Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive appears in subordinate clauses after expressions of will, emotion, doubt, and in certain impersonal phrases. It guides listeners toward an uncertain or nonfactual reading.

To form the present subjunctive, start from the yo form of the indicative, drop the -o ending, and add the subjunctive endings that usually switch typical -ar endings to -e endings and -er/-ir endings to -a endings. This vowel swap signals the mood change.

Some common verbs have irregular subjunctive forms that must be memorized because they frequently shape meaning in key expressions.

Phrases like quiero que, espero que, es necesario que, and dudo que signal that the subordinate clause should use the subjunctive because they frame an action as desired, uncertain, or required.

The subjunctive mood marks clauses where an action is wished for, doubted, or valued rather than stated as fact. Learn the triggers and practice the present subjunctive endings so you can express nuance in Spanish.