The present subjunctive
Cuando sea mayor, quiero que vengas, para que tenga: the subjunctive of hacer, ser, ir, venir and tener (Higher).
Learn
The present subjunctive, explained point by point
Everything the GCSE specification expects you to be able to do, and how to actually do it - the same lesson a signed-in student studies from.
Know what the present subjunctive is for
The subjunctive is a set of verb forms used after certain words, for things that are wished for, not yet real, or a purpose. At GCSE you need five verbs in the singular, in three situations: after cuando about the future, after a wish, request or feeling with que, and after para que.
Learn the forms of the five verbs
The forms are sea (ser), vaya (ir), haga (hacer), tenga (tener) and venga (venir), with an s added for tú: seas, vayas, hagas, tengas, vengas. One form serves I, he, she and usted, so sea can mean I am or she is.
Use the subjunctive after cuando for the future
When cuando looks ahead, the verb after it goes into the subjunctive: Cuando sea mayor, quiero ser médico, Cuando tenga dieciocho años, iré a la universidad. For a habit, cuando takes the ordinary present: Cuando tengo tiempo, leo.
Use it after a wish with que
When you want someone else to do something, use querer que and the subjunctive: Quiero que vengas a mi fiesta, Mis padres quieren que tenga buenas notas. If it is the same person, use the infinitive: Quiero venir.
Use it after a request or a command with que
Asking or telling someone to do something works the same way, so pedir que, and decir que when it gives an order, take the subjunctive: Mi madre me pide que haga la cama, El profesor me dice que vaya a la biblioteca.
Use it after a feeling or a hope with que
Feelings and hopes about someone or something else take the subjunctive too: Espero que sea fácil (I hope it is easy), Me alegra que vengas (I am glad you are coming).
Use it after para que for a purpose
Para que (so that) is followed by the subjunctive when someone else will do something: Ahorro dinero para que mi hermano vaya de vacaciones. If it is the same person, use para and an infinitive: Ahorro dinero para ir de vacaciones.
The present subjunctive key terms
The words the specification and the mark schemes use, each defined the way an examiner wants it.
- Subjunctive
- A set of verb forms used after certain words, for wishes, purposes and the future after cuando: Quiero que vengas means I want you to come.
- cuando with the subjunctive
- When, about the future: Cuando sea mayor means when I am older. About habits, cuando takes the ordinary present.
- querer que
- To want someone to do something: Quiero que hagas los deberes means I want you to do your homework.
- esperar que
- To hope that, followed by the subjunctive: Espero que tengas suerte means I hope you are lucky.
- para que
- So that, followed by the subjunctive when a different person acts: Te llamo para que vengas means I am calling you so that you come.
- sea and seas
- The subjunctive of ser: Espero que sea divertido means I hope it is fun.
- vaya and vayas
- The subjunctive of ir: Quiero que vayas conmigo means I want you to go with me.
- haga and hagas
- The subjunctive of hacer: Cuando haga buen tiempo, saldremos means when the weather is good, we will go out.
- tenga and tengas
- The subjunctive of tener: Cuando tenga dinero, compraré un coche means when I have money, I will buy a car.
- venga and vengas
- The subjunctive of venir: Espero que venga mi primo means I hope my cousin comes.
Common mistakes in The present subjunctive
The slips that cost marks year after year, and what to do instead.
Using the present after cuando for the future, as in Cuando soy mayor, seré médico.
When cuando points to the future, use the subjunctive: Cuando sea mayor, seré médico. Keep soy for now or for a habit.
Using que and the subjunctive with only one person, as in Quiero que vaya for I want to go.
If the person who wants and the person who acts are the same, use the infinitive: Quiero ir. Quiero que vayas means I want you to go.
Using the ordinary present after a wish, as in Quiero que vienes.
After a wish, a request or a feeling with que, the verb goes into the subjunctive: Quiero que vengas, Espero que tengas suerte.
Following para que with an infinitive, as in para que ir.
Para que needs a different person and the subjunctive: para que vaya. With no change of person, drop the que: para ir.
Leaving the s off the tú form, as in Espero que tú tenga suerte.
The tú form adds an s: tengas, seas, vayas, hagas, vengas. The I and the he or she forms are the same: tenga.
Practice
Try a The present subjunctive question
A GCSE-style original question from this topic. Have a go before you open the working - deciding on an answer first is what makes the working stick.
Which form completes the sentence? La profesora habla despacio para que yo ___ tiempo de escribir.
- tengo
- tenga
- tener
- tengas
Show the answer and the working
Answer: tenga
Para que (so that) is always followed by the subjunctive. The person is yo, so tenga: the teacher speaks slowly so that I have time to write.
- Para que gives the purpose: so that.
- It is always followed by the subjunctive.
- The person is yo: tenga.