The subjunctive in noun clauses is widely used. You want to practice how and when to use it so you can be more accurate when expressing wishes, emotions, doubts, hypotheticals, etc.
1. Noun clauses
Noun clauses are clauses that function like a noun. Consider this sentence:
I demand a car! (What do I demand? A car)
I demand that you respect me! (What do I demand? That you respect me)
“That you respect me” is functioning like a noun! So in our trencito chuchú it would look like this:
2. What triggers the subjunctive?
Two things happen that result on us needing to use the subjunctive in that noun clause:
First, There are two clauses with two different subjects
Second, The engine clause has a “WEIRDO” verb
3. What are WEIRDO verbs?
They are verbs that express the following:
Wish (Quiero, deseo, te pido – que bailes
Emotion (Me alegra, me entristece, me sorprende – que bailes)
Impersonal expressions (Es importante, es necesario, es bueno – que bailes)
Request (Pido, ruego, sugiero – que bailes)
Doubt, Disbelief, Denial (Dudo, no creo, veo difícil – que bailes)
Ojalá (Ojalá, quizás, tal vez – bailes)
So, if there is a WEIRDO verb in the engine clause, the verb on the second clause will have to be in subjunctive.
Para recordar – Conjugación del presente subjuntivo
AR
ER
IR
Yo
cante
coma
viva
Tú
cantes
comas
vivias
Él/ Ella/ Usted
cante
coma
viva
Nosotros
cantemos
comamos
vivamos
Ellos/ Ellas/ Ustedes
canten
coman
vivan
Some things to remember:
There are a some of verbs that change their root or spelling in the conditional. You can always consult a dictionary or this verb conjugator to find answers. If you want to get into the subjunctive deeper, you can read more about it here
¡Practiquemos!
¡Hola! A continuación tienes algo para practicar. Debes lograr al menos 80% ¡Suerte!
Para recordar – Conjugación del imperfecto subjuntivo
Mi mamá quería que…
AR
ER
IR
Yo
cantara
comiera
viviera
Tú
cantaras
comieras
vivieras
Él/ Ella/ Usted
cantara
comiera
viviera
Nosotros
cantáramos
comiéramos
viviéramos
Ellos/ Ellas/ Ustedes
cantaran
comieran
vivieran
There are some of verbs that change their root or spelling in the conditional. You can always consult a dictionary or this verb conjugator to find answers. If you want to get into the subjunctive deeper, you can read more about it here
¡Practiquemos!
¡Hola! A continuación tienes algo para practicar. Debes lograr al menos 80% ¡Suerte!
This unit “El subjuntivo – Noun Clauses” was created by Alegría Ribadeneira by combining original material and sections about verbs from Spanish411.net, licensed CC BY-NC-SA, Spanish Grammar Manual by Enrique Yépez licensed CC BY-NC-SA, and Entrada Libre by Nancy Ballesteros, Alejandro Lee, Nicolás Cristoso, & Cristina Moon, licensed CC BY-NC-SA