the verbs ending in an IR and ER ( existir and correr ) have different stems than the AR verb ( hablar ).

This difference is because the third-person preterite verb forms of the IR and ER verbs are different from the AR verbs.

Instead of the suffix -aron , in the third-person preterite form the verbs that end in IR and ER have the suffix - ieron .

How to use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive

There are a few rules that can guide you when you use the imperfect Spanish subjunctive.

Here are three rules to consider.

Use the imperfect subjunctive if a sentence contains the word si , has two parts and describes an unlikely situation; use the imperfect subjunctive after the word si .

Si tuviera tiempo suficiente, estudiaría más idiomas.

Si hubiera feliz, yo estaría más feliz.

Use the imperfect subjunctive if a sentence contains the word como si , has two parts and describes a hypothetical situation.

Cantas como si fueras un cantante profesional.

Hablamos como si estuviéramos discutiendo.

2 types of compound Spanish subjunctive verbs

Now comes the more challenging part - there are two types of compound Spanish subjunctive verbs you will also study in an upper intermediate Spanish course.

These verbs include the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo and the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo .

When should you use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo ?

We use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo when the subordinate clause’s action has finished and happened before the action in the main clause (and the mood of the sentence or statement is hopeful, hypothetical or doubtful).

In this case, the sentence should have two clauses and two actions; the verb in the main clause can describe a present action, and the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo compound verb should describe a past action that happened near the present moment.

Let’s consider two examples to understand when to use the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo .

Deseamos que la sorpresa haya sido un éxito.

¡Ojalá que el trabajo haya ido bien!

In these examples, the sentences contain two parts.

They also reflect a hopeful mood and contain the relative pronoun que .

The subordinate clause happens before the action in the main clause.

For instance, the “surprise has been a success” takes place before the speakers hope it is successful.

How do you conjugate the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo ?

Since the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo is a compound subjunctive that contains the verb haya and a second verb in its participle form, to conjugate it, you first need to know how to conjugate the haber in the present tense subjunctive form.

Let’s look at how to do this.

You should use the correctly conjugated form of the verb haber before the second verb in the compound subjunctive.

For instance, if “he” or “she” is the subject of the subordinate clause, use haya .

If “we” is the subject of the subordinate clause, use hayamos .

As you must use these verbs before a participle verb to form the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo , look at the section below to learn how to form participle verbs.

Forming participle verbs for the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo

Remembering the required suffixes to form participle verbs for the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo is key.

A participle verb will end in -ado or -ido depending on the ending of the infinitive verb form.

If the infinitive verb you want to use has an -ar suffix, you should replace this with -ado to form the past participle verb.

If the infinitive verb you want to use has an -er or -ir suffix, you should replace this with -ido.

Check the table below to see how this works with some examples.

To form the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo , you must combine the auxiliary verb haya with the participle verb.

Me decepciona que no haya habido el tratamiento hasta ahora.

Me alegro de que no haya ganado el Deportivo.

When should you use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ?

We use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo to express an action that precedes another action in the past when the sentence has a doubtful, hypothetical or hopeful mood.

You will notice that the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo features in sentences with two parts, which are separated by the relative pronoun que .

Let’s look at two examples to see how this works.

Me deprimó que me hubieras insultado antes.

Le dio pena que no lo hubieran invitado a la fiesta antes.

Can you spot the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo in these sentences? The main two compound verb examples are hubieras insultado and hubieron invitado .

How do you conjugate the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ?

The pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo is another compound verb that requires two verbs: the auxiliary verb haber in the imperfect subjunctive form and a second verb in the past participle form.

Here’s how to conjugate the verb haber in the imperfect subjunctive form

Always use the correctly conjugated form of the verb haber before the second verb in the compound subjunctive.

For instance, if the subject of your sentence is “they” or ellos , use hubieran .

If the subject of your sentence is “all of you” or vosotros , use hubierais .

Since the second part of the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo requires a past participle verb, use the same method described in the preterito perfecto de subjuntivo section for past participles to conjugate it.

