The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, doubts, emotions, and things that are not certain, shaping how we talk about what might be rather than what is.
Formation
Form the present subjunctive by starting with the yo form of the verb in the present indicative, dropping the final ‑o, and adding the subjunctive endings that follow the opposite pattern for ‑ar and ‑er/‑ir* verbs.
-ar Verbs
I speak (subjunctive)
-er Verbs
-ir Verbs
Uses
The subjunctive appears after expressions that signal desire, doubt, emotion, necessity, and when introducing something that is indefinite or nonexistent.
Wishes
Emotions
Doubts
Recommendations
Uncertainty
Key Expressions
Certain set phrases almost always trigger the subjunctive and help signal when to switch from indicative to subjunctive in a sentence.
Summary
The subjunctive mood frames actions as desired, doubted, or hypothetical—learn the formation and key trigger expressions to use it naturally.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025