El subjuntivo después de ciertos verbos:
explicación
You now know how to form the present subjunctive mood. It's time
to really look at it and how it is used. Imagine you wanted to build
a house. First you have to learn how to use the tools. Then
you learn how to use the tools to develop skills to build the house- carpentry,
electrical, plumbing, etc. We need to do the same thing with language.
The first thing we'll look at is a type of clause called a noun clause.
Being an advanced language student, you should know these terms.
So let's figure out what a noun clause is by breaking down the phrase into
two words- noun & clause.
-
What's a noun? A person, place, thing or idea.
-
What's a clause? A group of words containing a subject (possibly
understood) and a verb that express an idea- possibly independent or dependent.
-
So what then is a noun clause? It's a group of words that
contain a subject (possibly understood) and a verb that act as a "thing".
In terms of how we will be using them they are always the object of the
main verb or expression. For now we will deal with them strictly
as the object of ciertos verbos.(In the next section we'll
look at noun clauses used as the object of impersonal expressions! Can't
wait, can you?)
We often want or demand certain items. I want a new car. I
demand a raise. In these two situations the things I want and demand
are just that- things. What if what I want is an action. I
want to buy a new car. I demand to receive a raise. We know
after studying the uses
of the infinitive that a verb can act as an object of a verb.
But what if....
-
I want (that) you [to] buy me a new car.
-
I demand that you give me a raise.
We finally arrive at a point where the subjunctive will be used.
-
Quiero que me compres un coche nuevo.
-
Mando que Ud. me dé un aumento de sueldo.
Not all noun clauses will use subjunctive though. Remember doing
the «¿Qué es el subjuntivo?»? Only certain
types of verbs will require the use of the subjunctive. Just for
review, look at the following sets of sentences. How do they differ
with their pairs?
-
Quiero que él salga pronto.
-
Parece que él sale pronto.
-
Dudo que vaya a llover.
-
Sé que va a llover.
-
Me alegro de que vengan a la fiesta.
-
Oigo que vienen a la fiesta.
The rule-
-
You use the subjunctive in noun clauses
when there are two different subjects and the verb in the main (independent
clause) expresses some desire, doubt, command, imposition of will, emotion,
value, judgement, prohibition, etc. on the noun clause.
Here are some verbs that when in the main clause will require subjunctive
in the noun clause- provided that there is a different subject.
-
aconsejar
-
alegrarse (de)
-
decir (when = tells someone to do something)
-
dejar
-
desear
-
dudar
-
encantarle
-
esperar
-
exigir
-
extrañarle
-
gustarle
-
hacer
-
insistir (en)
-
mandar
-
NO creer
-
Ojalá
-
pedir [i]
-
permitir
-
preferir
-
prohibir
-
querer [ie]
-
rogar [ue]
-
sentir [ie]
-
sorprenderse (de)
-
suplicar
-
temer
-
tener miedo de
But: If the verb in the main clause is making an observation of
what is happening, the verb in the noun clause is in the indicative.
Just to contrast- These verbs would not take subjunctive, but instead
the indicative in the noun clause-provided there are two different subjects.
-
ver
-
oír
-
saber
-
creer
-
NO dudar
-
parecer
Understand the difference?
What's this "two subject" thing?
Think about this analogy:
The main clause is a car. The noun clause
is a trailer. The "que" is a trailer hitch.
-
Can the driver of the car be in the trailer, too? Of
course not.
-
Can the passenger in the trailer be in the car, too? Of
course not.
-
Can the trailer move without the car? Of
course not.
-
Can the trailer move without a hitch? Of
course not.
-
But if you put it all together correctly, it works. Bob drives
the car. A hitch holds the car and trailer together. Fred is
in the trailer. Whether or not Fred is subjunctive or indicative
depends on where and how Bob drives.
What if Bob goes alone? Then he takes off the trailer-
no sense pulling around an empty trailer- and takes off the hitch- so he
doesn't bang his knee on it. He fills his car with infinitives.
OK. Language time.
If you have different subjects for the two clauses, put in a «que»
and conjugate the verb in the noun clause. (It may be indicative or subjunctive)
-
I hope that you can go. Espero que puedas
ir.
-
I know he is leaving. Sé que sale.
-
I'm happy you are doing this. Me alegro de que
hagas esto.
If you have only one subject, you must take off the trailer hitch «que»
and keep the object verb(s) in the infinitive.
-
I hope that I can go. Espero poder ir.
-
I'm happy to do this for you. Me alegro
de hacer esto para ti.
So what should you know?
You will need to do two things with the subjunctive. First it
will be necessary that you determine if the subjunctive is needed
in sentences in fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice type questions on
tests- in class or on SAT II, AP, College Placement, etc. tests.
Secondly you will need to be able to create complex sentences which
use the subjunctive.
Misuse of the subjunctive is as bad as not using it when you should, so
make certain you understand the types of verbs which require the subjunctive
in the noun clause, as well as those types of verbs which do NOT require
the subjunctive.
Ahora, ¿Qué hago?......
Go
practice with fill-in-the blanks.
Go practice creating original sentences.
Regresar
a la página del subjuntivo
Regresar a la
página principal de don Carlos