Español 201

Prof. Angeles Castrillejo

Cap.9 Presente de subjuntivo

  

Uses of the present subjunctive 1:

 There are many uses of the present subjunctive today we’re going to focus only in two of them.

 

The use of the present subjunctive to express wishes suggestions and advice.

  The  present subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause of sentences in which the main verb expresses a wish (deseo),  suggestion (sugerencia) , advice (consejo ) or request ( petición).

 

Example:

Te recomiendo  que estudies mucho español.
(main clause:indicative)          (subordinate clause: subjunctive).

  

Mis amigos me sugieren que  compre un carro nuevo .
(main clause:indicative)                 (subordinate clause: subjunctive).

Note that "que " introduces the subordinate clause.

 Some verbs to express advice, or express wishes or suggestions in the main clause are the following: aconsejar, desear, esperar, pedir, permitir, preferir, prohibir, querer, recomendar, rogar, sugerir.

When you see these verbs in the main clause, that’s a clue to know that the verb in the subordinate clause must be in the present subjuntive.

 

 

 

The use of the present subjunctive with impersonal expressions

 Some impersonal expressions are used in main clauses to express advice, to give suggestions or to make request.

Here you have some examples:

 

Impersonal expressions

Es importante que

It’s important that

Es justo que

It’s fair that

Es mejor que

It’s better that

Es necesario que

It’s necessary that

Es preciso que

It’s necessary that

Es urgente que

It’s urgent that

Ojalá que

I hope that

  

Note: When these expressions are not followed by que ( that is, when they are nor followed by a subordinate clause) they are followed by an infinitive.

 Example:

 Es importante tener amigos

 Es importante que tengas amigos.