The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close

Synopsis

The One-Stop Guide to Mastering the Spanish Subjunctive

Learning the subjunctive can be one of the most frustrating aspects of Spanish grammar, but it is also one of the most important for being understood and understanding what others say. By adding the Spanish subjunctive to your range of language skills, you will open up a whole new world of communication.

Practice Makes Perfect: The Spanish Subjunctive Up Close has established itself as the most effective resource for intermediate and advanced learners. Its clear explanations cut through what is often presented in an overcomplicated or incorrect way, while its exercises provide numerous opportunities for practice that will help you understand the nuances of this challenging grammar element. Develop your skills and confidence as a Spanish speaker with:

● Easy-to-absorb explanatory materials and example sentences

● Authoritative guidance on how to form the four subjunctive tenses and when to use them

● Numerous exercises, expanded in this second edition, to practice what you learn

● A comprehensive answer key that not only give you the correct solutions to the exercises but explains the why behind them

Summary

Chapter 1: The Basics of the Subjunctive

* Introduction to the subjunctive and its three main uses: expressing doubt, uncertainty, or emotion; expressing wishes, desires, or commands; and expressing impersonal expressions.
* Example: "No creo que venga" (I don't think he's coming) expresses doubt.

Chapter 2: The Present Subjunctive

* Formation of the present subjunctive for regular and irregular verbs.
* Uses: expressing wishes, desires, or commands; in impersonal expressions; after certain expressions of emotion or doubt.
* Example: "Quiero que me ayudes" (I want you to help me) expresses a desire.

Chapter 3: The Imperfect Subjunctive

* Formation of the imperfect subjunctive for regular and irregular verbs.
* Uses: expressing hypothetical or potential situations; after conjunctions of time and place; after certain expressions of emotion or doubt.
* Example: "Si tuviera más dinero, viajaría por el mundo" (If I had more money, I would travel the world) expresses a hypothetical situation.

Chapter 4: The Future Subjunctive

* Formation of the future subjunctive for regular and irregular verbs.
* Uses: expressing future wishes, desires, or commands; after certain verbs and expressions that refer to the future.
* Example: "Espero que puedas venir" (I hope you can come) expresses a future desire.

Chapter 5: The Conditional Subjunctive

* Formation of the conditional subjunctive for regular and irregular verbs.
* Uses: expressing unlikely or hypothetical situations; after certain expressions of emotion or doubt.
* Example: "Si él estuviera aquí, te ayudaría" (If he were here, he would help you) expresses an unlikely situation.

Chapter 6: The Pluperfect Subjunctive

* Formation of the pluperfect subjunctive for regular and irregular verbs.
* Uses: expressing past hypothetical or potential situations; after conjunctions of time and place that refer to the past; after certain expressions of emotion or doubt.
* Example: "Si hubiera sabido que vendrías, te habría comprado un regalo" (If I had known you were coming, I would have bought you a gift) expresses a past hypothetical situation.

Chapter 7: The Subjunctive in Indirect Speech

* Use of the subjunctive in indirect speech to report the words of others.
* Example: "Dijo que vendría" (He said that he would come) uses the subjunctive to report speech.

Chapter 8: The Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses

* Use of the subjunctive in adverbial clauses that express purpose, result, or condition.
* Example: "Para que puedas ganar, tienes que estudiar" (In order to win, you have to study) uses the subjunctive to express purpose.

Chapter 9: The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses

* Use of the subjunctive in noun clauses that begin with conjunctions like "que" or "si".
* Example: "Creo que es una buena idea" (I think it's a good idea) uses the subjunctive to express an opinion.

Chapter 10: The Subjunctive in Adjectival Clauses

* Use of the subjunctive in adjectival clauses that modify nouns, especially after indefinite words like "cualquier" and "algún".
* Example: "Busco a alguien que me ayude" (I'm looking for someone to help me) uses the subjunctive to modify the noun "alguien".