WHAT EXACTLY IS THE SUBJUNCTIVE ?
The best way to think about the subjunctive is as a mood not as a tense. The mood = uncertainty / doubt. There are in fact four Subjunctive tenses, but before we start to look at these let’s look at when we would use the subjunctive. There are many words that will indicate doubt. I think the best way to deal with the subjunctive is to recognize these words. They will ring an alarm with you which will indicate that we need to think about and use the Subjunctive Tenses.
Words which should ring that alarm.
| ESPERAR | TO HOPE |
| INSISTIR | TO INSIST |
| PEDIR | TO REQUEST |
| PREFERIR | TO PREFER |
| QUERER | TO WANT |
| SUGERIR | TO SUGGEST |
| DESEAR | TO DESIRE |
| EXIGIR | TO DEMAND |
| ROGAR | TO BEG |
| CONVENIR | TO BE ADVISABLE THAT |
| SI | IF |
| AUNQUE | EVEN IF |
| QUIZA(S) | PERHAPS |
| CUANDO | WHEN |
| ANTES QUE | BEFORE |
| DESPUÉS QUE | AFTER |
| HASTA QUE | UNTIL |
| PARA QUE | SO THAT |
| MIENTRAS QUE | WHILE |
| ES PROBABLE QUE | IT’S PROBABLE THAT |
| ES POSIBLE QUE | IT’S POSSIBLE THAT |
| ES TERRIBLE QUE | IT’S TERRIBLE THAT |
| ES RIDÍCULO QUE | IT’S RIDICULOUS THAT |
| ES NECESARIO QUE | IT’S NECESSARY THAT |
| ES IMPOSIBLE QUE | IT’S IMPOSSIBLE THAT |
| ES IMPORTANTE QUE | IT’S IMPORTANT THAT |
| DUDAR QUE | TO DOUBT THAT |
| TEMER QUE | TO FEAR THAT |
| OJALÁ | GOD WILLING |