93 Useful Spanish Subjunctive Phrases
Having trouble with Spanish subjunctive? This list of Spanish subjunctive phrases will help. Check it out!
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Spanish subjunctive phrases related to expressions of feelings or emotionsRelated to expressions of will such as orders, advice or desiresSpanish subjunctive phrases related to expressions of opinion, possibility or doubtExpressions of hope, negation, and doubtConjunctive phrases and their mood choicesThe subjunctive is hardly any Spanish language learner’s favorite topic to discuss, but cheer up! With this list of Spanish subjunctive phrases, plus a previous article which you can access HERE, you can be on your way to surviving—and even kicking ass—on the topic of Spanish subjunctive.
Here’s your list! Use the list as a reference, and pay attention to the notes about when indicative forms may also be possible.
Spanish subjunctive phrases related to expressions of feelings or emotions
Context note: Emotional reactions can use the subjunctive even when the event is a known fact: Me alegra que estés aquí (I am glad you are here). These infinitive phrases are reference forms; conjugate the main verb in your sentence.
| 1 | Amar que | To love that |
| 2 | Gustar que | To like that |
| 3 | Apreciar que | To appreciate that |
| 4 | Temer que | To fear that |
| 5 | Avergonzarse de que | To be ashamed that |
| 6 | Deplorar que | To deplore that |
| 7 | Detestar que | To detest that |
| 8 | Sorprenderse de que | To be surprised that |
| 9 | Estar feliz de que | To be happy that |
| 10 | Odiar que | To hate that |
| 11 | Estar triste de que | To be sad that |
| 12 | Es extraño que | It is strange that |
| 13 | Arrepentirse de que | To regret that |
| 14 | Lamentar que | To be sorry that |
| 15 | Es útil que | It is useful that |
| 16 | Es inútil que | It is useless that |
| 17 | Es sorprendente que | It is surprising that |
| 18 | Es confuso que | It is confusing that |
| 19 | Es gracioso que | It is funny that |
| 20 | Entristecerse de que | To become sad that |
Related to expressions of will such as orders, advice or desires
Context note: A request or recommendation commonly takes the subjunctive. Insistir en que can also assert information, with the indicative: Insisto en que es verdad (I insist that it is true), compared with Insisto en que vengas (I insist that you come).
| 21 | Preferir que | To prefer that |
| 22 | Mandar que | To order that |
| 23 | Pedir que | To ask that |
| 24 | Desear que | To desire that |
| 25 | Ordenar que | To order that |
| 26 | Impedir que | To prevent that (something from happening) |
| 27 | Evitar que | To avoid that |
| 28 | Exigir que | To demand that |
| 29 | Es de esperar que | It is to be hoped that |
| 30 | Es esencial que | It is essential that |
| 31 | Es importante que | It is important that |
| 32 | Es natural que | It is natural that |
| 33 | Es necesario que | It is necessary that |
| 34 | Es normal que | It is normal that |
| 35 | Ya es hora de que | It is time that |
| 36 | Es urgente que | It is urgent that |
| 37 | Se requiere que | It is required that |
| 38 | Es mejor que | It is better that |
| 39 | Es peor que | It is worse that |
| 40 | Prohibir que | To forbid something from happening |
| 41 | Sugerir que | To suggest that |
| 42 | Insistir en que | To insist that |
| 43 | Querer que | To want that |
| 44 | Oponerse a que | To oppose that |
Spanish subjunctive phrases related to expressions of opinion, possibility or doubt
Context note: Negated belief and doubt commonly take the subjunctive, but context can change the mood. El hecho de que allows the indicative or subjunctive depending on how the information is presented; the subjunctive does not mean that the fact is false.
| 45 | No aceptar que | Not to accept that |
| 46 | Dudar que | To doubt that |
| 47 | Es conveniente que | It is convenient that |
| 48 | Es apropiado que | It is appropriate that |
| 49 | Es posible que | It is possible that |
| 50 | Es dudoso que | It is doubtful that |
| 51 | Es imposible que | It is impossible that |
| 52 | Es probable que | It is probable that |
| 53 | Es improbable que | It is improbable that |
| 54 | Es justo que | It is fair that |
| 55 | No es evidente que | It is not evident that |
| 56 | No es obvio que | It is not obvious that |
| 57 | No es correcto que | It is not correct/right that |
| 58 | No es verdad que | It is not true that |
| 59 | Puede ser que | It may be that |
| 60 | El hecho de que | The fact that |
| 61 | Negar que | To deny that |
| 62 | No suponer que | Not to suppose that |
| 63 | No considerar que | Not to consider that |
| 64 | No concluir que | Not to conclude that |
Expressions of hope, negation, and doubt
Context note: Esperar que uses the subjunctive when it means “to hope that.” Negating a reporting verb such as decir does not automatically force the subjunctive in every context.
| 65 | No es que | It is not that |
| 66 | No creer que | Not to believe that |
| 67 | No decir que | Not to say that |
| 68 | Esperar que | To hope that |
| 69 | No estar seguro de que | Not to be sure that |
| 70 | No estar convencido de que | Not to be convinced that |
| 71 | No está claro que | It is not clear that |
| 72 | No pensar que | Not to think that |
| 73 | No parecer que | Not to seem that |
| 74 | No significar que | Not to mean that |
| 75 | No admitir que | Not to admit that |
| 76 | No es seguro que | It is not certain that |
Conjunctive phrases and their mood choices
Context note: Purpose phrases such as para que and a fin de que take the subjunctive. Future actions after después de que or hasta que also use it; statements about completed events commonly use the indicative. Siempre que takes the subjunctive when it means “provided that,” but commonly takes the indicative when it means “whenever” for a habit.
Aunque can take the indicative to assert a fact, or the subjunctive for a hypothetical concession or a fact treated as background. De modo que commonly takes the indicative for a consequence and the subjunctive for a purpose. Mientras commonly takes the indicative for simultaneous events and the subjunctive for a conditional or anticipated situation; contrastive mientras que normally uses the indicative. With asumiendo que and suponiendo que, the mood depends on whether you present an assumed premise or a hypothesis.
| 77 | Siempre que | Provided that |
| 78 | A menos que | Unless |
| 79 | Asumiendo que | Assuming that |
| 80 | Suponiendo que | Supposing that |
| 81 | A fin de que | So that / in order that |
| 82 | Antes de que | Before |
| 83 | Aunque | Although |
| 84 | De modo que | So that |
| 85 | Por miedo a que | For fear that |
| 86 | Sin que | Without |
| 87 | Mientras (conditional or future use) | While / as long as |
| 88 | Sin importar que | No matter what |
| 89 | Con tal de que | Provided that |
| 90 | Para que | So that |
| 91 | En caso de que | In case |
| 92 | Después de que (future action) | After |
| 93 | Hasta que (future action) | Until |
That wasn’t so bad, huh? Review the phrases in short example sentences so that you learn both the trigger and its context.
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