Subjunctive — in Noun Clauses

Subjunctive — in Noun Clauses

The subjunctive is used in noun clauses after a) verbs expressing wish or command; b) verbs of emotion; c) certain impersonal expressions; and d) expressions indicating doubt or uncertainty.

a) Verbs expressing wish or command: The most common use of the subjunctive in Spanish is after verbs expressing wish or command (querer, desear, pedir, exigir, insistir, preferir, etc.) when the main verb and the subordinate verb have different subjects. (If there is only one subject, then an infinitive is naturally used.)

Yo deseo que Juan vaya inmediatamente.
I want John to go immediately.

María quiere que usted espere aquí.
Mary wants you to wait here.

BUT: when there is no subject change:

Yo deseo ir inmediatamente.
I want to go immediately.

María quiere esperar aquí.
Mary wants to wait here.

NOTE: These verbs are implied in some expressions of wish or mild command:

¡Qué tengas éxito!
May you have success!

Other verbs of wish or command:

decir to tell (order)
mandar to order, command
rogar to beg, pray
aconsejar to advise
permitir to permit
dejar to let, allow
prohibir to prohibit

Note: All of these generally use an indirect object pronoun even though there may be a noun in the English sentence. This noun serves both as the indirect object of one of the first four verbs mentioned and as the subject of the subjunctive clause. With these first four verbs, it is generally not necessary to use the subject in the subjunctive clause.

Le dije a Guillermo que fuera conmigo.
I told Guillermo to go with me.

The verbs dejar, permitir, and prohibir may be followed by an infinitive provided that indirect object pronouns are used.

Él deja que traigamos a nuestros padres.
He lets us bring our parents.
OR
Él nos deja traer a nuestros padres.
He lets us bring our parents.

NOTE: Decir takes the subjunctive when it expresses a command or wish but not when it is used to state a fact:

Mi madre me dice que camine despacio.
My mother tells me to walk slowly.

Mi madre me dice que camino despacio.
My mother tells me that I walk slowly.

b) Verbs of emotion: The subjunctive is also used after all verbs of emotion, such as sentir, alegrarse, lamentar, temer, extrañarse, sorprenderse, etc. Again, remember that the verb in the subjunctive clause must have a subject of its own; if there is only one subject in the sentence, then an infinitive is used.

Siento mucho que ella esté enferma hoy.
I am sorry she is sick today.

Él tiene miedo que ella diga la verdad.
He is afraid she may tell the truth.

BUT: when there is no subject change:

Él tiene miedo de decir la verdad.
He is afraid to tell the truth.

NOTE: Similarly, the subjunctive is also used after ojalá (that God grant) to express wish or hope. Ojalá translates as I wish or I hope.

Ojalá que él venga pronto.
I hope he arrives soon.

c) Impersonal expressions: The subjunctive is used after certain impersonal phrases expressing necessity, opinion, emotion, etc. (es necesario que, es imposible que, es importante que, es una lástima que, etc.)

Es importante que ella vaya allí en seguida.
It's important that she go there at once.

Es probable que vengan por avión.
It's probable that they will come by plane.

BUT: when the subject of the second verb is also impersonal:

Es importante llegar a tiempo.
It's important to arrive on time.

Other impersonal expressions:

puede ser it may be
es posible it is possible
es dudoso it is doubtful
es justo it is just
es malo / bueno it is bad / good
más vale it is better
es mejor it is better
es (una) lástima it is a pity
basta it is enough

d) Expressions of doubt: The subjunctive is used after expressions indicating some doubt or uncertainty in the mind of the speaker (dudo que, niego que, no creo que, no pienso que, etc.)

Dudo que él sepa bastante español para entenderlo.
I doubt that he knows enough Spanish to understand it.

No creo que tengan mucho dinero.
I don't think they have much money.

Note: In this usage, if no doubt is expressed and a mere statement of fact or opinion is made, then the indicative is used.

Creo que tienen mucho dinero.
I think they have a lot of money.

No hay duda de que lo hará pronto.
There is no doubt he will do it soon.