Español 306 T. Mount

SUBJUNCTIVE IN NOUN CLAUSES. A complete list of verbs and expressions that require subjunctive is impossible, but it might be helpful to have a list of very common ones. These can be divided into “conceptual groups” indicative of an attitude toward the content of the noun clause.

DESIRE, WISH, NEED, REQUEST: querer, necesitar, desear, pedir, rogar > Quiero que tú escribas tu nombre en este papel.

Ojalá always requires subjunctive, though the meaning changes slightly depending on whether a (1) present (or present perfect) or (2) imperfect (or pluperfect) subjunctive is used. (If present or present perfect is used, then ojalá is the equivalent of “I hope”. If imperfect or pluperfect is used, then ojalá is the equivalent of “I wish”.

RECOMMENDATION, ADVICE, COMMAND, DEMAND, INSISTENCE, PREFERENCE: recomendar, aconsejar, sugerir, mandar, exiigir, insistir en, preferir >

Insisto en que tú escribas tu nombre en este papel.

This category also includes decir and escribir when they mean that a

« command, wish, or piece of advice » is being conveyed:

Su padre le dijo que me escribiera. (His father told him to write me.)

ALLOWANCE, PREVENTION: permitir (dejar), prohibir, impedir.

EMOTION: esperar, alegrarse de, tener miedo de, temer, sentir, lamentar, sorprenderle a uno, extrañarle a uno > Me alegro de que hayas escrito tu nombre en este papel.

APPROVAL, DISAPPROVAL (might be said to fall under category of EMOTION): gustarle a uno, no gustarle a uno > No me gusta que tú hayas escrito tu nombre en este papel.

UNCERTAINTY, DOUBT, DENIAL, REJECTION, DISBELIEF OR NON-BELIEF: dudar, negar, no creer . Dudo que hayas escrito tu nombre en este papel. / No creo que el profesor tenga corregidos los exámenes.

IMPERSONAL EXPRESSONS that also indicate the attitudes listed above will require a «que clause » with subjunctive if the action that follows is personalized (that is, if a subject is mentioned).

Examples:

Es importante terminar pronto. (It’s important to finish soon.) < completely impersonal \ (nobody is specifically singled out). BUT:

Es importante que tú termines pronto. (It’s important for you to finish soon.) < a

particular person is indicated (“You” have been singled out.)

Expressions that fall into one or more of the above categories:

conviene (convenir = to be to one’s advantage, to be advisable, to suit)

es importante es necesario no es verdad es triste

es bueno es increíble no es cierto es lástima

es malo puede ser no es evidente es lamentable

es imprescindible es posible es probable es útil

es dudoso es imposible es improbable es inútil

es inevitable