Present Subjunctive of -ar Verbs

Level 5

Take the stem of an -ar verb and add -e, -es, -e, -em, -etz, -en. Compared with the present, the a becomes e.

How It Works

Personpresentpresent subjunctive
ieuparliparle
tuparlasparles
el, elaparlaparle
nosautresparlamparlem
vosautresparlatzparletz
eles, elasparlanparlen

The spelling follows the sound: manjar gives mange, manges, mangem, and començar gives comence, comences, comencem.

The stem vowel opens in the stressed forms, as in the present: trobar gives tròbe, tròbes, tròbe, tròben, but trobem and trobetz keep a plain o.

The same forms make a negative command: parles pas, parlem pas, parletz pas.

Examples (5)

  1. Cal que parle plan.

    I must speak well.

    Parle is the ieu form of the subjunctive.

  2. Vòli que cantes.

    I want you to sing.

    Cantes is the tu form, with -es.

  3. Cal que mangem abans de partir.

    We have to eat before leaving.

    Mangem keeps the g before e.

  4. Volèm que Joan tròbe la clau.

    We want Joan to find the key.

    Tròbe opens the stem vowel.

  5. Cal que comencetz uèi.

    You have to start today.

    Comencetz is the vosautres form, with c before e.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the present indicative after cal que.

    Cal que parlas plan.
    Cal que parles plan.

    After cal que, use the subjunctive: parles, not parlas.

  • Writing j before e.

    Cal que manje abans de partir.
    Cal que mange abans de partir.

    The spelling follows the sound: g stays before e.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Present Subjunctive of -ar VerbsLevel 5

Learn This First

The present subjunctive of -ar verbs is built from the present, so the -ar present comes first.