Comparing the pluscuamperfecto with the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo

So, what is the difference between the pluscuamperfecto and the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo ? Let’s compare two sentences to understand this better.

Pensé que mi familia había llegado a tiempo.

Dudaba mucho que mi amigo hubiera llegado a tiempo.

The main difference is the mood of the sentences.

Even though both sentences contain two clauses and the relative pronoun que , we use the pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo for situations where we doubt or hope something has happened (and the thing we hope or doubt has happened before the action of hoping).

Spanish subjunctive: What to remember

The Spanish subjunctive can be difficult to understand but remember:

You should use it when the mood of the sentence is doubtful, hopeful or hypothetical.

With time and practise, you’ll grasp the Spanish subjunctive mood.

Keep at it! 😊

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• Spanish - B1
• Subjunctive

An Introduction to Subjunctive Phrases

In Spanish, there are two moods: the indicative and the subjunctive . The latter is used to express different functions related to uncertainty or abstract ideas.

A tip for remembering the usages is to keep in mind the acronym W.E.I.R.D.O = Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal Expressions, Recommendations, Doubt or Denial, and Ojalá .

In this article, we will be studying mostly usages and functions. Click on this link to learn more about the different conjugations of the subjunctive.

Dudo que tengamos suficiente comida para la fiesta.

I doubt that we will have enough food for the party.

We are going to review the subjunctive with semi-fixed phrases or chunks, which are sentences that are used consistently in this mood that you have to make slight modifications to.

This will make it easier for you to use the functions naturally. Then, you just have to familiarize yourself with the conjugation.

Following the acronym, let's start reviewing the first usage: Wishes .

Rule 1 . When you want to express that you would like something to happen, that you would like to experience something, or some other kind of desire (even demands), you will use the subjunctive.

Rule 2. To express this function when you are referring to what you feel or think, you can use the following constructions. If you want to talk about someone else, simply adjust the verbs accordingly.

Rule 3. After selecting the construction, add the verb conjugated in the subjunctive. Here are a couple examples using two different subjunctive tenses.

Present subjunctive

Quiero que comamos afuera hoy.

I want us to eat out today.

Imperfect Subjunctive

Mi empresa me exigió que trabajara en la oficina.

My company required me to work in the office.

Rule 4 . When you want to express how you feel about something, most of the time you will use the subjunctive.

Rule 5. To express this function, you can use the following constructions.

If you want to talk about how someone else is feeling, simply use the appropriate indirect pronoun (te, le, nos, os, les).

Les gusta (a ellos) que los empleados trabajen hasta tarde.

They like employees to work late.

Rule 6. Then, add the verb conjugated in any of the subjunctive tenses. Here is an example in the present subjunctive.

Me irrita bastante que la gente tire basura.

It irritates me a lot when people litter.

Impersonal Expressions

Rule 7 . Impersonal expressions, as their name implies, do not include a specific person performing the action. Expressions concerning weather and temperature, for example, are impersonal, because no one is performing the action of rain.

However, impersonal sentences are not only limited to weather. When we give general opinions, we tend to use impersonal sentences.

Rule 8. Here are some examples of impersonal constructions you can use with the subjunctive:

As you may notice, a good indicator of impersonal sentences is that they begin with es followed by an adjective .

Rule 9. Then, you are going to add the verb conjugated in a subjunctive tense. Here is an example of the imperfect subjunctive.

Imperfect subjunctive

Es una pena que la gente no reciclara más en las décadas anteriores.

It's a pity that people didn't recycle more in previous decades.

Recommendations

Rule 10. When we talk about recommendations, we are also including suggestions, advice, etc.

To use the subjunctive with recommendations , you must use a variation of the following constructions in your sentence, as there are other ways to offer recommendations in Spanish that do not require the subjunctive, such as with the conditional.

Rule 11. Since this is a fairly straightforward topic, the expressions you are going to use will probably be limited to the following:

Of course, the indirect object pronouns can be replaced (or omitted) with whatever best fits what you are communicating.

