¡Hola! After learning to form the Present Subjunctive for regular -AR verbs, we'll now tackle regular -ER and -IR verbs. You'll be pleased to know that regular -ER and -IR verbs share the exact same set of endings in the Present Subjunctive, and they also follow the "opposite vowel" pattern. Let's learn how to conjugate them!
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The process for forming the Present Subjunctive for -ER and -IR verbs is identical to that of -AR verbs: start with the "yo" form of the Present Indicative, drop the "-o", and add the subjunctive endings. The key difference lies in the endings themselves.
(Optional Review): What is the "yo" form of comer (to eat) in the present indicative? (como). And for vivir (to live)? (vivo). These will be our starting points.
(This gives you the subjunctive stem.)
These endings use the "opposite vowel" 'a' because -ER and -IR verbs use 'e' or 'i' as their thematic vowels in the indicative.
| Pronoun | -ER/-IR Subjunctive Ending | comer (to eat) | vivir (to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | -a | coma | viva |
| tú | -as | comas | vivas |
| él/ella/usted | -a | coma | viva |
| nosotros/as | -amos | comamos | vivamos |
| vosotros/as | -áis | comáis | viváis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | -an | coman | vivan |
Notice: The "yo" and "él/ella/usted" forms are the same (ending in -a). The "nosotros" form ends in -amos, and the "vosotros" form ends in -áis (with an accent on the 'a').
Aprender (to learn -ER) → (yo) aprendo → aprend-
Escribir (to write -IR) → (yo) escribo → escrib-
Master Present Subjunctive for regular -ER and -IR verbs.
Import Chapter 39 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
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 "vivir" (to live).
yo ( ) viváis
tú ( ) vivan
él ( ) viva (yo/él/ella form)
nosotros ( ) vivas
vosotros ( ) vivamos
ustedes ( ) viva (yo/él/ella form)Answer Key:
yo → viva
tú → vivas
él → viva
nosotros → vivamos
vosotros → viváis
ustedes → vivanInstructions: Write the correct present subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses for the given subject.
Answer Key:
Instructions: Using the trigger "Es necesario que..." (It is necessary that...), complete the sentences with the correct subjunctive form of the verb.
Answer Key:
The Present Subjunctive, which you're learning to form with -ER and -IR verbs in this chapter, is incredibly prevalent in everyday recommendations, suggestions, and expressions of doubt across Spanish-speaking cultures. When someone says, "Te recomiendo que comas la paella aquí" (I recommend that you eat the paella here), or "Es importante que vivas el momento" (It's important that you live the moment), they are using the subjunctive to influence, advise, or express a subjective viewpoint about an action.
Understanding this grammatical mood helps you decode these nuances. For example, if a friend says, "Dudo que él escriba la carta" (I doubt that he will write the letter), the use of the subjunctive immediately signals their lack of certainty. As you become more attuned to these forms, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the speaker's perspective and the subtle dynamics of social interaction in Spanish. It's a key to moving beyond literal translations and grasping the underlying intent.
As predicted! Since regular -ER verbs use "e" as their thematic vowel in the indicative (e.g., comes, come, comemos) and -IR verbs use "i" or "e" (e.g., vives, vive, vivimos), their subjunctive forms switch to using "a"-based endings.
This "opposite vowel" trick is a great way to remember the basic subjunctive endings for regular verbs.
Just like with regular -AR verbs, for regular -ER and -IR verbs, the stem derived from the "yo" present indicative form (after dropping the -o) remains consistent for all persons in the present subjunctive.
Example (comer): Stem is "com-". All forms use this: coma, comas, coma, comamos, comáis, coman.
Example (vivir): Stem is "viv-". All forms use this: viva, vivas, viva, vivamos, viváis, vivan.
(Verbs that are stem-changing in the present indicative will often have stem changes in the subjunctive too, which we'll cover in the irregulars chapter.)
¡Excelente! You now know how to form the Present Subjunctive for all regular -AR, -ER, and -IR verbs. This is a massive step! In the next chapter, we'll tackle the common irregular verbs in the Present Subjunctive, including the "DISHES" verbs and some important stem-changing verbs. After that, we'll be ready to put it all into practice with the WEIRDO triggers!