THE SUBJUNCTIVE TENSES


A QUICK OVERVIEW - WHEN TO USE WHICH SUBJUNCTIVE TENSE: 
1. Present Subjunctive - Emotions today and tomorrow about something being done today or tomorrow. (Example: hable) 
2. Imperfect Subjunctive - Emotions today and tomorrow about something done yesterday. (Example: hablara/hablase) 
3. Present Perefect Subjunctive - Emotions yesterday about something done before yesterday; Conditional Sentences referring to something unreal today or tomorrow. (Example: haya hablado)  
4. Pluperfect Subjunctive - Conditional Sentences referring to something unreal yesterday. (Example: hubiera/hubiese hablado)  
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WHEN TO USE THE SUBJUNCTIVE - A DETAILED LOOK:
Use the subjunctive in the following cases:


A) With the following verbs to express influence or desire by one person upon another: 
  	aconsejar que - to advise 
  	advertir que - to warn, advise 
  	anhelar que - to desire, long for
  	desear que - to wish 
  	esperar que - to hope
  	insistir en que - to insist on 
  	permitir que - to permit, allow 
  	preferir que - to prefer 
  	prohibir que - to prohibit 
  	querer que - to want 
  	recomendar que - to recommend 
  	necesitar que - to need
  	ojal que - if only 
  	me/te/le/nos/les aconsejar que - to advise
  	me/te/le/nos/les exigir que - to demand 
  	me/te/le/nos/les pedir que - to ask, request 
  	me/te/le/nos/les proponer que - to propose
  	me/te/le/nos/les recomendar que - to recommend 
  	me/te/le/nos/les rogar que - to beg 
  	me/te/le/nos/les sugerir que - to suggest 
  	me/te/le/nos/les suplicar que - to implore   


B) To express emotion by one person upon another:  
  	me/te/le/nos/les molesta que - to be bothered that 
  	me/te/le/nos/les encanta que - to be delighted  that 
  	me/te/le/nos/les gusta que - to be pleased that  
 	me/te/le/nos/les interesa que - to be interested that  
 	me/te/le/nos/les duele que - to be sorry, hurt that 
  	me/te/le/nos/les preocupa que - to be worried that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les sorprende que - to be surprised that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les alegra que - to be glad that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da asco que - to be sick (it sickens me) that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da coraje que - to be angered that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da tristeza que - to be sad that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da gusto que - to be glad that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da miedo que - to be afraid that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les da pena que - to be sorry, hurt that  
  	me/te/le/nos/les de vergu:enza que - to be ashamed that     

 With the following phrases with estar and tener: 
  	estar triste de que - to be sad that 
  	estar enojado de que - to be angry that 
  	estar feliz de que - to be happy that 
  	estar contento de que - to be content, satisfied that 
  	estar frustrado de que - to be frustrated that 
  	tener miedo de que - to be afraid that 
  	tener la culpa de que - to be to blame that


C) With the following reflexive verbs: 
  	Sorprender(se) de que - to be surprised 
  	Preocupar(se) de que - to be worried 
  	Alegrar(se) de que - to be glad 
  	Enojar(se) de que - to be angry 
  	Rer(se) de que - to laugh at

 Although these seem to be identical to those in parts A and B, they are almost. Note conjugation and 'de': 

	Me sorprendo de que no puedas abrir la puerta. -- I am surprised that they cannot open the door. 

	Me sorprenda que no puedas abrir la puerta. -- It surprises me that they cannot open the door. 


D) With the following expressions. Although these expressions are impersonal, they express advice, desire, and influence.: 
  	(no) es aconsejable que - it's (not) advisable that
  	(no) es buena/mala idea que - it's (not) a good/bad idea that
  	(no) es bueno/malo que - it's (not) good/bad that 
  	(no) es importante que - it's (not) important that 
  	(no) es mejor que - it's (not) better that 
  	(no) es necesario que - it's (not) necessary that 
  	(no) es preciso que - it's (not) necessary that 
  	(no) es preferible que - it's (not) preferable that


E) To express doubt: 
  	Tal vez - may be 
  	Quiz - perhaps 
  	Probablemente - probably 
  	Posiblemente - possibly 
  	Acaso - by chance 
  	No + creer - not believe 
  	No + pensar - not think
  	No + decir - not say 
  	No + opinar - not consider, think 
 	No + suponer - not suppose 

	Also in questions: 
		Crees que llueva? 

	The first 4 expressions can be used with indicative as well to indicate less doubt. 
	It is rather confusing to use subjunctive with words like creer, pensar, dudar, estar seguro/a (de), negar. 

	The rule is: when doubt or denial is being expressed then subjunctive is used: 
		No creo que sean estudiantes.
		Creo que son estudiantes.

	In the first case, the person is not sure, and thus even if they are really students, subjunctive should be used. In the second case, the person is sure, and thus even if they are not students, indicative should be used. 


F) To describe the unknown or non-existent: 
  	Buscamos una persona que nos ensee a reciclar.
    		We are looking for someone who can teach us to recycle. (there may or may not exist such a preson) 

  	Buscamos a la persona que nos ensea a reciclar.
    		We are looking for the person who teaches recycling. (We know this person exists) 

  	No encuentro nada que me guste.
    		I can't find anything that I like.


G) With uncertain or future time: 
  	Cuando - when
  	Mientras - while 
  	En cuanto - as soon as 
  	Antes (de) que - before 
  	Hasta que - until 
  	Despues (de) que - after


H) With conditions: 
  	A menos que - unless 
  	Para que - in order to (so that) 
  	Sin que - without 
  	Con tal (de) que - provided that 
  	A fin de que - so that 
  	En caso (de) que - in case of


I) Expresiones with 'quiera': 
  	Quienquiera que - whoever 
  	Cuandoquiera que - whenever 
  	Dondequeira que - wherever 
  	Comoquiera que - however 
  	Cualquiera que - whatever


J) With aunque/although to express possibility of a future event: 
		Aunque tenga dinero, no ir.:
			Although I have money, I (probably) will not go. 

 In a case of reality, use indicative: 
		Aunque tengo dinero, no voy.:
			Although I have money, I am not going. 


K) Others: 
  	Por ____ que, ...

		Por mucho que se alegre, no me importa. 
		Por mucho que Ud. explique, no le va a hacer caso. 
		Por atrevidos que sean no van a ganar la batalla. 