The challenge is to use various phrases followed by the subjunctive mood. (Beginners to the subjunctive are welcome.)

Question

Kiwi and Marianne have both indicated they will help with the corrections! Muchas gracias a mis amigas!

Rey_Mysterio has also indicated he will help correct, too! Una vez más, muchas gracias!

-- 1. The table includes a list of main clause phrases commonly associated with uncertainty or subjectivity.

-- 2. The verb that follows the phrase is in the subjunctive mood.

Note: The phrases in the table use the indicative. The verb that follows the phrase is in the subjunctive.

Examples:

Quiero que el chico coma más.
I want the boy to eat more.

A menos que tengas pasión en lo que haces, no vas a ser feliz.
Unless you have passion about what you're doing, you're not going to be happy.

No aprobarás a menos que estudies mucho.
You (informal) won't pass unless you study a lot.

The game:
-- Follow in sequence the number of the phrases 1-64.
-- Be sure and click newest.
-- Create your own sentence in both Spanish and English.
-- You may answer every twelve hours.
-- You may post one picture for fun!

I will do the first one.

-- 1. a menos que
Sus hijos leerán estos libros, a menos que desistan.
Their children will read these books, unless they give up.

Table of phrases, the verb following these phrases will be subjunctive

1.	a menos que	unless
2.	antes (de) que	before
3.	con tal (de) que	provided that
4.	cuando	when
5.	conviene que	it is advisable that
6.	después (de) que	after
7.	dudar que	to doubt that
8.	en caso de que	in case
9.	en cuanto	as soon as
10.	es aconsejable que	it's advisable that
11.	es bueno que	it's good that
12.	es difícil que	it's unlikely that
13.	es dudoso que	it is doubtful that
14.	es fácil que	it's likely that
15.	es fantástico que	it's fantastic that
16.	es importante que	it's important that
17.	es imposible que	it's impossible that
18.	es improbable que	it's unlikely that
19.	es incierto que	it's uncertain that
20.	es increíble que	it's incredible that
21.	es (una) lástima que	it's a pity that
22.	es malo que	it's bad that
23.	es mejor que	it's better that
24.	es menester que	it's necessary that
25.	es necesario que	it's necessary that
26.	esperar que	to wish that
27.	es posible que	it's possible that
28.	es preciso que	it's necessary that
29.	es preferible que	it's preferable that
30.	es probable que	it's probable that
31.	es raro que	it's rare that
32.	es ridículo que	it's ridiculous that
33.	estar contento que	to be happy that
34.	es terrible que	it's terrible that
35.	hasta que	until
36.	insistir en que	to insist that
37.	mandar que	to order that
38.	más vale que	it's better that
39.	mientras que	while
40.	negar que	to deny that
41.	no creer que	not to believe that
42.	no es cierto que	it's not certain that
43.	no estar convencido de que	to not be convinced that
44.	no estar seguro de que	to not be sure that
45.	no es verdad que	it's not true that
46.	no imaginarse que	to not imagine that
47.	no parecer que	to not seem that
48.	no pensar que	to not think that
49.	no suponer que	to not suppose that
50.	ojalá que	if only he would
51.	para que	in order that
52.	pedir que	to ask that
53.	preferir que	to prefer that
54.	prohibir que	to prohibit that
55.	puede ser que	it may be that
56.	querer que	to want that
57.	recomendar que	to recommend that
58.	rogar que	to plead that
59.	sentir que	to regret that
60.	sin que	without
61.	sugerir que	to suggest that
62.	tan pronto como	as soon as
63.	temer que	to fear that
64.	tener miedo de que	to be afraid that

This is not a complete list.

