Spanish present subjunctive endings: chart and 32 examples

Spanish present subjunctive endings

How do you form the Spanish present subjunctive?

Start from the present-indicative yo form, remove -o and add the subjunctive endings. Hablo becomes hable; como becomes coma; vivo becomes viva. This yo-form route also carries many irregular stems into every person: tengo → tenga, digo → diga, hago → haga.

Stem-changing verbs usually keep their present pattern outside nosotros and vosotros: piense, pienses, piense, pensemos, penséis, piensen. -Ir verbs can also change in nosotros and vosotros: pedir → pidamos and dormir → durmamos.

Spelling changes preserve the consonant sound before the new ending: buscar → busque, llegar → llegue, pagar → pague, empezar → empiece. Six high-frequency verbs have especially compact forms to learn as sets: sea, esté, vaya, haya, sepa and dé.

Build and choose the form in three steps

Identify the trigger and confirm that the clause presents a wish, reaction, doubt, purpose, non-specific thing or expected future event. Que alone does not trigger the subjunctive.

Take the present-indicative yo form, remove -o, and add the opposite-vowel ending for the subject.

Check stem changes, spelling changes and fully irregular forms, then read the whole two-clause pattern aloud.

32 Spanish present-subjunctive examples

The examples cover regular endings, stem and spelling changes, high-frequency irregulars, and practical B1 triggers.

Learn the present subjunctive in four blocks

Start with the two ending sets, then add changes, irregulars and real sentence triggers.

When do you use the present subjunctive?

Use it after wishes, requests, recommendations and reactions when the second clause has its own subject: Quiero que vengas; Me alegra que estés aquí. With the same subject, Spanish often prefers an infinitive: Quiero ir.

Use it after doubt or negated opinion, purpose with para que, and non-specific or unknown antecedents: No creo que tenga tiempo; Te llamo para que sepas; Busco un libro que sea breve.

Use it after future-oriented time expressions such as cuando, en cuanto and hasta que: Cuando llegues, llámame. Do not use the present subjunctive after si in an ordinary possible condition: Si llegas, llámame.

Hola Cards is a Spanish flashcard app from holacards.org for iOS and Android. It is free to download, requires no account, has no ads, and works offline. The interface is available in English, Russian, and Portuguese; cards support translations in 28 languages and 18 practice and game modes. You can import these fixed subjunctive examples into a custom group and practise them with Spanish audio, writing, pronunciation, and review modes. Hola Cards does not generate conjugations or decide whether a sentence needs the subjunctive, so verify each example with this guide first.

Connect the present subjunctive with tú commands, present forms, stem changes, querer and negative words.

Tú commands / Present-tense endings / Stem-changing verbs / Querer phrases / Negative words

A five-minute subjunctive routine

1. Write both ending sets from memory: -e/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-en and -a/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-an.
2. Build all six forms of hablar, comer and vivir from their yo forms.
3. Add tenga, diga, haga, sea, esté and vaya as complete six-person sets.
4. Underline the trigger and circle the changed verb in eight example sentences.
5. Contrast Quiero ir with Quiero que vengas, then say both patterns aloud.

Grammar references

The forms, B1 scope and common uses were checked against primary RAE–ASALE and Instituto Cervantes sources.

• RAE–ASALE: Spanish conjugation models
• Instituto Cervantes B1–B2: present-subjunctive forms and uses
• Instituto Cervantes B1: controlled present-subjunctive practice

**Spanish present subjunctive: 32 examples**

Quiero que yo hable primero. - I want to speak first.
Prefiero que tú comas antes. - I prefer you to eat first.
Es importante que ella viva cerca. - It is important that she live nearby.
Espero que usted hable despacio. - I hope you speak slowly.
Conviene que hablemos hoy. - It is best that we talk today.
Me alegra que comáis juntos. - I am glad you all eat together.
Dudo que ellos hablen mañana. - I doubt they will speak tomorrow.
Ojalá ustedes vivan tranquilos. - I hope you all live peacefully.
No creo que pienses eso. - I do not think you think that.
Espero que vuelva pronto. - I hope he comes back soon.
Es mejor que pidas ayuda. - It is better that you ask for help.
Quieren que durmamos aquí. - They want us to sleep here.
Necesito que busques las llaves. - I need you to look for the keys.
Avísame cuando llegues. - Let me know when you arrive.
Es posible que paguemos hoy. - We may pay today.
No quiero que empieces tarde. - I do not want you to start late.
Quiero que seas sincero. - I want you to be honest.
Me alegra que estés aquí. - I am glad you are here.
Espero que vayas conmigo. - I hope you go with me.
Puede que haya tiempo. - There may be time.
Dudo que lo sepa. - I doubt he or she knows it.
Es importante que me dé una respuesta. - It is important that he or she give me an answer.
Prefiero que digas la verdad. - I prefer you to tell the truth.
Quieren que hagamos una pausa. - They want us to take a break.
Quiero que vengas mañana. - I want you to come tomorrow.
No creo que tenga razón. - I do not think he or she is right.
Te lo explico para que puedas hacerlo. - I am explaining it so you can do it.
Llámame cuando llegues a casa. - Call me when you get home.
Es importante que estudies cada día. - It is important that you study every day.
Busco un libro que sea breve. - I am looking for a book that is short.
Ojalá llueva esta noche. - I hope it rains tonight.
Me sorprende que no salgas hoy. - I am surprised you are not going out today.