Master the Spanish Present Subjunctive with Clear Examples

The Spanish present subjunctive can feel intimidating. But don’t worry – with clear examples, it becomes much easier! This guide breaks down how it works with different pronouns, complete with English translations for clarity.

What is the Present Subjunctive?

  • A verb form used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, possibilities, and necessities.
  • It often follows phrases like “espero que” (I hope that) or “es necesario que” (it is necessary that).

Examples Covering All Pronouns

Yo

  1. Quiero que yo estudie más. (I want that I study more.)
  2. Es posible que yo llegue tarde. (It is possible that I arrive late.)
  3. Dudo que yo comprenda todo. (I doubt that I understand everything.)
  4. Espero que yo tenga tiempo para ver la película. (I hope I have time to watch the movie.)
  5. Es necesario que yo haga mi tarea. (It is necessary that I do my homework.)

Tú

  1. Quiero que tú estudies más. (I want you to study more.)
  2. Es posible que tú llegues tarde. (It is possible that you arrive late.)
  3. Dudo que tú comprendas todo. (I doubt that you understand everything.)
  4. Espero que tú tengas tiempo para ver la película. (I hope you have time to watch the movie.)
  5. Es necesario que tú hagas tu tarea. (It is necessary that you do your homework.)

Él/Ella/Usted

  1. Quiero que él/ella/usted estudie más. (I want him/her/you (formal) to study more.)
  2. Es posible que él/ella/usted llegue tarde. (It is possible that he/she/you (formal) arrive late.)
  3. Dudo que él/ella/usted comprenda todo. (I doubt that he/she/you (formal) understand everything.)
  4. Espero que él/ella/usted tenga tiempo para ver la película. (I hope he/she/you (formal) has time to watch the movie.)
  5. Es necesario que él/ella/usted haga su tarea. (It is necessary that he/she/you (formal) does his/her/your homework.)

Nosotros/Nosotras

  1. Quiero que nosotros/nosotras estudiemos más. (I want us to study more.)
  2. Es posible que nosotros/nosotras lleguemos tarde. (It is possible that we arrive late.)
  3. Dudo que nosotros/nosotras comprendamos todo. (I doubt that we understand everything.)
  4. Espero que nosotros/nosotras tengamos tiempo para ver la película. (I hope we have time to watch the movie.)
  5. Es necesario que nosotros/nosotras hagamos nuestra tarea. (It is necessary that we do our homework.)

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes

  1. Quiero que ellos/ellas/ustedes estudien más. (I want them/you all to study more.)
  2. Es posible que ellos/ellas/ustedes lleguen tarde. (It is possible that they/you all arrive late.)
  3. Dudo que ellos/ellas/ustedes comprendan todo. (I doubt that they/you all understand everything.)
  4. Espero que ellos/ellas/ustedes tengan tiempo para ver la película. (I hope they/you all have time to watch the movie.)
  5. Es necesario que ellos/ellas/ustedes hagan su tarea. (It is necessary that they/you all do their/your homework.)

Summary

Key Tip: Notice how the present subjunctive often has a different verb ending than you might expect in regular Spanish.

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