Please let me know if I have errors and typos. - bandit51jd, Aug 22, 2012

I know there is a shorter phrase list of what does not use the subjjuctive. I had not seen some of these phrases and thought they would be good to see. - bandit51jd, Aug 22, 2012

Very good, this is very useful. - diagonx, Aug 22, 2012

Hi bandit! Great exercise! Busy now but will be back to try :-) - 0095ca4c, Aug 22, 2012

Really a big help. Thanks. - katydew, Aug 23, 2012

I'm very grateful for your participation, Margherite y Katy! Muchas gracias! - bandit51jd, Aug 24, 2012

Nice game Bandit, excellent idea, well done! - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 26, 2012

Well, bandit, there's a typo in the very title. :) Beginner's -> Beginners (plural, not possessive) ;) - inkubzz, Aug 28, 2012

be careful with cuando peeps, it only takes the subjunctive if what follows is an anticipated event/action not a past or habitual one - - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 28, 2012

Thanks Kiwi and Marianne! You guys are awesome to volunteer! - 0095ca4c, Aug 29, 2012

I love this challenge - great practice on a difficult topic! Thank you. - pml222, Aug 30, 2012

I fixed the title per Inkbuzz and thank you all because we are over half done with the table! - bandit51jd, Aug 30, 2012

Thanks for the game Bandit! I have been enjoying getting to know the subjunctive in a fun way. - dsmithen, Sep 1, 2012

One of my goals was to learn the subjunctive in a simple, fun way. Your comment really means a lot to me! Muchas gracias! - bandit51jd, Sep 1, 2012

Answer 1

Es bueno que tengáis suficiente tiempo para veros.

It's good that you all have enough time to see each other.

Muchas gracias! In my home town the students are returning for fall semester. If I may ask, are you studying or teaching at this time? - bandit51jd, Aug 23, 2012

I'm actually entering my third year of college right now, so I'm studying. Are you teaching or studying? - joshhh317, Aug 23, 2012

Neither. I enjoy this Spanishdict.com site and try to help others with the Spanish that I know. This summer I´ve been taking horse riding lessons and they have been ¨scary fun¨. - bandit51jd, Aug 25, 2012

Answer 2

55

puede ser que -- it may be that

¡Puede ser que vayamos a superar estas frases la primera vez!

It may be that we will get through these phrases the first time!

Answer 3

44

No estar seguro de que - I'm not sure that

No está seguro de que su novia pueda ir si no tiene un acompañante de señorita.

He's not sure that his girlfriend can go if she doesn't have a chaperone.

"puedas" could work here, too, I think? I've never seen chaperone used in Spanish! Bien hecho! Gracias! - bandit51jd, Sep 4, 2012

i dont know how to say chaperone, but good job - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 5, 2012

Thanks Rey. - katydew, Sep 8, 2012

Answer 4

39

Mientras que estuviéramos viendo televisión, mamá gritó a nosotros "laven esos platos!".

While we were watching television, Mom yelled at us "Wash those dishes!".

I believe we use the subjunctive when there is an element of doubt as to an action, therefore I think this should be 'mien tras que estábamos ...' I'd appreciate confirmation of this from a native speaker please as I'm getting confused. - pml222, Aug 31, 2012

I thought I used the subjunctive. Isn't estuviéramos imperfect subjuntive? - 0095ca4c, Aug 31, 2012

I am interested in what a native would say, too, but I will say that "while" is a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of Margherite's sentence. The word "while" indicates what follows makes up the independent clause (While we were watching... - bandit51jd, Aug 31, 2012

...television) and the comma indicates what follows is the main (independent) clause. (Mom yelled at us "Wash those dishes!".) The table of phrases are to be placed in the main clause. - bandit51jd, Aug 31, 2012

I think the imperative (laven) is being used in the main clause rather than the subjunctive (laven); because Mom is yelling at them. Margherite, you’ve really given a great sentence to learn with! I hope one of the volunteer correctors helps us! - bandit51jd, Aug 31, 2012

Yes -bandit51jd - looks like the imperative to me too. Margherite yes, you used the subjunctive in the 'while we were watching' clause but I don't think it applies here but I'm not sure, so would love some help... ; - - pml222, Aug 31, 2012

Yes guys you're right - Mientras estábamos (no que needed) while we were / this is because you are declaring a past action. Mientras que + future or anticipated action would use the subjunctive. The imperative too is spot on. - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 31, 2012