Le sugiero que tome esta oferta.

I suggest you take this offer.

Rule 12. Then, add the verb conjugated in the subjunctive. Here is an example with the present subjunctive.

Present Subjunctive

Te sugiero que tomes mucha agua antes de hacer senderismo.

I suggest you drink plenty of water before hiking.

Doubts or Denials

Rule 13. When you want to express uncertainty about something, most of the time you are going to use the subjunctive by using any (variation) of the following constructions.

Rule 14. Then, add the verb conjugated in the subjunctive. Here is an example with the present perfect subjunctive.

Present Perfect Subjunctive

No creo que la reunión de esta mañana haya salido bien.

I don't think this morning's meeting went well.

This is a word closely associated with the present subjunctive, and we will explain why. Ojalá is of Arabic origin, لو شاء الله (law sha'a Allah), meaning if God will. Although it does not necessarily have a religious connotation in today's Spanish, it does retain the essence of hope .

Rule 15. As with the previous constructions, ojalá is accompanied by que plus the verb conjugated in any of the tenses in the subjunctive.

Ojalá que llueva hoy.

Hopefully it will rain today.

Ojalá que todo haya salido bien.

Hopefully everything went well.

Imperfect Perfect Subjunctive

Ojalá que hubieses comido antes de venir.

I wish you had eaten before you came.

And, that's it! Now you know what the functions of the subjunctive are. Just remember the following points:

• The subjunctive is used to talk about anything that has to do with uncertainty or abstract ideas.
• Learning the phrases associated with each function is much more effective than trying to remember each element separately.

Mi mamá está horneando un pastel.

correct answers.

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Spanish Subjunctive

Relevant lessons:, explanation.

The subjunctive ( el subjuntivo ) is one of the three moods in Spanish, the other two being the indicative and the imperative . The subjunctive is used to express desires , doubts , wishes , conjectures , emotions , and possibilities . The subjunctive mood includes many of the same verb tenses as the indicative mood , including the perfect , the past , and the future , which is rarely used in modern Spanish, but good to know for literature.

The subjunctive is often compared with the indicative . Check out our comparison here!

Articles on the Different Subjunctive Tenses

• Spanish Present Subjunctive
• Spanish Present Perfect Subjunctive
• Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive
• Past Perfect Subjunctive Forms
• Spanish Future Subjunctive
• Spanish Future Perfect Subjunctive

Elements of the Subjunctive

There are often three main parts to a subjunctive sentence :

1. Two Different Subjects

Subjunctive sentences often have one subject in the main/independent clause and one in the noun/dependent clause.

2. A Conjunction

Subjunctive sentences often have parts linked by a conjunction , such as que ( that ), aunque ( although ), a no ser que ( unless ) or a fin de que ( so that ).

3. Two Verbs: One WEIRDO and One Subjunctive

Subjunctive sentences often contain a WEIRDO verb (see uses below) that signals that the verb in the next clause will be in the subjunctive.

The acronym WEIRDO stands for: Wishes , Emotions , Impersonal expressions , Recommendations , Doubt/Denial , and Ojalá .

W ishes and Desires with the Subjunctive

Wishing, wanting, demanding, desiring, expecting, ordering, and preferring all fall into the category of wishes . Learn more about wishes and desires here .

E xpressing Emotions with the Subjunctive

Being annoyed, angry, happy, regretful, sad, scared, or surprised all fall into this category. Learn more about expressing emotions here .

I mpersonal Expressions with the Subjunctive

Impersonal expressions work a lot like emotions in that they express someone’s opinion or value judgment. They focus on the subjectivity of the statement and not on the actual truth or reality of the situation. Learn more about impersonal expressions here .

R ecommendations and Requests with the Subjunctive

When a person recommends, suggests, wants, or asks another person to do (or not do) something, the subjunctive is used. Learn more about recommendations and requests here .

