Subjuntivo - Introducción

​These "modos" are not tenses, like presente or pretérito. They are more like moods (or modes) - ways of perceiving reality in the moment you are speaking.

​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

We usually speak in the indicative mode, but sometimes, we use the imperative or "command" (mandato) mode to tell someone to do something or to not do something.

e.g., No hable, por favor.

The indicative is used to convey that the speaker or writer believes what he or she is saying/writing exists in the concrete world. There is a feeling of certainty about it.

​​"Yo te quiero" is the indicative.

​The speaker/writer indicates uncertainty by using the subjunctive. He or she has the desire that the other person love them, but it is still a wish. It may not be reality. Hence, subjunctive is used.

"Tú me quieras" is in subjunctive mode.

Note: Typically, a sentence that uses subjunctive will have two clauses with different subjects in each clause.

Yo quiero que tú me quieras.

¿Prefieres que yo beba agua?

Sí, no quiero que tú te enfermes.

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Notice the endings for -AR and -ER/IR verbs are flipped.

Notice the irregular verbs in subjunctive are the same as the formal commands.

• Vayan ustedes más rápido, por favor.

• Quiero que ustedes vayan más rápido, por favor.

​For now, we'll focus on learning the forms of the present subjunctive (FYI - subjunctive also has a past tense, just like the indicative). Later, we'll learn more about how to decide if a sentence should be in subjunctive or not.