¡Hola! Now that you understand the "why" behind the Subjunctive mood, let's learn the "how." In this chapter, we'll focus on forming the Present Subjunctive for regular -AR verbs. The process is quite systematic once you get the hang of it!
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The Present Subjunctive is used to talk about current or future wishes, emotions, doubts, etc. Forming it involves a few simple steps, starting with a form you already know well: the "yo" form of the Present Indicative.
(Optional Review): What is the "yo" form of hablar in the present indicative? (hablo). And for caminar? (camino). This "yo" form is our starting point!
(This gives you the subjunctive stem.)
These endings are often called the "opposite vowel" endings because -AR verbs take -e based endings in the subjunctive.
| Pronoun | -AR Subjunctive Ending | hablar (to speak) | caminar (to walk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -e | hoble | camíne |
| tú | -es | hobles | camínes |
| él/ella/usted | -e | hoble | camíne |
| nosotros/as | -emos | hoblemos | caminemos |
| vosotros/as | -éis | hobléis | caminéis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -en | hoblen | camínen |
Notice: The "yo" and "él/ella/usted" forms are the same (ending in -e). The "nosotros" form ends in -emos, and the "vosotros" form ends in -éis (with an accent on the 'e').
Estudiar (to study) → (yo) estudio → estudi-
Comprar (to buy) → (yo) compro → compr-
Master Present Subjunctive for regular -AR verbs.
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Instructions: For each infinitive, write its "yo" present indicative form and the subjunctive stem.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Match the pronoun with the correct present subjunctive form of "tomar" (to take/drink).
yo ( ) toméis
tú ( ) tomen
él ( ) tome (yo/él/ella form)
nosotros ( ) tomes
vosotros ( ) tomemos
ustedes ( ) tome (yo/él/ella form)Answer Key:
yo → tome
tú → tomes
él → tome
nosotros → tomemos
vosotros → toméis
ustedes → tomenInstructions: Write the correct present subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses for the given subject. (The "que" is often present in full sentences but not needed for pure conjugation practice).
Answer Key:
Instructions: Using the trigger "Espero que..." (I hope that...), complete the sentences with the correct subjunctive form of the verb.
Answer Key:
While this chapter focuses on the formation of the Present Subjunctive for -AR verbs, it's interesting to note how central this mood is to expressing fundamental human emotions and interactions in Spanish-speaking cultures. Phrases like "Espero que estés bien" (I hope you are well) or "Quiero que vengas a la fiesta" (I want you to come to the party) are not just grammatical structures; they are everyday expressions of care, desire, and social connection.
The subjunctive allows speakers to soften requests, express polite wishes, or convey uncertainty in a way that maintains social harmony (simpatía), a concept valued in many Hispanic cultures. As you learn to use the subjunctive, you're not just learning grammar, you're gaining a tool to navigate social interactions with greater nuance and cultural sensitivity. Paying attention to when native speakers use "que + subjuntivo" will reveal a lot about their intentions and the underlying emotional or volitional context of the conversation.
A key characteristic of subjunctive endings is the "opposite vowel" pattern. Since -AR verbs use "a" as their thematic vowel in the indicative (hablas, habla, hablamos), their subjunctive forms switch to using "e".
You'll see a similar "opposite vowel" pattern when we learn -ER and -IR subjunctive forms (they will use "a"-based endings).
For regular -AR verbs, the stem you get from the "yo" present indicative form (after dropping the -o) remains consistent throughout all subjunctive conjugations. There are no additional stem changes to worry about for these regular verbs in the present subjunctive.
Example (hablar): Stem is "habl-". All forms use this: hable, hables, hable, hablemos, habléis, hablen.
(Irregular verbs and some stem-changing -AR verbs will have different behaviors, which we'll cover later.)
¡Muy bien! You've learned how to form the Present Subjunctive for regular -AR verbs. In the next chapter, we'll cover the formation for regular -ER and -IR verbs. You'll find their endings are also systematic, following the "opposite vowel" idea. Once we have the forms down, we'll dive deep into using the subjunctive in sentences with the WEIRDO triggers!