D oubt and Denial with the Subjunctive

To doubt or deny something is to question its connection with reality or to express that it is hypothetical. Learn more about doubts and denial here .

Ojalá with the Subjunctive

Ojalá means I hope/pray to God , God willing , I hope , I wish , or if only . Learn more about ojalá here.

Learn more about the subjunctive with the following articles:

• Expressing Doubt and Denial with the Subjunctive
• Expressing Uncertainty or Conditional Outcomes with the Subjunctive
• Expressing Recommendations and Requests with the Subjunctive
• Impersonal Expressions with the Subjunctive
• Present Perfect Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
• Sequence of Tenses in Spanish

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Spanish Essay Phrases: 40 Useful Phrases for an Impressive Writeup

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May 30, 2019

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Do you need to write a lot of essays in Spanish? If you do, don’t worry. It's about to get a little bit easier for you because here in this article, we’ve listed many useful Spanish essay phrases that you can readily use in your essays.

Feel free to pepper your essays with the words and expressions from this list. It would certainly elevate your essays and impress your teachers. You're welcome!

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No time to read now? Then you might opt to get the list in PDF instead. If you sign up to the newsletter, you'll get the list of Spanish essay phrases in PDF format plus free audio files. 

Spanish Essay Phrases

Additional Resources

You can also check out the following resources:

84 Spanish Expressions for Agreeing and Disagreeing

Common Spanish Verbs

Expresiones útiles para escribir en español

Looking for more Spanish phrases? Check out this e-book with audio!

Try to use the essay phrases in Spanish that you learned in this lesson and write a few example sentences in the comments section!

About the author 

Janey is a fan of different languages and studied Spanish, German, Mandarin, and Japanese in college. She has now added French into the mix, though English will always be her first love. She loves reading anything (including product labels).

VERY VERY useful !! Gracias

Amazing! This will definitely help me in tomorrow’s spanish test 🙂

Sounds good

Thanks for the assistance, in learning Spanish.

Amazing article! Very helpful! Also, this website is great for Spanish Beginners.

It’s easy when you put it that way

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51 Spanish Phrases for Essays to Impress with Words

• January 7, 2021

Joanna Lupa

Communicating in a foreign language is hard enough, even in everyday situations, when no sophisticated or academic vocabulary is needed. 

Being able to write an actual essay in Spanish requires you not only to have a solid grammar base but also be knowledgeable about specific phrases and words typically used in school and university writing. 

For those of you who study in one of the Spanish speaking countries or are toying with the idea of signing up for an exchange program, I have prepared a summary of useful Spanish phrases for essays. They are divided into the following categories:

• Connectors (sequence, contrast, cause and effect, additional information, and conclusion)
• Expressions to give your opinion, agree and disagree with a thesis
• fancy academic expressions

Spanish Connectors to Use in Essays

Written language tends to be more formal than the spoken one. Ideas get explained in complex sentences showing how they relate to each other. A fantastic tool to achieve that is connectors.

What are some useful Spanish connectors for essays? Let’s have a look at the ten examples below:

• 🇪🇸 primero – 🇬🇧 first
• 🇪🇸 segundo – 🇬🇧 second
• 🇪🇸 el siguiente argumento – 🇬🇧 the next argument
• 🇪🇸 finalmente – 🇬🇧 finally, last but not least 
• 🇪🇸 sin embargo – 🇬🇧 however, nevertheless, nonetheless
• 🇪🇸 por lo tanto – 🇬🇧 therefore, thus
• 🇪🇸 además – 🇬🇧 besides
• 🇪🇸 por un lado….por el otro lado – 🇬🇧 on the one hand….on the other hand
• 🇪🇸 a menos que – 🇬🇧 unless
• 🇪🇸 a pesar de (algo) – 🇬🇧 despite / in spite of (something)
• 🇪🇸 aunque / a pesar de que – 🇬🇧 although / even though
• 🇪🇸 debido a – 🇬🇧 due to
• 🇪🇸 puesto que / dado que – 🇬🇧 given that
• 🇪🇸 ya que –  🇬🇧 since
• 🇪🇸 mientras que – 🇬🇧 whereas
• 🇪🇸 en conclusión – 🇬🇧 in conclusion
• 🇪🇸 para concluir – 🇬🇧 to conclude

Do you think you would know how to use these connectors in an essay? Let’s suppose you are writing about ecology:

🇪🇸 Los paises han estado cambiando sus politicas. Sin embargo, aún queda mucho por hacer.  🇬🇧 Countries have been changing their policies. However, there is still a lot to do. 

