Present Subjunctive Examples in Spanish | Real Use Cases

Use the subjunctive after doubt, desire, and emotion: Quiero que vengas, Dudo que sea cierto, Me alegra que estés aquí.

You’ll hear the present subjunctive everywhere once you know what to listen for. It pops up when someone wants something to happen, doubts a claim, reacts to a situation, or talks about “a person who…” without naming them. It’s less about time and more about the speaker’s stance.

This article gives you clean, practical sentences you can lift into real speech. You’ll see the patterns, the “que” setups, and the verb forms that show up nonstop in conversation.

What The Present Subjunctive Signals

Spanish uses mood to show how the speaker views the idea. The present subjunctive often marks a clause that feels “not presented as a plain fact” in the moment: wishes, doubts, reactions, recommendations, and similar angles.

A fast way to spot it is this structure: main clause + que + subjunctive clause. The first part sets the attitude. The second part carries the subjunctive verb.

Indicative Vs. Subjunctive In One Minute

Compare these pairs. The verbs may look close, but the meaning shifts.

• Sé que viene. (I know he’s coming.)
• Dudo que venga. (I doubt he’s coming.)
• Es cierto que tiene razón. (It’s true he’s right.)
• No es cierto que tenga razón. (It’s not true he’s right.)

The first sentence in each pair frames the clause as a straight statement. The second frames it through doubt or denial, so the verb flips to subjunctive.

Present Subjunctive Examples in Spanish For Real Situations

Let’s put it where it belongs: in the situations you actually talk about. Below are examples you can reuse at a café, at work, with friends, or when you’re making plans.

Wants, Requests, And Preferences

When you want someone else to do something, you’re in subjunctive territory. The subject usually changes across the “que” line.

• Quiero que me digas la verdad. (I want you to tell me the truth.)
• Prefiero que lleguemos temprano. (I’d rather we arrive early.)
• Te pido que no lo repitas. (I’m asking you not to repeat it.)
• Necesito que me ayudes hoy. (I need you to help me today.)

A Quick Check

If it’s “I want me to do X,” you often use an infinitive: Quiero salir. If it’s “I want you to do X,” you usually use que + subjunctive: Quiero que salgas.

Emotions And Reactions

Reactions pull in subjunctive because you’re responding to a situation, not stating a bare fact in that clause.

• Me alegra que estés aquí. (I’m glad you’re here.)
• Me molesta que llegues tarde. (It bugs me that you arrive late.)
• Es una pena que no puedas venir. (It’s a shame you can’t come.)
• Me sorprende que digas eso. (It surprises me you say that.)

Doubt, Denial, And Uncertainty

Doubt and denial are classic triggers. You’ll hear these in debates, reviews, and everyday “Are you sure?” moments.

• No creo que sea buena idea. (I don’t think it’s a good idea.)
• Dudo que tengan tiempo. (I doubt they have time.)
• No es verdad que él lo sepa. (It’s not true he knows it.)
• Puede que llueva. (It may rain.)

Notice how creo que usually stays indicative, but no creo que flips to subjunctive. That one switch shows up constantly.

Opinions With “Es + Adjective + Que”

This pattern is everywhere in recommendations and judgments. Some adjectives lean into subjunctive because they frame a viewpoint.

• Es mejor que lo hagas ahora. (It’s better you do it now.)
• Es raro que no conteste. (It’s strange he doesn’t reply.)
• Es lógico que quieran descansar. (It’s logical they want to rest.)
• Es terrible que pase eso. (It’s terrible that happens.)

If you want a formal definition and how grammarians frame the mood, the RAE’s entry on modo subjuntivo is a solid reference point.

Advice, Rules, And Personal Recommendations

Spanish often uses a recommendation tone with subjunctive. It can sound polite, firm, or both.

• Te recomiendo que descanses. (I recommend you rest.)
• Te sugiero que lo pienses bien. (I suggest you think it through.)
• Es mejor que no conduzcas. (It’s better you don’t drive.)
• Quiero que me llames cuando llegues. (I want you to call me when you arrive.)

How To Build The Present Subjunctive Fast

Conjugation is less scary than it looks. You take the yo form of the present indicative, drop the -o, then add the opposite vowel set.

Regular Endings

• -AR verbs: e, es, e, emos, éis, en
• -ER/-IR verbs: a, as, a, amos, áis, an

So: hablo → hable, como → coma, vivo → viva.

Spelling Changes You’ll See A Lot

Some verbs change spelling to keep the same sound: buscar → busque, llegar → llegue, empezar → empiece. These are normal and predictable once you’ve met them a few times.

If you want an official overview of the subjunctive tense system beyond just the present, the RAE’s page on usos y valores de los tiempos de subjuntivo lays out how Spanish treats subjunctive tenses in general.

Common Triggers With Examples You Can Reuse

Instead of memorizing long lists, it helps to group triggers by what they do. When you hear the “attitude” in the main clause, you’ll start predicting the mood in the next clause.

