El subjuntivo: introducción (videolección)

Pilar introduces the subjunctive: what it is and when we need it. Then she practises with Milena, who has to find the subjunctive in several sentences and explain why it is used.

Do you know how to use this tense in Spanish? We will teach you that in this free Spanish lesson brought to you by Tilde Madrid Spanish school in Madrid

Key points

The subjunctive is not a tense but a mood: a way of speaking that lets us express wishes, emotions, opinions or hypotheses.
It usually appears in subordinate clauses with two different subjects: Yo quiero que tú estudies español.
Verbs of wish and influence take the subjunctive: Quiero que vengas a la fiesta. Te pido que le ayudes.
Creer takes the indicative in the affirmative and the subjunctive in the negative: Creo que Madrid es bonito / No creo que sea bonito.
Ojalá always takes the subjunctive: Ojalá llueva.

Frequent doubts

Why quiero estudiar but quiero que estudies?

When there is only one subject, Spanish uses the infinitive (Quiero estudiar). With two different subjects, the second verb goes into the subjunctive (Quiero que tú estudies).

Does no me gusta que take the subjunctive?

Yes. Expressions of feeling, positive or negative, take the subjunctive when there is a second subject: No me gusta que grites.

Does English have a subjunctive too?

Only in a few formal structures (I suggest that he be on time). In Spanish it is part of everyday language, so it is worth learning step by step from intermediate level.

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Key points

Frequent doubts

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