Is the subjunctive this easy?

Question

I've heard really horrible stuff about the learning the subjunctive mood.

But after watching the videos, it doesn't seem to be that hard...

I don't feel that bad about the subjunctive - am I setting myself up for a fall?

Am I missing something?

Or perhaps Paralee is just a brilliant teacher?

De repente, siento muy estupido.... :( - 001a2987, Sep 5, 2011

Yo tambien :) - ian-hill, Sep 5, 2011

Me siento idiota, estoy escuchando el imperecto que es superfácil. El nivel del subjunctivo no es par mi. - annierats, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 1

Oh god I was terrified of it, every time someone mentioned it I felt a cold shiver.

It's actually really really easy, the hard part is knowing when to use it. Like superhero powers.

Yes! - MLucie, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 2

The subjunctive is extremely easy!!!

It's all about understanding a small rule and then everything becomes easy

What makes it hard is that you hear bad things about it before you even learn it, so when you come to studying it, you convince yourself that it's horrible!!

Care to share this "small rule"? I still have trouble with the subjunctive (except the obvious ones: "Querer que", "No es bueno que", "Alegrarse de que", etc) - Goldie_Miel, Sep 6, 2011

Answer 3

All of the laundry list rules for Spanish have too many exceptions to be useful, in addition to being impossible to remember fast enough to have a real conversation. I recommend learning the simpler rules that lazarus has posted instead, not only for the subjunctive but for ser vs. estar and other topics as well.

I agree - on the other hand everything is simple when one knows how to do it. - ian-hill, Sep 5, 2011

OK, I'll admit that learning what constitutes a declaration or identification is hard. . .I'm still learning how. - lorenzo9, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 4

Congugating the subjuntive is very easy. Using it in the very obvious cases is also very easy. Learning the more subtle cases for me, is very very hard.

well put :) - Valerie, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 5

it's very easy when you study hard

sorry i can't vote the question. - 00376072, Sep 5, 2011

agreed, here's a vote for you! welcome to the forum Mariala :) - 00b6f46c, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 6

The subjunctive can be confusing, especially for a native English speaker because we have so few examples of the tense in our own language. Here are my two favorites: I wish I were an Oscar Meyer weiner. I wouldn't do that if I were you. If conjugating verbs is easy for you then conjugating in the subjunctive will be the same level of difficulty. You just have to remember to get your stem from the present tense yo form. The real challenge in the subjunctive is knowing when to use it. Even native speakers and Spanish teachers will occassionally scratch their heads and wonder... hmmm... should I use subjunctive here? I think it's best to remember that you are studying a living language which is continuously changing and adapting and there is no such thing as perfection. Fine tuning one's use of the subjunctive is most useful as entertainment for language nerds like myself. It is not something you ever need to worry about.

Answer 7

The subjunctive is hard!!

Answer 8

Annierats said

Tengo una pregunta para la Señora Whitmire y Sonrisa del sol

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaa I'll have whatever you're having!

I'm confused. Is this like a play on words? Whit sonrisa --> white sonrisa --> white smile? - SonrisaDelSol, Sep 5, 2011

No. it has nothing to do with words. I thas alot to dow ith American teeth, which are whiter. Congrats on your dedication, me falta palabras. - annierats, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 9

Tengo una pregunta para la Señora Whitmire y Sonrisa del Sol: ¿Que pasta de dientes estan utilizando? ]

[1]: http://

What toothpaste do I use? ¿Qué? - SonrisaDelSol, Sep 5, 2011

Well, as you can tell from my avatar, I am an infant, so I use the kind that's safe to swallow and tastes like cupcakes. - SonrisaDelSol, Sep 5, 2011

Con un nombre como Sonrisa y la confianza de la profesora, quiero comprar la pasta de dientes, creo que puede cambiar mi vida. - annierats, Sep 5, 2011

Excellent, has it got hormones in it? I think I need some. I shive every time la profesora smiles. I live in England, no tenemos sonrisas de esta qualidad. - annierats, Sep 5, 2011

Typo: Shiver, shake, tremble. - annierats, Sep 5, 2011

Answer 10

Mrs. Whitmire is an awesome teacher.

The subjunctive gets harder (a lot harder), but then it gets easier again. Even after that, there's still a lot more to learn about Spanish, so don't rest on your laurels.

Answer 11

The subjunctive really isn't that bad. I've heard horror stories, too, but it's not bad. If you start learning it with the mindset it's going to be difficult and confusing, then that's exactly what it's going to be. But if you go in with the mindset that you can do it and just accept the challenge, then you will be succesful in subjunctive studies.

And yes, Paralee is a brilliant teacher.

Just be a WEIRDO and you'll be okay