| Understanding exactly what the subjunctive is and | | | | cine |
| what it used for is confusing for many English | | | | - I know that Andrew is going to the cinema - |
| speakers. The reason for this is that the | | | | Sé que Andrew va al cine |
| subjunctive is rarely used in English. | | | | - I do not doubt that Andrew is going to the |
| However, in Spanish, the subjunctive is used a | | | | cinema - No dudo que Andrew va al cine |
| great deal and as such, it is important to have a | | | | These three examples show that; Andrew going |
| proper understanding of how and when it is used. | | | | to the cinema is certain. |
| What is the Subjunctive? | | | | Subjunctive examples |
| The subjunctive is often made out to be far | | | | - I want Andrew to go to the cinema - Quiero |
| more difficult to understand than it actually is. First | | | | que Andrew vaya al cine |
| of all, the subjunctive is not a tense, it is a mood. | | | | - I hope that Andrew goes to the cinema - |
| A tense is used as a way of explaining when an | | | | Espero que Andrew vaya al cine |
| action actually takes place; present, past and | | | | - It is possible that Andrew will go to the cinema |
| future, a mood, on the other hand, reflects how | | | | - Es posible que Andrew fuere al cine |
| the speaker feels about the action. | | | | All of the above sentences declare an uncertainty |
| To show this more clearly here are some | | | | as to whether Andrew will go to the cinema. |
| examples: | | | | - It's good that Andrew goes to the cinema - Es |
| - The teacher suggests that the student take his | | | | bueno que Andrew vaya al cine |
| work home. | | | | - It's important that Andrew goes to the cinema - |
| - The subjunctive conjugation in this case is - the | | | | Es importante que Andrew vaya al cine |
| student take. | | | | When do you Use the Subjunctive? |
| - If I were wealthy, I wouldn't need to worry | | | | There is a very simple rule to apply that will |
| about money | | | | indicate the use of the subjunctive it is necessary. |
| - Here, the subjunctive is - I were. | | | | If a sentence uses a main clause followed by a |
| How do you use the Subjunctive? | | | | second clause, and the main clause declares |
| The main difference between the more | | | | certainty or objectivity, the sentence will use the |
| commonly used indicative mood and the | | | | indicative mood in the second clause as in the |
| subjunctive mood is that the indicative is used to | | | | sentence; I know that Andrew goes to the |
| express certainty and objectivity whereas the | | | | cinema. I know being the main clause. However, |
| subjunctive is used to express the opposite, | | | | should the main clause declare an uncertainty or |
| uncertainty and subjectivity! | | | | subjectivity, such as I hope, the subjunctive is |
| Indicative examples | | | | normally used. |
| - Andrew is going to the cinema - Andrew va al | | | | |