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Elma Eagles

Grammar Summary

Spanish-3 Unidad 3 Etapa 3

Summary of the Subjunctive

You use the subjunctive in Spanish in subordinate clauses when the main clause expresses:

wishes	querer, recomendar, insistir en, aconsejar, etc.
emotion	alegrarse, sentir, esperar, ojalá, es bueno/malo/mejor, etc.
doubt, disagreement and denial	no creer/pensar, dudar, no es cierto, no es verdad que, etc.

The tense you use in the main clause will help you determine which subjunctive tense to use in the subordinate clause (present, present perfect or imperfect):

Main Clause Indicative	Subordinate Clause Subjunctive
If present, future, or present perfect-->	present
If present-->	present perfect (if the action has already taken place)
If preterite, imperfect, conditional, past perfect-->	Imperfect

You have also learned to use the subjunctive after nonexistent or indefinite antecedents and with conjunctions of time:

Nonexistent or Indefinite Antecedents	with Conjunctions of Time if the main clause has a command or refers to the Future	with Conjunctions of Time, in all situations
No hay nada, nadie que	cuando	antes (de) que
No tengo...que...	en cuanto	con tal (de) que
Busco/Necesito/Quiero algo/alguien que...	después (de) que	a menos que
¿Hay algo/alguien que...?	tan pronto como	para que
	hasta que	en caso (de) que
	You don't use the subjunctive if the conjunction is in a past tense context (it was raining when I left school) because there is no doubt that you left.

Subjunctive vs. Indicative

Use the Subjunctive:	Use the Indicative:
after expressions of doubt No creo que sepan la respuesta I don't believe they know the answer	to express certainty Creo que saben la respuesta I believe they know the answer
to make suggestions or recommendations Marta dijo que viéramos los fuegos artificiales Marta said we should see the fireworks	to report actions Marta dijo que vimos los fuegos artificiales Marta said we saw the fireworks