Subjunctive and Commands

The Magic Wand of Spanish: Subjunctive & Commands 🪄

Imagine you have a magic wand. With it, you can express wishes, doubts, feelings, and give commands. That’s exactly what the subjunctive mood and commands do in Spanish—they’re your magic wand for expressing the unreal, the uncertain, and the “do this!”

🌟 What is the Subjunctive?

Think of Spanish verbs like actors on a stage:

• Indicative mood = The actor states facts (“The sky is blue”)
• Subjunctive mood = The actor expresses wishes, doubts, or feelings (“I wish the sky were pink!”)

The subjunctive is for things that are not certain facts—wishes, hopes, doubts, emotions, and imaginary situations.

1. Present Subjunctive Formation 🔧

The Recipe: Take the “yo” form, drop the -o, add opposite endings!

For -AR verbs (like hablar → “to speak”):

For -ER/-IR verbs (like comer → “to eat”):

Magic Trick: -AR verbs get E endings, -ER/-IR verbs get A endings. They swap! 🔄

Example:

Hablar → Yo hablo → habl- → Yo hable (I speak → that I speak)

2. Subjunctive with Wishes 💫

When you want someone else to do something, use subjunctive!

The Magic Words: Querer que, Desear que, Esperar que (to want/wish/hope that)

Quiero que (tú) estudies.
I want you to study.

Why subjunctive? Because it’s YOUR wish, not a fact about what they’re doing!

More Examples:

• Espero que llegues temprano. (I hope you arrive early.)
• Deseo que tengas suerte. (I wish you have luck.)
• Mi mamá quiere que yo coma verduras. (My mom wants me to eat vegetables.)

Picture it: You’re blowing birthday candles 🎂—your wishes aren’t real yet!

3. Subjunctive with Doubt 🤔

When you’re not sure about something, use subjunctive!

The Doubt Words: Dudar que, No creer que, No pensar que

Dudo que él venga.
I doubt that he'll come.

Why subjunctive? Because you’re saying “I’m NOT sure this is true!”

Examples:

• No creo que llueva mañana. (I don’t think it will rain tomorrow.)
• Dudo que ella sepa la respuesta. (I doubt she knows the answer.)
• No pienso que sea fácil. (I don’t think it’s easy.)

Important flip!

• “Creo que viene” (I think he’s coming) = indicative (you believe it!)
• “No creo que venga” (I don’t think he’s coming) = subjunctive (you doubt it!)

4. Subjunctive with Emotions 💖

When feelings come into play, subjunctive appears!

The Feeling Words: Alegrarse de que, Tener miedo de que, Sentir que, Sorprenderse de que

Me alegro de que estés aquí.
I'm happy that you're here.

Why subjunctive? Your emotions color the situation—it’s not just a neutral fact!

Examples:

• Tengo miedo de que se pierda. (I’m afraid he’ll get lost.)
• Siento que estés enfermo. (I’m sorry you’re sick.)
• Me sorprende que hablen español. (It surprises me they speak Spanish.)
• Es triste que él no pueda venir. (It’s sad he can’t come.)

Think of it: Emotions put a filter on reality! 📷

5. Subjunctive with Impersonal Expressions 🌐

When there’s no specific person as the subject, subjunctive often follows!

The Impersonal Starters: Es importante que, Es necesario que, Es posible que, Es mejor que

Es importante que estudies.
It's important that you study.

Examples:

• Es necesario que lleguen a tiempo. (It’s necessary they arrive on time.)
• Es posible que nieve mañana. (It’s possible it will snow tomorrow.)
• Es mejor que tú vayas. (It’s better that you go.)
• Es raro que no llame. (It’s strange he doesn’t call.)

Exception Alert! 🚨 When it’s a certain fact, use indicative:

• Es obvio que él está cansado. (It’s obvious he’s tired.) = FACT
• Es cierto que ella viene. (It’s true she’s coming.) = FACT

6. Forming Commands (Imperativos) 📢

Commands tell someone what to do. Like a coach giving instructions!

Affirmative Tú Commands (Friendly “You”)

For regular verbs, just use the él/ella form of present indicative:

• Hablar → ¡Habla! (Speak!)
• Comer → ¡Come! (Eat!)
• Escribir → ¡Escribe! (Write!)

¡Estudia para el examen!
Study for the exam!

Negative Tú Commands

Add “no” + use subjunctive tú form:

• ¡No hables! (Don’t speak!)
• ¡No comas! (Don’t eat!)
• ¡No escribas! (Don’t write!)

¡No corras en la casa!
Don't run in the house!

Usted/Ustedes Commands (Formal)

Use subjunctive forms for both affirmative AND negative:

• ¡Hable (usted)! (Speak! - formal)
• ¡No hablen (ustedes)! (Don’t speak! - formal plural)

7. Irregular Tú Commands 🦄

These 8 rebels don’t follow the rules! Memorize them:

Memory Trick: “Vin Diesel Has Ten Weapons, So Please Come Hack” (Ven, Di, Haz, Ten, Ve, Sal, Pon, Sé)

Examples:

• ¡Ven aquí! (Come here!)
• ¡Haz tu tarea! (Do your homework!)
• ¡Di la verdad! (Tell the truth!)

But negative is regular subjunctive:

• ¡No vengas tarde! (Don’t come late!)
• ¡No hagas eso! (Don’t do that!)

8. Commands with Pronouns 🔗

Pronouns attach to affirmative commands, but go before negative commands!

Affirmative: Pronoun Attaches

¡Dámelo!
Give it to me!

• Comer la pizza → ¡Cómela! (Eat it!)
• Decir la verdad → ¡Dime! (Tell me!)
• Lavar las manos → ¡Lávatelas! (Wash them - your hands!)

Accent Alert! Add accent to keep the stress in the right place:

• Dame (no accent needed)
• Dámelo (accent needed!)

Negative: Pronoun Before Verb

¡No me lo des!
Don't give it to me!

• ¡No la comas! (Don’t eat it!)
• ¡No me digas! (Don’t tell me! / No way!)
• ¡No te vayas! (Don’t leave!)

Double Pronouns Order

When you have two pronouns: Indirect (IO) before Direct (DO)

Dar + el libro + a mí → ¡Dámelo!
(Give + the book + to me) → (Give-to me-it!)

• Le + lo = Se lo (the “le” becomes “se” before lo/la)
• ¡Dáselo a María! (Give it to María!)

🎯 Quick Summary Flow

graph TD
    A["Want to express..."] --> B{What type?}
    B -->|Wish/Desire| C["Quiero que + SUBJUNCTIVE"]
    B -->|Doubt| D["Dudo que + SUBJUNCTIVE"]
    B -->|Emotion| E["Me alegra que + SUBJUNCTIVE"]
    B -->|Impersonal| F["Es importante que + SUBJUNCTIVE"]
    B -->|Command| G{Positive or Negative?}
    G -->|Positive tú| H["Use él/ella form or irregular"]
    G -->|Negative tú| I["No + subjunctive"]
    G -->|Usted/Ustedes| J["Always subjunctive"]

🏆 You’ve Got This!

The subjunctive might seem tricky, but remember:

• It’s just for non-facts: wishes, doubts, feelings
• Commands are like giving instructions to a friend or to everyone
• The irregular tú commands are only 8 little rebels
• Pronouns attach to positive commands, come before negative ones

You now have the magic wand of Spanish grammar! Wave it confidently! 🪄✨