The best way to learn the subjunctive?

Question

Hello, I was wondering what is the best way to learn the subjunctive tenses? I'm a native English speaker and I have trouble with the subjunctive a lot. Can anyone suggest a way of learning them?

Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Jen has created this great compilation on this topic, I hope you can fimd lots of info there.

nice one :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 4, 2011

Answer 2

I don't think there's a fast track but it does slowly start to sink in

Kiwi is right -- it will eventually sink in.

I studied the subjunctive (by reading internet articles, books, etc.) to see how it works. I was a bit overwhelmed with the thought of having to figure out when to use it, but then I just listened for how people use it and read all of the questions asked here on the forum. By reading about it first I knew what I was listening for.

Eventually, I began to recognize situations where the subjunctive mood was required and I began to use it too.

¡Buena suerte!

Thank you! - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

Answer 3

From personal experience I would just say keep reading, listening and conversing - there's no better tool than time spent learning and immersing yourself in the language as much as possible.

I read all I can including grammar articles with explanations and then try to listen out for others using the subjunctive in their speech or I read and look out for examples in literature. I don't think there's a fast track but it does slowly start to sink in

Even if you just take one use at a time and concentrate on that. Eg - the subjunctive with verbs of desire, the subjunctive with set phrases etc etc.

All the best

Thanks. - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

de nada :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 4, 2011

of course you could always resurrect my old games for practice je je :) http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/157162/g-a-m-e-the-subjunctive or http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/169171/g-a-m-e-the-subjunctive-emotion - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 4, 2011

Interesting.... - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

Answer 4

Are you asking about how to form them or how to use them? (There are only 4 tenses...present, past, present and past perfect)...fairly easy to learn how to form them. Using them correctly is another story.

If you are asking about using the subjunctive mood (not conjugations), then I would suggest that you learn its overall usage, before becoming concerned with learning the conjugations of each tense. Here is a good contrast between the indicative and subjunctive mood. The 2nd article is more about just the subjunctive mood.

verb moods

When to use the subjunctive mood

Thank you. I was asking on the best way of getting to use them correctly. - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

The indicative I understand, but when it comes to the Imperfect subjunctive...I tend to get confused. - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011

The conjugations... - flyboy700, Jun 4, 2011