🇪🇸 Una de las amenazas climáticas es el efecto invernadero. Además está la contaminación del agua que presenta un serio riesgo para la salud.  🇬🇧 One of the climate threats is the greenhouse effect. Besides, there is water pollution that presents a severe health hazard. 

🇪🇸 A pesar de los acuerdos internacionales, varios países no han mejorado sus normas ambientales.  🇬🇧 Despite international agreements, many countries haven’t yet improved their environmental standards. 

🇪🇸 Debido a la restricción en el uso de bolsas de plástico desechables, Chile ha podido reducir su huella de carbono.  🇬🇧 Due to the restrictions in the use of disposable plastic bags, Chile has been able to reduce its carbon print. 

Spanish Phrases to Express Your Opinion in Essays

Essay topics commonly require you to write what you think about something. Or whether you agree or disagree with an idea, a project, or someone’s views. 

The words below will allow you to express your opinion effortlessly and go beyond the typical “creo que ” – “ I think ”:

• 🇪🇸 (yo) opino que – 🇬🇧 in my opinion
• 🇪🇸 me parece que – 🇬🇧 it seems to me
• 🇪🇸 desde mi punto de vista – 🇬🇧 from my point of view
• 🇪🇸 (no) estoy convencido que  – 🇬🇧 I am (not) convinced that
• 🇪🇸 no me cabe la menor duda – 🇬🇧 I have no doubt 
• 🇪🇸 estoy seguro que – 🇬🇧 I’m sure
• 🇪🇸 dudo que – 🇬🇧 I doubt
• 🇪🇸 sospecho que – 🇬🇧 I suspect
• 🇪🇸 asumo que – 🇬🇧 I assume
• 🇪🇸 estoy (totalmente, parcialmente) de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I (totally, partially) agree
• 🇪🇸 no estoy de acuerdo en absoluto – 🇬🇧 I absolutely disagree
• 🇪🇸 opino diferente – 🇬🇧 I have a different opinion
• 🇪🇸 me niego a aceptar – 🇬🇧 I refuse to accept
• 🇪🇸 estoy en contra / a favor de – 🇬🇧 I am against / in favor of
• 🇪🇸 no podría estar más de acuerdo – 🇬🇧 I couldn’t agree more
• 🇪🇸 encuentro absolutamente cierto / falso  – 🇬🇧 I find it absolutely correct / false

Phrases like these can really give shape to your essay and increase its formality level. This time, let’s verify it with views on education: 

🇪🇸 Opino que estudiando remotamente los jóvenes están perdiendo las habilidades sociales.  🇬🇧 In my opinion, remote schooling makes youngsters lose their social skills. 

🇪🇸 Dudo que esta decisión traiga verdaderos cambios para el sistema educacional en mi país.  🇬🇧 I doubt this change will bring any real changes to the educational system in my country. 

🇪🇸 Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con que todos deberían tener acceso a educación de calidad. 🇬🇧 I totally agree that everyone should have access to good quality education. 

🇪🇸 Estoy en contra de escuelas solo para niñas o solo para niños.  🇬🇧 I am against girls-only or boys-only schools. 

Pay attention to certain language differences between English and Spanish versions. The most common mistake that my students make is to say “ I am agree ” ❌ (direct translation from “ Estoy de acuerdo ”) instead of “ I agree ”✔️. 

