es importante que + Subjunctive
Subjunctive with Importance
Use 'es importante que' followed by a verb in the subjunctive to say 'it's important that...'
How It Works
Use es importante que + subjunctive to evaluate a situation: Es importante que estudies (It is important that you study). For a current or future action, this lesson uses the present subjunctive.
The construction evaluates the situation instead of independently asserting it. It can also evaluate a known past event: Es importante que hayas venido (It is important that you came). The subjunctive tense therefore depends on the time being described.
An infinitive is useful for a general activity: Es importante comer bien (It is important to eat well). A clause lets you conjugate the verb for its subject: Es importante que comas bien (It is important that you eat well). You can add tú for emphasis or contrast, but it is not required.
Other evaluative or necessity expressions include es bueno que and es necesario que. Learn the construction that selects the mood rather than equating every opinion with subjunctive.
Examples (4)
- Es importante que bebas mucha agua.
It's important that you drink a lot of water.
Word by Word: It is important that you-drink a lot of water.
- Es importante que lleguemos a tiempo a la reunión.
It's important that we arrive on time to the meeting.
Word by Word: It is important that we-arrive on time to the meeting.
- Para el profesor, es importante que los estudiantes hagan la tarea.
For the teacher, it's important that the students do the homework.
Word by Word: For the teacher, it is important that the students do the homework.
- Es importante que ella sepa la verdad.
It's important that she know the truth.
Word by Word: It is important that she know the truth.
'Sepa' is the irregular present subjunctive form of the verb 'saber' (to know).
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.
Es importante que vienes a la fiesta.Es importante que vengas a la fiesta.Use the subjunctive in this evaluation: the tú form is vengas. Vienes is indicative.
Using an infinitive when there is a specific subject.
Es importante tú dormir ocho horas.Es importante que tú duermas ocho horas.To address a particular person with a conjugated verb, use que duermas. Tú is optional in that clause. Es importante dormir ocho horas is also grammatical as a general statement; the error here is inserting tú before dormir in the intended finite-clause pattern.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'es importante que + subjunctive', you first need to be comfortable with the present tense of 'ser' to form the main impersonal expression. More importantly, you must have learned the conjugation rules for the present subjunctive, as this mood is required in the dependent clause following the conjunction 'que'.
Related Patterns
- es necesario que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Necessity
This is another impersonal expression that functions identically to 'es importante que', expressing necessity instead of importance. Both require the subjunctive.
Level 3 - quiero que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Wishes
Querer selects subjunctive when its que-clause expresses the desired situation; es importante evaluates a situation instead.
Level 3 - dudo que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Doubt
This pattern triggers the subjunctive to express doubt, which is another key reason for using this mood. It contrasts with expressions of certainty, which use the indicative.
Level 3 - -e/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-enPresent Subjunctive -AR
These endings form the present subjunctive of regular -AR verbs used for current or future situations in this lesson.
Level 3 - hay que + InfinitiveImpersonal Obligation
This is another way to express impersonal obligation ('one must...'), but it uses the infinitive instead of the subjunctive. It's a useful contrast for expressing necessity without a specific subject in the second clause.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice es importante que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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