Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Subjunctive used to exclaim a wish

With the meaning of ‘if only’ or ‘I wish’, the subjunctive is used after ojalá

(que). Use of the imperfect subjunctive implies the wish is less likely to be

fulfilled:

¡Ojalá que encuentres a tu I hope you find your friend.

amiga!

¡Ojalá viniera! If only he would come!

The phrase quién + imperfect subjunctive can be used to express envy:

¡Quién tuviera su suerte! I wish I had their luck!

Subjunctive used in set phrases

Some common phrases are formed with the subjunctive, such as:

o sea que in other words

que yo sepa/recuerde as far as I know/remember

There are also a number of constructions in which the verb is repeated:

sea lo que sea whatever it may be

venga lo que venga come what may

diga lo que diga whatever he/she says

pase lo que pase whatever happens

cueste lo cueste whatever it costs

quieras o no (quieras) whether you are willing or not

The sequence of tenses – which subjunctive tense to

use

Since there are fewer subjunctive tenses than indicatives, it is useful to

establish the most common distribution of these fewer tenses with their

indicative counterparts. At best, this is a statement of common patterns in

the sequence of tenses rather than a declaration of fixed rules that must

always be followed.

12.4

12.3.3

12.3.2^1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

12

Subjunctive
mood

158