Mexican Fluency's Guide to the Spanish Subjunctive
Ever feel like the subjunctive is the secret boss battle of learning Spanish?
You’re not alone!
For many learners, the subjunctive can feel like a puzzle that doesn’t quite fit. But here’s the thing: it’s not as scary as it sounds.
In fact, mastering the subjunctive is a massive step toward sounding like a true Spanish speaker, especially in Mexican Spanish.
And, just like trying different flavors of tacos, it’s all about embracing the variety!
In this guide, we’ll break it down step by step so you can tackle the subjunctive with confidence and a smile.
1. What Exactly is the Subjunctive?
Let’s get one thing straight: the subjunctive isn’t a tense, it’s a mood. While the indicative mood deals with facts (the taco truck is open), the subjunctive is all about uncertainty, possibilities, hopes, desires, and doubts (the taco truck might be open, if we’re lucky!).
The subjunctive often arises when you’re not 100% sure about something or when you want something to happen but it hasn’t happened yet.
Example:
Indicative: Tengo tacos. (I have tacos. — Fact)
Subjunctive: Ojalá que tenga tacos. (I hope they have tacos. — Wish)
2. When Do You Use the Subjunctive?
Now that we know what the subjunctive is, let’s talk about when to use it. There’s a handy acronym to help you remember:
WEIRDO — Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubts, and Ojalá.
These situations often call for the subjunctive.
Here are some common examples:
Wants & Wishes:
Quiero que me traigas un café. (I want you to bring me a coffee.)
Emotions & Reactions:
Me alegra que vengas a la fiesta. (I’m happy that you’re coming to the party.)
Impersonal Expressions:
Es importante que estudies español todos los días. (It’s important that you study Spanish every day.)
Recommendations:
Te recomiendo que pruebes los tacos al pastor. (I recommend that you try the tacos al pastor.)
Doubts & Uncertainty:
Dudo que termine su tarea a tiempo. (I doubt that he’ll finish his homework on time.)
Ojalá (hopefully):
Ojalá que no llueva mañana. (Hopefully it won’t rain tomorrow.)
3. How to Form the Subjunctive: The Basics
Don’t worry, forming the subjunctive is easier than it sounds! Here’s how you do it:
Take the “yo” form of the present indicative (the regular present tense).
Drop the “o.”
Add the opposite endings. That means:
AR verbs get ER/IR endings: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -en
ER/IR verbs get AR endings: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -an
Examples:
Hablar (to speak):
Yo hablo → hable, hables, hable, hablemos, hablen(Espero que hables más español este año.)
Comer (to eat):
Yo como → coma, comas, coma, comamos, coman(Es importante que comas bien.)
4. Irregular Verbs in the Subjunctive
Yes, the subjunctive has irregular verbs — but don’t panic! You probably know most of them already.
Here’s a quick rundown of the most common irregular verbs:
Ser (to be): sea, seas, sea, seamos, sean
Ir (to go): vaya, vayas, vaya, vayamos, vayan
Saber (to know): sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepan
Haber (to have - auxiliary verb): haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayan
Estar (to be - temporary): esté, estés, esté, estemos, estén
Dar (to give): dé, des, dé, demos, den
Example Sentences:
Espero que seas feliz. (I hope you are happy.)
Es probable que vaya al cine esta noche. (It’s likely that I’ll go to the movies tonight.)
Dudo que sepan la respuesta. (I doubt they know the answer.)
5. Subjunctive in Action: Useful Expressions
Now that we know when and how to use the subjunctive, let’s look at some examples in action — the kind of sentences you’d hear on the streets of Mexico.
Quiero que me llames cuando llegues a casa.
(I want you to call me when you get home.)
No creo que funcione ese plan.
(I don’t think that plan will work.)
Es necesario que estudies si quieres pasar el examen.
(It’s necessary that you study if you want to pass the test.)
Ojalá que este restaurante tenga enchiladas.
(Hopefully this restaurant has enchiladas.)
6. Traps to Watch Out For
Even though the subjunctive is all about possibilities, there are still some tricky spots to keep in mind.
Here are a couple of common traps:
Mixing up the indicative and the subjunctive after “que.”
The rule is: if it’s a fact, use the indicative; if it’s a wish, doubt, or uncertainty, go with the subjunctive.
Example:
Sé que vienes. (I know you’re coming. — fact)
No creo que vengas. (I don’t think you’re coming. — doubt)
Remember the WEIRDO acronym: If the situation falls into one of these categories, you’re probably looking at a subjunctive sentence.
7. Taking It to the Next Level: The Past Subjunctive
Ready to level up? The past subjunctive is your go-to for talking about hypothetical situations or things that could have happened but didn’t.
To form the past subjunctive, start with the 3rd person plural preterite form, drop the "-ron," and add:
ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -ran
Examples:
Hablar: hablaron → hablara, hablaras, hablara, habláramos, hablaran
Comer: comieron → comiera, comieras, comiera, comiéramos, comieran
Example Sentences:
Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo.
(If I had more money, I would travel the world.)
Ojalá que hubiera sabido antes.
(I wish I had known earlier.)
8. Subjunctive in Mexican Pop Culture
Want to see how the subjunctive shows up in real-life Mexican culture?
Listen to the music!
One famous lyric is from Juan Luis Guerra’s song Ojalá que llueva café en el campo (Hopefully it rains coffee in the countryside).
Here, “ojalá” kicks off the subjunctive, expressing hope or a wish.
Another example: In Mexican telenovelas, you might hear a line like:
Espero que no me dejes, amor. (I hope you don’t leave me, my love.)
These cultural references can help you hear and feel how the subjunctive works in everyday conversation.
Conclusion
The subjunctive mood might seem tricky at first, but with a bit of practice, it’ll soon feel as natural as ordering your favorite tacos.
The key is to relax and embrace it as part of the language’s way of expressing uncertainty, desire, and possibility.
By mastering the subjunctive, you’ll level up your Mexican Spanish and sound like a true local.
¡Buena suerte!