B1Spanish · Grammar

Subjunctive: regular

A lesson from the B1 course: the rule, examples and a 20-sentence test. The course is reviewed by people.

Go to the test Download PDF

Lesson

The Present Subjunctive (Subjuntivo Presente): Regular Verbs

¡Hola! Welcome to a lesson on one of the most important – and sometimes tricky – moods in Spanish: the Subjuntivo! Don't worry, we'll discover together how straightforward it is to form its regular conjugations.

The Subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, opinions, recommendations, and in certain subordinate clauses. Unlike the Indicative mood, which describes facts, the Subjunctive conveys a subjective view of reality. At B1 level, we'll focus on its fundamental uses.

How do we form the Regular Present Subjunctive?

Forming regular verbs in the Present Subjunctive is quite simple and follows the principle of ‘opposite vowels’.

Remove the infinitive ending -ar, -er, -ir + Add the correct Subjunctive ending.
💡 Remember the 'opposite vowel' rule: -AR verbs take endings with -E, while -ER / -IR verbs take endings with -A.

Present Subjunctive Endings for Regular Verbs

Pronoun-AR verbs (e.g., hablar)-ER verbs (e.g., comer)-IR verbs (e.g., vivir)
yohablecomaviva
túhablescomasvivas
él/ella/ustedhablecomaviva
nosotros/ashablemoscomamosvivamos
vosotros/ashabléiscomáisviváis
ellos/ellas/ustedeshablencomanvivan

Notice that the endings for -ER and -IR verbs are identical!

When do we use the Subjunctive?

  • After expressions of wishes/will: Espero que... (I hope that...), Quiero que... (I want that...)
  • After expressions of doubt/uncertainty: Dudo que... (I doubt that...), No creo que... (I don't believe that...)
  • After expressions of emotion: Me alegro de que... (I'm glad that...), Me gusta que... (I like that...)
  • After impersonal expressions (evaluations, opinions): Es importante que... (It's important that...), Es necesario que... (It's necessary that...)

Espero que hables con ella.

I hope you talk to her.

No creo que coma tanto.

I don't think he/she eats so much.

🚨 Watch out! Remember that we only use the Subjunctive when the subject of the main clause is different from the subject of the subordinate clause. If the subjects are the same, we use the infinitive! For example: Quiero hablar (I want to talk), but Quiero que tú hables (I want you to talk).

Practise regularly, and the Subjunctive will become second nature to you! ¡Mucha suerte!

Test yourself

20 questions. Answer them all, then check — you'll see what you got right and what to fix.

  1. 1

    Complete the sentence

    Te aconsejo que al profesor.

    I advise you to ask the teacher.

  2. 2

    Complete the sentence

    Dudo que vosotros este programa.

    I doubt you use this program.

  3. 3

    Complete the sentence

    Espero que ella la película.

    I hope she watches the film.

  4. 4

    Complete the sentence

    Dudo que vosotros todos los libros.

    I doubt you read all the books.

  5. 5

    Complete the sentence

    Dudo que vosotros la verdad.

    I doubt that you are looking for the truth.

  6. 6

    Complete the sentence

    Es necesario que yo el trabajo.

    It is necessary for me to finish the work.

  7. 7

    Complete the sentence

    Es necesario que nuestros sueños.

    It is necessary that we fulfil our dreams.

  8. 8

    Complete the sentence

    Es mejor que por la puerta trasera.

    It's better if they enter through the back door.

  9. 9

    Type the missing word

    Espero que ellos pronto.

    I hope they decide soon.

  10. 10

    Type the missing word

    Quiero que ellos más sal.

    I want them to add more salt.

  11. 11

    Type the missing word

    Mi jefe quiere que yo el correo.

    My boss wants me to send the email.

  12. 12

    Type the missing word

    Deseo que un poco más.

    I'd like us to wait a little longer.

  13. 13

    Type the missing word

    Dudo que vosotros la verdad.

    I doubt that you are looking for the truth.

  14. 14

    Type the missing word

    Dudo que vosotros en otra dimensión.

    I doubt you exist in another dimension.

  15. 15

    Put the sentence together — some words are extra

    I doubt that we will break the silence.

  16. 16

    Put the sentence together — some words are extra

    My brother wants her to cook the pasta.

  17. 17

    Put the sentence together — some words are extra

    It's good that you eat fruit every day.

  18. 18

    Put the sentence together — some words are extra

    Mum wants me to prepare dinner.

  19. 19

    Build the missing word from the letters

    Es crucial que a la policía.

    It is crucial that we call the police.

  20. 20

    Match each word to its meaning

Printable test

The full test as a PDF with an answer key — print it for yourself or for a class.

Download PDF

Practise this set in the app

Palabrify brings the words back at the right moment — with games, reviews and progress you can see.

App Store Google Play