Talking about the Present and Future: Regular Verbs in the Present Subjunctive

The subjunctive is the verb mood that expresses uncertainty or subjectiveness on the part of the speaker. Subjunctive verbs have their own conjugation pattern.

Here are the three model verbs completely conjugated in the present subjunctive tense for all persons. Remember, they are models and the same endings can be used with any regular -ar, -er or -ir verb.

Remember to follow these steps to conjugate correctly:

  • 1. Start with the yo form of the present indicative.
    2. Then drop the -o ending.
    3. Determine whether it's an -ar, -er or -ir verb.
    4. Add the following endings on to the stem:

HABLARCOMERVIVIR
yohablecomaviva
hablesvivascomas
él/ella, Ud.hablecomaviva
nosotros/nosotras      hablemos      comamos      vivamos     
vosotros/vosotrashabléáiscomáisviváis
ellos/ellas, Uds.hablencomanvivan


Don't be fooled into thinking you can put the subjunctive endings on the infinitive stem instead of the yo form of the present indicative with the -o dropped:

TENERVENIRCONOCER
yotengavengaconoza
tengasvengasconozcas
él/ella, Ud.tengavengaconozca
nosotros/nosotras      tengamos      vengamos      conozcamos   
vosotros/vosotrastengáisvengáisconozcáis
ellos/ellas, Uds.hablencomanvivan


Stem-changing subjunctive verbs, just like indicative verbs, do not change in the nosotros and vosotros forms:

COMENZAR
yocomience
comiences
él/ella, Ud.comience
nosotroscomencemos
vosotroscomencéis
ellos/ellas, Uds.      comiencen


Remember: the present subjunctive is built on the yo form of the present indicative without the final -o.
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