Fancy Academic Verbs and Expressions for Essays in Spanish

Would you like to impress your professor with sophisticated academic vocabulary or get extra points on your DELE? Grab a pen and take notes:

• 🇪🇸 afirmar  – 🇬🇧 to state
• 🇪🇸 refutar – 🇬🇧 to refute, to reject
• 🇪🇸 argumentar – 🇬🇧 to argue that
• 🇪🇸 poner en duda  – 🇬🇧 to cast doubt
• 🇪🇸 poner en evidencia – 🇬🇧 to shed light 
• 🇪🇸 demostrar – 🇬🇧 to demonstrate
• 🇪🇸 concentrarse en – 🇬🇧 to focus on
• 🇪🇸 sostener – 🇬🇧 to sustain
• 🇪🇸 reflejar – 🇬🇧 to reflect
• 🇪🇸 considerando (que) – 🇬🇧 considering (that)
• 🇪🇸 siendo realista – 🇬🇧 realistically speaking
• 🇪🇸 de cierto modo – 🇬🇧 in a way
• 🇪🇸 en lo que se refiere a – 🇬🇧 with regards to
• 🇪🇸 en vista de – 🇬🇧 in view of
• 🇪🇸 de acuerdo a – 🇬🇧 according to
• 🇪🇸 no obstante – 🇬🇧 nevertheless

So many great words to work with! And some of them sound really similar to English, right? This is exactly why Spanish is such a good option when you want to learn a second language.

Let’s see how to make all these verbs and phrases work:

🇪🇸 Los resultados de los nuevos estudios ponen en duda la relación entre el consumo de huevos y altos niveles de colesterol.  🇬🇧 The recent study findings cast doubt on the relation between egg consumption and high cholesterol levels. 

🇪🇸 Los autores del estudio argumentan que los azucares y los carbohidratos juegan un rol importante en este asunto.  🇬🇧 The authors of the study argue that sugars and carbs play an important role in this topic. 

🇪🇸 En lo que se refiere al consumo de carne, este influye directamente los niveles de colesterol malo, sobre todo si es carne con mucha grasa. 🇬🇧 Regarding meat consumption, it directly influences the levels of “bad” cholesterol, especially in the case of greasy meat. 

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Subjunctive Spanish Conversations: Examples and Exercises

If you’ve been following our series on the Spanish subjunctive , you’ve come a long way! Today, you’re going to learn a bit about common subjunctive Spanish words used in everyday conversation. After which, you’ll put your skills to the test with some exercises!

But before we do that, let’s enjoy a quick refresher on the subjunctive.

1-Second Recap of Subjuntivo

El subjuntivo is a grammar mood that helps us convey hypothetical or uncertain situations, and also allows us to express desires and wishes. In order to understand the examples and exercises that you’ll see below, you need to be familiar with the Spanish subjunctive , and its conjugations in both present tense and imperfect .

• Spanish Subjunctive, Part 1 : What is it?
• Spanish Subjunctive, Part 2 : The Present Tense
• Spanish Subjunctive, Part 3 : The Imperfect Tense

I also recommend reading up on Common Ways to Use the Spanish Subjunctive to Enhance Conversation to get the most out of this list! You’ll be a subjunctive connoisseur when you’re finished!

Let’s get started.

25 Common Spanish Subjunctive Expressions in Conversation

Conversational trigger words.

You’ll see that conversational trigger words force the verb to be used in its subjunctive form or they already hold the subjunctive verb within the phrase. (Each subjunctive verb form is bold to reduce confusion!)

Ojalá – hopefully + verb

Ojalá no llueva mañana que vamos al parque. — I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow when we’re going to the park.

Ojalá que – hopefully + noun

Ojalá que Julio haya recordado traer el pie de manzana — I hope that Julio remembered to bring the apple pie.

Cuando sea – when it’s

Cuando sea Navidad, voy a regalarte el suéter que quieras. — When it’s Christmas, I’ll gift you the sweater you want.

Aunque sea – at least a bit of

¿Podrías traer aunque sea un poco de hielo para el ponche? — Could you bring at least a bit of ice for the punch?

