Notes
Impersonal expressions
- Es + adjective + que takes the subjunctive when it gives an opinion, a judgment or an emotion: es importante, necesario, mejor, bueno, malo, urgente, posible, probable, increíble, una lástima que.
- With no specific subject, use the infinitive: Es importante dormir bien. With a subject, use que: Es importante que duermas bien.
- Expressions of certainty (es verdad, es cierto, es obvio, es evidente que) take the indicative.
Doubt and denial
- Subjunctive: dudar que, no creer que, no pensar que, negar que, no estar seguro de que, es dudoso que, no es verdad que.
- Indicative: creer que, pensar que, estar seguro de que, no dudar que, no hay duda de que, es verdad que.
- Pairs to remember: Creo que es verdad. / No creo que sea verdad. / No dudo que viene. / Dudo que venga.
Quick method
- Ask: does the speaker present the information as a fact (indicative) or as a reaction, doubt or opinion (subjunctive)?
- Remember the irregular subjunctives: sea, vaya, sepa, esté, dé, haya.
Topics in this unit
Each topic has its own short notes and practice.
Practice
Es necesario que takes the subjunctive; llegar changes g to gu: lleguemos.
No creo que expresses doubt, so the subjunctive of ir is needed: vaya.
Es cierto que states a fact, so the indicative is used.
No dudo que expresses certainty and uses the indicative. Dudo que requires the subjunctive; creer que and no hay duda de que take the indicative.
There is no specific subject, so the infinitive follows es mejor.
No creo que sean = disbelief; estoy seguro de que podemos = certainty.
Free response
Write your answer first, then open the scoring guide.
Free-response question
Lee: "Julia dice que va a ganar el concurso de ciencias. Su amigo Marcos duda que ella gane porque el otro equipo es muy bueno. Julia responde: Es importante que tengamos confianza, y es verdad que hemos trabajado mucho."
(a) Explain why "gane" is in the subjunctive.
Show the answer and scoring guide
It follows "duda que," an expression of doubt, so the speaker presents winning as uncertain.
Check off the points you earned:
(b) Explain why "tengamos" is subjunctive while "hemos trabajado" is indicative in Julia's reply.
Show the answer and scoring guide
Es importante que is an impersonal expression of opinion and takes the subjunctive. Es verdad que states a fact, so the indicative is used.
Check off the points you earned:
(c) Write two Spanish sentences about school: one with "no creo que" and one with "creo que," using correct moods.
Show the answer and scoring guide
Example: No creo que el examen sea difícil. / Creo que mi profesor es muy justo.
Check off the points you earned: