Present Subjunctive of Regular Verbs
-ar verbs form the present subjunctive with -e, -es, -e, -emos, -edes, -en and -er and -ir verbs with -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ades, -an, as in fale (that I speak), coma (that I eat) and viva (that I live).
How It Works
Regular endings:
• falar: fale, fales, fale, falemos, faledes, falen
• comer: coma, comas, coma, comamos, comades, coman
• vivir: viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, vivades, vivan
Start from the eu form: a change in the eu form of the present carries through the whole subjunctive: durmo → durma, sinto → sinta, pido → pida, coñezo → coñeza. See stem vowel changes in -ir verbs.
Spelling changes: to keep the same sound before e, -car verbs write qu, -gar verbs write gu and -zar verbs write c: buscar → busque, chegar → chegue, comezar → comece. See spelling changes in verb forms.
Irregular verbs: verbs with an irregular eu form keep it (fago → faga, teño → teña), and a few have their own stem (sexa, estea, vaia). See irregular present subjunctives.
What it is used for:
• wishes and requests about someone else, with querer que: Quero que me escribas (I want you to write to me)
• hopes, with oxalá: Oxalá chegue a tempo (I hope she arrives in time)
• judgements such as é importante que: É importante que descanses (It is important that you rest)
• doubt and denial, with non creo que: Non creo que viva aquí (I do not think he lives here)
• future time after cando: Cando chegues, chámame (When you arrive, call me)
• formal and negative commands: Pase (Come in), Non fales (Do not speak). See formal commands.
Present or future: the present subjunctive can refer to now or to later, depending on the sentence: Espero que estea ben (I hope she is well), Espero que veñas mañá (I hope you come tomorrow).
Examples (6)
- Quero que fales máis amodo.
I want you to speak more slowly.
Word by Word: Want-I that speak-you more slowly.
Fales is the ti form of falar in the subjunctive.
- É importante que comamos ben.
It is important that we eat well.
Word by Word: Is important that eat-we well.
Comer takes the a endings: comamos.
- Non creo que vivan aquí.
I don't think they live here.
Word by Word: Not believe-I that live-they here.
Vivan is the eles form of vivir in the subjunctive.
- Cando chegues, chámame.
When you arrive, call me.
Word by Word: When arrive-you, call-me.
Chegar writes gu before e: chegues.
- Espero que me escribas pronto.
I hope you write to me soon.
Word by Word: Hope-I that me write-you soon.
After esperar que, the subjunctive expresses a hope. The pronoun me goes before the verb in the que clause.
- Non fales tan alto.
Don't speak so loudly.
Word by Word: Not speak-you so loud.
Negative commands use the subjunctive.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after querer que.
Quero que falas máis amodo.Quero que fales máis amodo.When you want someone else to do something, the second verb goes in the subjunctive.
Using the indicative ending instead of the subjunctive ending.
É importante que comemos ben.É importante que comamos ben.Comemos is the indicative. In the subjunctive, -er and -ir verbs take a endings: comamos.
Using the present indicative for a future moment after cando.
Cando chegas, chámame.Cando chegues, chámame.When cando points to the future, it takes the subjunctive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The regular present subjunctive changes the present-stem ending to express a dependent or non-asserted action.
Related Patterns
- sexa / estea / teñaIrregular Present Subjunctives
The irregular present subjunctives of common verbs.
Level 3 - Commands With vostedeFormal Commands with Vostede
Formal commands use the present subjunctive forms.
Level 2 - Negative Commands
Negative commands use non + present subjunctive.
Level 3 - querer que + SubjunctiveWanting Someone to Do Something
One of the most common reasons to use the subjunctive.
Level 3 - cando + SubjunctiveCando with Future Reference
Cando takes the subjunctive when it refers to the future.
Level 3 - Spelling Changes in Verb Forms
Explains busque, chegue and comece.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- alegrarse de que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive After FeelingsLevel 3
- non creo que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive After Doubt and DenialLevel 3
- oxalá + SubjunctiveWishes with OxaláLevel 3
- para que + SubjunctivePurpose with Para QueLevel 3
- é importante que + SubjunctiveImpersonal Expressions with the SubjunctiveLevel 3
- a non ser que / agás queUnlessLevel 4
- The Imperfect SubjunctiveLevel 4
- quizais / talvezPerhaps: Quizais and TalvezLevel 4
And 5 more in the full list.
Practice Present Subjunctive of Regular Verbs in Bubblegum
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