Quiero que – I want (that)

Quiero que mi mascota aprenda un truco nuevo. — I want my pet to learn a new trick.

Espero que – I hope (that)

Espero que pueda salir con mis amigos pronto. — I hope I can go out with my friends soon.

Puede que – It’s possible (that) / might

Puede que mis padres traigan guacamole para almorzar. — My parents might bring guacamole for lunch.

Quisieras – You would like / Would you like

¿Quisieras que é l vaya al baile conmigo? — Would you like him to go to the dance with me?

Hiciera(s) favor – would (you) do a favor

¿Me hicieras favor de contar cuántos pasteles hay en el horno? — Would you do me the favor of counting how many cakes there are in the oven?

Dirías – would you say

¿Dirías que yo hubiera hecho una cita con el dentista? — Would you say I should have made an appointment with the dentist?

Subjunctive in Negative Because of Doubt

While expressing doubt in Spanish, verbs like creer, pensar , and sentir are used in their negative forms and are followed by a subjunctive verb. In contrast to certainty, where you might say yo creo que él lo hizo (I think he did it), you can express doubt by saying yo no creo que él lo hiciera (I don’t think he did it). Let’s look at some others!

No creo que – I don’t believe (that)

No creo que tirar basura sea una buena idea. — I don’t believe littering is a good idea.

No pienso que – I don’t think (that)

No pienso que pintarse el pelo de verde sea una idea tan loca. — I don’t think dying your hair green is such a crazy idea.

No siento que – I don’t feel (that)

No siento que ella esté siendo honesta conmigo. — I don’t feel that she’s being honest with me.

Si hubiera – if there were

Me gustaría ir al cine si hubiera poca gente ahí. — I would like to go to the movie theater if there were only a few people there.

Impersonal Expressions

Impersonal expressions are phrases that follow a simple formula: es + adjective + que and express an opinion or uncertainty. Phrases that introduce a fact such as es cierto que , es verdad que, and es normal que do not take the subjunctive unless they are being used in a question. Take a look:

Es importante que – it’s important (that)

Es importante que seamos buenos vecinos. — It’s important for us to be good neighbors.

Es cierto que – it’s true (that)

¿Es cierto que hablaras con el presidente de los Estados Unidos? — Is it true that you spoke with the president of the United States?

Versus: Es cierto que Alberto ganó la lotería. — It’s true that Albert won the lottery.

Es normal que – it’s normal (that)

¿Es normal que mi perro no coma verduras? — Is it normal that my dog won’t eat vegetables?

Si, es normal que él no las come. — Yes, it’s normal that he doesn’t eat them.

Es triste que – it’s sad (that)

Es triste que no podamos visitar a mis abuelos por el momento. — It’s sad that we can’t visit my grandparents for the moment.

Es posible que – it’s possible (that)

Es posible que mi hermana haya roto la maceta. — It’s possible that my sister broke the pot.

Es probable que – it’s likely (that)

Es probable que mañana caiga granizo. — It’s likely that it will hail tomorrow.

Era de esperarse que – it was to be expected (that)

Era de esperarse que Matilda olvidara su maleta. — It was to be expected that Matilda would forget her suitcase.

Sequence-based Expressions

The following expressions are called sequence-based or time-based expressions and allow you to express the sequence of certain events. While these do not involve uncertainty, these particular expressions still require you to use the subjunctive! So keep an eye out for these!

Antes de que – before

¿Antes de que pases por leche, podrías recoger a María? — Before you go buy milk, could you pick up María?

Después de que – after

Después de que termine la canción, podríamos ir por comida. — After this song ends, we could go get some food.

Mientras – while

Mientras escribas el guión, yo podría preparar las cámaras. — While you write the script, I could set up the cameras.

Spanish Subjunctive Exercises

Now let’s practice the Spanish subjunctive conjugation with some exercises! I’ll provide the infinitive form of the verb, and you must conjugate it correctly with the prompt given to you.

