The Logic of
The Subjunctive
It's not a tense; it's a mood. It's the language of Kings, Bosses, and Necessity. It ignores the normal rules of time and person. No es un tiempo; es un modo. Es el lenguaje de Reyes, Jefes y Necesidad. Ignora las reglas normales de tiempo y persona.
Indicative (Fact)
"He is late."
Él llega tarde. (Realidad: está conjugado).Subjunctive (Order)
"I demand that he BE on time."
NO 'IS'. NO 'S'. Just pure BE.
Exijo que él ESTÉ a tiempo. (Sin conjugar).The "S" Drop
In the Subjunctive, the 3rd person singular (He/She/It) loses its "S". It stays naked. En el Subjuntivo, la 3ª persona pierde la "S". Se queda "desnuda" (Infinitivo sin To).
Indicative
Describing what actually happens.
"She works hard."
Ella trabaja duro."He goes home."
Él va a casa.Subjunctive
Triggers: Suggest, Insist, Recommend, Essential...
"I suggest that she work hard."
Sugiero que ella TRABAJE duro. (No 'works')."It is essential that he go home."
Es esencial que él VAYA a casa. (No 'goes')."I advise that he write it down."
Aconsejo que él lo escriba. (No 'writes')."We ask that the meeting start now."
Pedimos que la reunión empiece ahora. (No 'starts').The "BE" Rule
This sounds weird, but it's correct. Use BE instead of am, is, are. Suena raro, pero es correcto. Usa BE en lugar de am/is/are.
Wrong (Indicative)
"I demand that he is quiet."
"It is vital that they are ready."
Right (Subjunctive)
"I demand that he BE quiet."
Exijo que esté callado."It is vital that they BE ready."
Es vital que estén listos."It is crucial that she BE informed."
Es crucial que ella esté informada."I request that everyone BE present."
Solicito que todos estén presentes.Negatives & Passives
Don't use "Don't" or "Doesn't". Just put NOT before the verb. No uses "Don't/Doesn't". Pon NOT antes del verbo.
The Negative Rule
WRONG:
"I suggest that she doesn't go."
RIGHT:
"I suggest that she NOT GO."
Sugiero que ella no vaya."It is important that we NOT BE late."
Es importante que no lleguemos tarde."I prefer that he NOT SPEAK."
Prefiero que él no hable.The Passive Subjunctive
Formula: (that) Subject + BE + V3
"I ask that the bill BE PAID immediately."
Pido que la cuenta SEA PAGADA inmediatamente."The judge ordered that the prisoner BE RELEASED."
El juez ordenó que el prisionero fuera liberado."It is vital that the rules BE FOLLOWED."
Es vital que las reglas sean seguidas.Frozen Subjunctives (Fixed Phrases)
Royal Command Challenge
- L1: The 'S' Drop (He go)
- L2: The 'BE' Rule (It be)
- L3: Negatives (Not go)
- L4: Rewrite
Q
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