Present Subjunctive
Presente de subjuntivo
Forming the present subjunctive.
The rule
To form the present subjunctive, start from the 'yo' form of the present indicative, drop the -o, and add the opposite vowel endings: -ar verbs take -e, -es, -e, -emos, -en (hablo → hable, hables, hable, hablemos, hablen) and -er/-ir verbs take -a, -as, -a, -amos, -an (como → coma; vivo → viva). Because it is built off the yo form, any irregularity there carries through every person: tengo → tenga, hago → haga, digo → diga, pongo → ponga, salgo → salga, vengo → venga, conozco → conozca, veo → vea, traigo → traiga, oigo → oiga. Boot verbs keep their stem change everywhere except nosotros (poder → pueda but podamos; querer → quiera but queramos); -ir boot verbs also change in nosotros (dormir → durmamos, pedir → pidamos). Verbs in -car/-gar/-zar shift spelling to keep the sound: buscar → busque, llegar → llegue, empezar → empiece.
Six verbs are simply irregular: ser → sea, ir → vaya, saber → sepa, haber → haya, estar → esté, dar → dé. Which expressions require the subjunctive is a separate topic (Subjunctive Triggers). Here the job is producing the form.
Examples
Quiero que vengas conmigo.
I want you to come with me. (vengo → vengas)
Es importante que digas la verdad.
It's important that you tell the truth. (digo → digas)
Espero que estés bien.
I hope you're well. (estar is irregular: esté)
Ojalá que no llueva mañana.
Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow. (boot verb: llueva)
Te lo digo para que lo sepas.
I'm telling you so that you know. (saber is irregular: sepa)
Try it yourself
Three quick questions, straight from the app. No sign-up needed.
Quiero que tú ___ ahora.
I want you to come now.
All 33 Present Subjunctive questions, free in Hablaba
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