The Spanish Present Subjunctive can be a challenge, but understanding how certain verbs change their spelling is key to mastering this essential tense. Let’s break down these changes, so you can express yourself with confidence.
The Three Main Spelling Changes:
- -car → -que:
- Example: buscar (to look for) → busque (that I look for)
- -gar → -gue:
- Example: pagar (to pay) → pague (that I pay)
- -zar → -ce:
- Example: empezar (to begin) → empiece (that I begin)
Conjugation Pattern with “buscar”:
| Person | Present Subjunctive Form |
|---|---|
| Yo | busque |
| Tú | busques |
| Él/Ella/Usted | busque |
| Nosotros | busquemos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | busquen |
More Examples to Practice:
- Tocar (to touch/play an instrument):
- Yo toque, tú toques, él toque, nosotros toquemos, ellos toquen
- Llegar (to arrive):
- Yo llegue, tú llegues, él llegue, nosotros lleguemos, ellos lleguen
- Realizar (to realize/carry out):
- Yo realice, tú realices, él realice, nosotros realicemos, ellos realicen
Why These Changes Occur
These spelling changes ensure that the pronunciation of the verb remains consistent across all forms of the present subjunctive.
Key Points to Remember
- Applies to All Forms: The spelling change happens in all forms of the present subjunctive, not just the “yo” form.
- Predictable Changes: You can predict the change based on the last letters of the verb’s infinitive form.
- Pronunciation: While the spelling changes, the pronunciation stays the same as the infinitive form.
- Regular and Irregular Verbs: These rules apply to both regular and irregular verbs ending in -car, -gar, and -zar.
Synonyms:
- English: Orthographic-Changing Verbs in Present Subjunctive Mood, Subjunctive Present
- Spanish: Verbos con Cambios Ortográficos en Presente De Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Modo Subjuntivo Presente