Table 1: Trigger Patterns And Ready-To-Use Sentences

Trigger Pattern	Spanish Example	What It Means In Plain English
Querer que + subj.	Quiero que vengas temprano.	I want you to come early.
Esperar que + subj.	Espero que todo salga bien.	I hope everything goes well.
No creer que + subj.	No creo que él tenga razón.	I don’t think he’s right.
Dudar que + subj.	Dudo que lo sepan.	I doubt they know it.
Alegrarse de que + subj.	Me alegra que estés mejor.	I’m glad you’re better.
Es + adj. + que + subj.	Es normal que se sientan cansados.	It’s normal they feel tired.
Para que + subj.	Te lo digo para que lo entiendas.	I’m telling you so you understand.
Antes de que + subj.	Sal antes de que sea tarde.	Leave before it gets late.
Busco a alguien que + subj.	Busco a alguien que hable inglés.	I’m looking for someone who speaks English.

That last row is a big one. When the person isn’t identified, Spanish often uses subjunctive: Busco a alguien que sepa cocinar. Once you name the person, you may switch: Busco a Ana, que sabe cocinar.

A clear, classroom-style explanation of these patterns with lots of contextual examples is also available through the University of Texas “Spanish Grammar in Context” page on the subjunctive mood.

Present Subjunctive In Time Clauses

Time clauses can be sneaky. Some take subjunctive when the action hasn’t happened yet from the speaker’s point of view.

After “Cuando,” “Hasta Que,” “En Cuanto,” “Tan Pronto Como”

If the event is pending, Spanish often uses subjunctive:

• Te llamo cuando llegue. (I’ll call you when I arrive.)
• Espero aquí hasta que salgas. (I’ll wait here until you come out.)
• En cuanto termine, te aviso. (As soon as I finish, I’ll let you know.)

If it’s a habitual action, you’ll often hear indicative:

• Te llamo cuando llego a casa. (I call you when I get home.)

The point isn’t “future tense.” It’s whether the clause is about a repeated routine or a single event that hasn’t happened yet.

Irregular Verbs You’ll Hear Constantly

Some verbs don’t follow the regular pattern. The good news: the same irregular forms repeat across countless phrases, so they’re worth learning early.

The Usual Suspects

• ser → sea
• estar → esté
• ir → vaya
• haber → haya
• saber → sepa
• dar → dé

Put them into real sentences right away:

• No creo que sea tarde. (I don’t think it’s late.)
• Me alegra que estés bien. (I’m glad you’re fine.)
• Quiero que vayas conmigo. (I want you to go with me.)
• Ojalá que haya entradas. (I hope there are tickets.)
• Dudo que lo sepa. (I doubt he knows it.)
• Es mejor que me lo des ahora. (It’s better you give it to me now.)

Table 2: High-Frequency Irregulars And Model Sentences

Verb	Present Subjunctive (Yo)	Model Sentence
Ser	Sea	Es posible que sea cierto.
Estar	Esté	Me alegra que estés aquí.
Ir	Vaya	Quiero que vayas con calma.
Haber	Haya	Dudo que haya tiempo.
Saber	Sepa	No creo que él sepa la respuesta.
Dar	Dé	Prefiero que me lo des mañana.
Tener	Tenga	No pienso que tenga sentido.
Venir	Venga	Es mejor que venga temprano.

If you want an official breakdown of subjunctive tense forms as a system (not just a list), the RAE’s grammar overview at tiempos verbales del modo subjuntivo gives a structured reference.

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

These mistakes are normal. Fixing them is mostly about noticing the setup.

Mixing Up “Creo Que” And “No Creo Que”

Creo que usually points to indicative: Creo que él viene. Flip it to No creo que and the verb often switches: No creo que él venga. Train your ear to catch that “no” early.

Forgetting The Subject Change

Subjunctive with que often appears when the subject changes. If it’s the same person on both sides, Spanish often uses an infinitive:

• Quiero aprender español. (Same subject.)
• Quiero que aprendas español. (Different subject.)

Using Indicative After “Es Posible Que”

When you hear Es posible que, Es probable que, or Puede que, think subjunctive:

• Es posible que lleguen tarde.
• Puede que no tenga batería.

A Practice Routine That Actually Sticks

You don’t need marathon study sessions. You need repetitions that match real speech. Try this simple routine for a week.

Step 1: Pick Three Triggers

Choose three that fit your life. A solid set: quiero que, no creo que, me alegra que.

Step 2: Write Two Sentences Per Trigger

Keep them personal. That way you’ll want to say them again.

• Quiero que me hables más despacio.
• Quiero que lo intentemos otra vez.
• No creo que él tenga tiempo hoy.
• No creo que sea caro.
• Me alegra que estés aquí.
• Me alegra que me escribas.

Step 3: Swap The Verb, Keep The Frame

Hold the trigger steady and swap only the last verb. This builds speed.

• Quiero que vengas / comas / salgas / vuelvas.
• No creo que sea / tenga / pueda / vaya.
• Me alegra que estés / sigas / vengas / puedas.

A One-Page Checklist For On-The-Spot Decisions

When you’re speaking and your brain stalls, run this quick check:

• Is it a wish, request, or preference aimed at someone else? Use que + subjunctive.
• Is it a reaction or emotion? Subjunctive is common.
• Is there doubt, denial, or “maybe”? Subjunctive is common.
• Is it “a person who…” with no named person? Subjunctive is common.
• Is it a time clause about something pending? Subjunctive is common.

With practice, this stops feeling like a rule and starts feeling like a sound pattern you recognize. That’s when you move from “I can do exercises” to “I can talk.”