Do Spanish speakers use the subjunctive a lot? Yes.

Question

Every once in a while someone will ask "Do I really need to learn the subjunctive?" Surely that's not important in everyday speech." I thought about that when I saw the following posted by a teen on facebook. Lots of examples of present subjunctive here and obviously very colloquial :

Te dejare de querer : cuando Chucky sea tierno ? Cuando se congele el sol ? Cuando la luna se convierta en queso ? Cuando llueva al revés ? Cuando pueda contar las estrellas ? Cuando el mar se seque ? Cuando el chavo encuentre a sus padres ... ? Cuando tom se coma a Jerry ? Cuando el coyote atrape al corre caminos ? Cuando silvestre se coma a Twitty ? Cuando homero deje la cerveza ? O simplemente cuando mi corazón deje de latir .En conclusión , puede que nunca te deje de querer ? Si me devuelves este mensaje me darás a entender que soy parte de tu corazón Así como tu eres parte del mio ? Envíalo a todas las personas que quieres, si recibes mas de 8 eres muy querido

Seguro eres muy querida :] - 00a4c226, Jun 24, 2011

Answer 1

From my experience of learning Spanish and from reading responses from Lazarus and other native speakers I would say that any serious student of Spanish would not be able to make much progress in improving his/her ability learn the language without encountering and learning to use the subjunctive; both the present and imperfect subjunctive .No easy task, I'd admit , but certainly a necessary one It

Thankfully, after having read a recent response from Lazarus about the future subjunctive I can confidently assert that the future subjunctive is not used anymore in modern every day Spanish.

I am still coming to grips with when to use this mood,

Examples of sentences needing present subjunctive:

1 Espero que venga mañana

= I hope (that) he comes tomorrow

2 Quiero que compres eso anillo de diamantes por mi cumpleaños

= I want you to buy me that diamond ring for my birthday

Examples of imperfect subjunctive:

Habría comprado eso nuevo coche si solo tuviera suficiente dinero

= I would have bought that new car if only I had enough money

I had previously said;

''I cannot think of any examples of using the imperfect subjunctive after the relative pronoun que If I think of any I will add them'' so Lazarus kindly gave me some ideas lol

Here are two examples where you would need to use the imperfect subjunctive... after the relative pronoun que

1 Prefería que viniera

2 No creia que tuvieran tanta hambre

Corregid mi español, por favor

Answer 2

I cannot think of any examples of using the imperfect subjunctive after the relative pronoun que If I think of any I will add them

Preferiría que vinieras.

Se encargó de que todos fueran.

No creía que tuvieran tanta hambre.

Answer 3

Yes, the subjunctive is used a lot so you won't be able to understand some of what natives are saying, and you won't be able to express your thoughts as clearly if you don't learn it. The subjunctive is strange, but I've gotten used to it so I guess that makes me a W.E.I.R.D.O

jajajaja :) - Valerie, Jun 14, 2011

It's a mnemonic device I use all of the time to remember when to use the subjunctive :) - GuitarWarrior, Jun 14, 2011

It's not "strange", it's just another part of the language; a very important one, actually. - 002067fe, Jun 24, 2011

The subjunctive, no, the entire Spanish language can be "strange" to a non-native until one takes the time and effort to understand it. No doubt, learning the subjunctive is a necessary task. - GuitarWarrior, Jun 25, 2011

Answer 4

I haven't studied the subjunctive yet, but it seems rather difficult.

However, I know it's extremely important in the Spanish language. Thanks for posting this.

Just think of it as another pattern to learn. I think people get confused about when to use it, but it's not that bad! - Luzbonita, Jun 13, 2011

Answer 5

It's difficult for me at first,but as I try to speak it more and more it's becoming a little less foreign to me.

Answer 6

No que yo sepa....

What made you say that?

Answer 7

I'm waiting to get the preterit, imperfect, present, and future tenses down, in addition to past participle and the gerund before I get anywhere near conditional and subjunctive.

I finished my semester two weeks and my workload is a bit less over the summer so I'm planning to use the next couple weeks to hammer those in.

Wish me luck! - Chavag, Jun 24, 2011

¡Qué trabajo! Buena suerte :) - GuitarWarrior, Jun 24, 2011

Answer 8

It is needed when you hope, wish, recommend, suggests something to someone else. Example, I hope you are well....Espero que estés bien.