In order to fill out this exercise well, make sure you’ve studied up on your subjunctive verb tenses and conjugation tables!

Quick grammar lingo reminder: First person singular = I First person plural = we Second person singular: you Second person plural: you all Third personal singular: he/she/it Third person plural: they

Ready? Let’s go!

Fill in the missing subjunctive verb:

1. First-person singular — imperfect

Si yo ______(vivir) en otro país, probaría la comida local.

2. First-person plural — imperfect

Me gustaría que ______(comer) en tu restaurante favorito.

3. First-person singular — present

Cuando yo ______(prender) la luz, recuerden decir: ¡Sorpresa! 

4. First-person plural — present

Nosotros ______(hablar) de la presentación mientras ellos investigan el tema.

5. Second-person singular — imperfect

Agradecería si tu ______(comprar) el almuerzo de mañana.

6. Second-person plural — imperfect

Si ustedes ______(vender) mangos, les compraría una docena.

7. Second-person singular — present

Es raro que tú ______(tomar) café tan tarde.

8. Second-person plural — present

¡Qué alegría que ______(poder) ir al concierto del viernes!

9. Third-person singular — imperfect

Él ______(estar) en el hospital de no ser por los bomberos.

10. Third-person plural — imperfect

Si ellas te ______(apoyar) con la tarea, la ______(hacer) mucho más rápido.

11. Third-person singular — present

Cuando ella ______(lograr) su meta, podrá comprar un carro nuevo.

12. Third-person plural — present

Es impresionante que ellos ______(correr) 24 kilómetros sin parar.

How did you do? What was the easiest tense to conjugate? How about the most difficult one? 

Open Up to a World of Possibilities!

You can really go in-depth when learning Spanish subjunctive. Learning to talk about possibility, desire, and uncertainty allows us to plan for the future and work better in teams. It’s an essential part of speaking Spanish. We’re providing you with this Spanish subjunctive series in an effort to give all the information you’ll need to succeed! To learn more about this topic, check out our list of subjunctive Spanish endings for -ar verbs . If you would like to dedicate more time to practice, take a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Want to continue practicing advanced Spanish grammar? Check out these posts!

Let’s look at how you did with this answer key:

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Spanish Subjunctive Phrases

Spanish subjunctive phrases, – spanish sentences with english translation –.

Here is a list of basic and useful Spanish phrases to learn for conversation, with their English translations.

Do you notice any errors or duplicate sentences? Leave a comment!

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« AS / A2 Writing exam tips for language students 8 Creative Ways to Get Daily Spanish Writing Practice »

Impress the examiner!: Simple ways to use the subjunctive in your Spanish speaking/writing (AS, A2 Spanish advice)

If you can show the examiner that you know how to use the subjunctive mood in Spanish you are proving to them that you are capable of using complex grammar structures and therefore you will gain higher marks. Here we will look at ways you can easily include subjunctive phrases into your essays and your oral presentations.

Use impersonal expressions:

Es importante que …: It is important that … Es necesario que …: It is necessary that … Es imprescindible que …: It is essential that … Es increíble que …: It is unbelievable that …

Use expressions involving doubt or uncertainty:

Es probable que …: It is likely that … Es incierto que …: It is uncertain that … Dudo que …: I doubt that … No creo que …: I don’t think that …

Use expressions to order or request something:

Piden que …: They ask/request that … Mandó que …: He/She ordered that … Exigen que …: They demand that …

Expressions involving advice:

Recomiendo que …: I recommend that … Sugiero que …: I suggest that …

Expressions involving wishing or hoping:

Quiero que …: I want … Espero que …: I hope that … Deseo que …: I would like that … Prefiero que …: I prefer that …

Expressions related with emotions:

Me alegro de que …: I am pleased that … Estoy contento/a que …: I am happy that … Siento que …: I am sorry/I regret that … Temo que …: I fear that … Me molesta que …: It annoys me that … Me enoja que …: It angers/upsets me that …

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