querer que + Subjunctive
Wanting Someone to Do Something
Querer que, preferir que and pedir que + subjunctive express wishes and requests about someone else, as in Quero que veñas (I want you to come) and Pídolle que agarde (I am asking him to wait).
How It Works
Two different people → que + subjunctive: Quero que veñas (I want you to come). Os meus pais queren que estude Medicina (My parents want me to study medicine).
The same person → infinitive: Quero vir (I want to come). Prefiro quedar na casa (I prefer to stay home).
Verbs that work this way: querer que (want), preferir que (prefer), pedir que (ask), esperar que (hope), deixar que (let), necesitar que (need). With pedir, the person you ask is often an indirect object pronoun: Pídolle que agarde (I am asking him to wait), Pídoche que me axudes (I am asking you to help me).
Dicir que: with the subjunctive it passes on an order; with the indicative it reports a fact: Dille que veña (Tell him to come), but Di que vén (He says he is coming). See reported statements.
Pronouns in the que clause: an object pronoun goes before the subjunctive verb: Quero que me chames (I want you to call me). See pronouns in subordinate clauses.
In the past: after a past main verb, the imperfect subjunctive is used instead: Quería que viñeses (I wanted you to come). See sequence of tenses.
Examples (6)
- Quero que veñas.
I want you to come.
Word by Word: Want-I that come-you.
Two different people: the one who wants and the one who comes.
- Pídolle que agarde.
I am asking him to wait.
Word by Word: Ask-I-him that wait.
Pedir que + subjunctive makes a request.
- Prefiro que me chames mañá.
I'd rather you called me tomorrow.
Word by Word: Prefer-I that me call-you tomorrow.
The pronoun me goes before the verb in the que clause.
- Os meus pais queren que estude Medicina.
My parents want me to study medicine.
Word by Word: The my parents want that study-I Medicine.
Estude is the eu form of estudar in the subjunctive.
- Dille que veña.
Tell him to come.
Word by Word: Tell-him that come.
Dicir que + subjunctive passes on an order.
- Quero ir contigo.
I want to go with you.
Word by Word: Want-I go with-you.
Same person wanting and going, so the infinitive is used and there is no que.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after querer que.
Quero que vés.Quero que veñas.Vés states a fact. A wish about someone else needs the subjunctive.
Using que + subjunctive when the subject is the same.
Quero que eu vaia.Quero ir.When the same person wants and acts, use the infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A wish concerning another subject uses que plus the subjunctive.
Related Patterns
- sexa / estea / teñaIrregular Present Subjunctives
Many requests use irregular subjunctives such as veñas and fagas.
Level 3 - para que + SubjunctivePurpose with Para Que
Another clause type where a second person takes the subjunctive.
Level 3 - gustaríame que + Imperfect SubjunctiveWishes About Others: Gustaríame Que
A softer, conditional way to say what you want others to do.
Level 4 - Sequence of Tenses With the Subjunctive
Explains why quería que takes the imperfect subjunctive.
Level 4 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Explains why the pronoun goes before the verb after que.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice querer que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Galician lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
