Printable Word doc version of Subjunctive conjugation & Subjunctive vs Commands

Rules for Subjunctive Usage

Printable Word doc version of Sujunctive vs Indicative rules

Printable Word doc version of handy-dandy quick subjunctive rules and conjugations.

The first step to learning the subjunctive is the conjugation of the verb form.  Do that first before proceeding.  It is my experience that it's much better to learn how to make the verbs before you learn what they are for.  Also, the following explanations will assume that you already know how to conjugate it.  

Once you have learned the present tense, the present subjunctive is very easy.  Once you have mastered the preterite tense, the imperfect subjunctive is the easiest conjugation in the whole Spanish language. 

The second step to learning the subjunctive is to understand the difference between the imperative or command form, and the subjunctive.  THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING.  The command forms (except for informal positive commands) LOOK like the subjunctive, they are conjugated like the subjunctive, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SUBJUNCTIVE.  The difference between them is in their syntax or the structures within which you find them. 

The command forms typically occur in very short sentences of only one clause, and they do not contain a subject pronoun.  The same is true of the command forms in English.

The subjunctive occurs in more complex sentences with two or more clauses connected by a subordinating conjunction.  There are a few exceptions to this rule, but the rule and the exceptions are all explainable by the basic, over-arching principle that underlies the subjunctive:  the dependent clause contains something that is: unreal, unexperienced, denied, non-specific or desired.  Because of the fact that many subjunctive structures contain expressions of desire or will, they are easily confused with command forms. 

Let's look at two examples:

Both of these sentences say basically the same thing, but the syntax is very different.  Notice how the subjunctive reveals the fact that I want you to tell me the story.  The command structure sort of masks my involvement in the matter by stating to you simply Tell me the story.  (My will in the matter is obvious, but invisible).

Command Forms

In beginning Spanish II, I don't like to put a lot of emphasis on this.  The following section is intended for second year students.  Read your textbook explanation now. (Vistas cap. 12)

Before moving on to the subjunctive conjugations, I want to explain the command form conjugations.  With the exception of the tú and vosotros POSITIVE commands, all of the command forms use the same conjugation as the subjunctive.  That means that you only have to learn these tú and vosotros forms in addition to the subjunctive, and you then have both structures ready to go.

Tú positive commands:   use the tú present tense, but remove the S

notice that it looks just like the present tense Ud-él-ella form.  HOWEVER, there are a few irregular tú form commands, and they happen to be very common verbs:

Vosotros positive commands are very easy.  Take the infinitive and change the R on the end to a D.  They are emphasized on the last syllable.  There are NO irregulars.

Negative informal commands are the same as the subjunctive.

Pronouns are attached to the end of positive commands, and placed in front of negative commands FOR ALL PERSONS.

There is no such thing as a Yo form command.  Even if you give yourself a command, you pretend that you are someone else, and use the 2nd person.  There are no 3rd person commands either.  If you want to make a third person command, you must use the subjunctive in order to relay the command through another person:

Nosotros commands are the same as the subjunctive in all cases, however, you will often hear the simple present tense used as a "we" command.  Also, the verb "vamos a" is often used for nostros commands:

Let's eat:  Comamos (command)     Comemos  (simple present)   Vamos a comer.

The present tense is usually used for the verb IR.

Reflexive verbs are odd in both the Nosotros and Vosotros positive forms:

Notice that the S and D on the end of the verb forms are omitted, and the verb and pronoun are contracted.  There is one irregular form:

As you can see, command forms are rather complex.  Interestingly, you will probably find it easier to use the subjunctive and avoid the commands until you get more comfortable with them.  My past experience shows that students enjoy playing with the subjunctive, and actually hate and avoid the command forms.  I recommend that you try to avoid that extreme reaction.