Thanks everyone! I truly appreciate the help. Should I leave what I wrote so that people can follow the corrections? - 0095ca4c, Sep 1, 2012

Yes, for exactly the reason you indicated. Mistakes/corrections/attempts are for learning! - bandit51jd, Sep 1, 2012

mientras que estabamos viendo la tele, mi mama nos grito "laven los platos!" - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Thanks Rey. I appreciate your time. I'm going to leave the mistakes for everyone to see as this was a real learning curve for me. - 0095ca4c, Sep 7, 2012

Answer 5

42.

no es cierto que - It's not certain that

No es cierto que aparezca a tiempo, pero esperamos así.

It's not certain that she will show up on time, but we hope so.

aparezca - just try to memorize that you use the present subjuctive for present or future statements 'will show up" is future so it takes the present subjunctive. You've used the past subjunctive which is for past actions. - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 1, 2012

Thanks Kiwi. I just read your note on no. 14 so I think I can figure it out now. I've never formally learned these so I'm flying by the seat of my pants and waiting to see what someone says about it. ha. - katydew, Sep 2, 2012

Makes me wonder if she was ill and just couldn´t tell him! Muy bien hecho! - bandit51jd, Sep 2, 2012

es incierto que venga a tiempo, pero esperamos que si - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 5, 2012

Answer 6

41

No cree que el erizo pueda ser una mascota.

She doesn't believe that the hedgehog can be a pet.

Hola bandit! Veo un conejo. ?? - 0095ca4c, Sep 1, 2012

LOL I really wasn´t looking that close at the animal but at her backing away! The caption said hedgehog, but now that I´m really looking, I think you are right! - bandit51jd, Sep 2, 2012

good - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Answer 7

No puedo negar que me este divirtiendo con esta reto, ¡pues gracias!

I can't deny that I'm enjoying myself with this challenge, so thank you!

No. 40 by the way! - pml222, Aug 31, 2012

...esté (accent)......este (gender) reto.... - bandit51jd, Sep 1, 2012

Your sweet to say thiat! I'm happy that you are enjoying yourself and learning! - bandit51jd, Sep 1, 2012

no puedo negar que me esta diviertiendo este reto - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Answer 8

62) Tan pronto como se despidio,mis lagrimas brotaron.. As soon as he said good-bye,my tears sprang up.

This is talking about a past event that happened so as you have rightly put you use the indicative (just missing the accent) se despidió. If you wanted to use the subjunctive it must be a future or anticipated event -eg. as soon as he says good bye - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 30, 2012

I'm going to burst into tears (or something like that) - Kiwi-Girl, Aug 30, 2012

good - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Answer 9

17- Es imposible que el capo dejes volarte como el superhombre.

It's impossible that a cape lets you fly like superman.

....una capa....; Great use of "dejes volarte"! Well done! - bandit51jd, Aug 24, 2012

es imposible que la capa te va a dejar volar como superhombre - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Answer 10

7- Dudan que el gato no odie al ratón.

They doubt that the cat doesn't hate the mouse.

I looked at estuimagen.com but there were too many! Well done! - bandit51jd, Aug 23, 2012

good - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012

Answer 11

No deberías comprar nada a menos que tengas bastante dinero.

I don't want to sound like a jerk or anything, but basing the subjuntive off of a set list of phrases and "when to use it after xxx" can be helpful, but there is really no way that you will be fully capable of understanding the subjunctive. You should not only know the whens but also the whys.

Just an aspect to look at, again I'm not critisizing but stating my opinion.

Brady, you didn't read the instruction. The phrase you are to do is the 2nd one. - bandit51jd, Aug 22, 2012

Brady, if you'll look under the table, you'll see this is not a complete list. This game is to have fun learning about the subjunctive. Clearly there are many aspects of the subjunctive and this game is not all inclusive. - bandit51jd, Aug 22, 2012

good - Rey_Mysterio, Sep 4, 2012