Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
Start first lessonRELEVANT LESSONS:
Explanation
WEIRDO
Many of the verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive fit into the acronym WEIRDO: Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial and Ojalá. This topic does not fit into the acronym, but it is one of the most common uses of the subjunctive. Let's get started!
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that are equivalent to an adjective. They usually explain or elaborate on the noun they modify (the antecedent). In Spanish, relative clauses are commonly introduced by the relative pronoun que.
Check out the following example of a relative clause.
In the above example, the relative clause is que tiene rayas anaranjadas. The antecedent is el gatito.
When to Use the Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
When to use the subjunctive mood in relative clauses depends entirely on the speaker’s perception of reality. Two people could be talking about the same thing, but only one could be using the subjunctive. The general rule for using the subjunctive in relative clauses is that when the antecedent is unknown, non-existent, or not yet identified, we use the subjunctive.
In the following examples, the subjunctive is used because the antecedent does not exist to the speaker.
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Verbs that Trigger the Use of the Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
The following verbs are commonly used to introduce relative clauses that use the subjunctive. This is not an exhaustive list, as there are many other verbs that, in combination with an unknown or non-existent antecedent, could trigger the subjunctive in a relative clause.
Many of these verbs have to be used in the negative in order to trigger the subjunctive.
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| buscar | to look for | querer | to want |
| necesitar | to need | tener | to have |
| conocer | to know/to be familiar | haber | to be (used with "there") |
| existir | to exist | desear | to want/to wish |
Affirmative and Negative Words
Depending on how they are used, both affirmative and negative words trigger the subjunctive. The following affirmative words trigger the subjunctive when used in questions, while the negative words are commonly used to describe non-existent nouns.
| Affirmative Words in Spanish | English | Negative Words in Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| algo | something/anything | nada | nothing/anything |
| alguien | someone/anyone | nadie | no one/anyone |
| alguno | some/any | ninguno | none of/any |
Here are some examples demonstrating how these affirmative/negative words trigger use of the subjunctive in relative clauses.
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Relative Clauses: Indicative or Subjunctive?
As previously stated, when the antecedent is hypothetical, not specific, desired, or its existence is negated or unknown to the speaker, the verb of the relative clause is in the subjunctive. However, we use the indicative mood in the relative clause when the antecedent is definite, concrete, or known to the speaker. The examples below highlight the main differences between the subjunctive and the indicative when used in relative clauses.
The Subjunctive with Hypothetical or Desired Antecedents
The verbs buscar, necesitar, and quereroften trigger the subjunctive because we use these verbs to express a desire for something that may or may not exist. More often than not, when one of these verbs is used with a definite antecedent (a noun introduced by elor la, the indicative is used in the relative clause. But when they are used in combination with an indefinite antecedent (a noun introduced by unor una, the subjunctive is generally used in the relative clause.
Take a look at these examples. The first example uses the indicative while the second example uses the subjunctive.
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As shown in the second example, the personal a is often omitted when referring to an unidentified person.
The Subjunctive with Negated Antecedents
Relative clauses that follow the negated forms of tener, conocer, haber, and existirtake the subjunctive.
Take a look at the following examples. The first example uses the indicative while the second uses the subjunctive.
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Relative Clauses in Questions
In questions, the verb in the relative clause is commonly used in the subjunctive. This is the case when there is an element of doubt and the speaker is not sure whether the antecedent exists.
Take a look at the following examples. The first example uses the indicative because the speaker is just confirming a fact, while the second uses the subjunctive because the antecedent isn't identifiable.
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Learn more about the subjunctive with the following articles:
