Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (148 page)

Don’t confuse these subjunctive expressions that involve TWO people with the expressions that you have already learned that involve only ONE person.

ONE PERSON—INFINITIVE

1. Quiero ir.
   I want to go
   .
   
2. Alberto quiere cantar.
   Albert wants to sing
   .
   
3. Elena quiere terminar.
   Helen wants to finish
   .
   
4. Espero ir.
   I hope to go
   .
   
5. Prefiero caminar.
   I prefer to walk
   .
   
6. Marta prefiere caminar.
   Martha prefers to walk
   .
   

TWO PERSONS—SUBJUNCTIVE

1. Quiero que vaya.
   I want you to go
   .
   
2. Alberto quiere que cante.
   Albert wants me to sing
   .
   
3. Elena quiere que termine.
   Helen wants you to finish
   .
   
4. Espero que vaya.
   I hope that he will go
   .
   
5. Prefiero que camine.
   I prefer that you walk
   .
   
6. Marta prefiere que camine.
   Martha prefers that you walk
   .
   

Notice that when the action involves one person you use the verb alone (quiero). But when the action involves two people the verb is followed by “que” (quiero que).

“Es” when followed by an adjective or a noun and the word “que” requires the subjunctive.

   
EXAMPLES
:

1. ES NECESARIO QUE
   (
   it’s necessary that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   
2. ES BUENO QUE
   (
   it’s good that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   
3. ES MALO QUE
   (
   it’s bad that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   

Use the following words to fill in the blanks below.

1. necesario,
   necessary
   
2. terrible,
   terrible
   
3. posible,
   possible
   
4. increíble,
   incredible
   
5. raro,
   strange
   
6. extraordinario,
   extraordinary
   
7. lástima,
   a pity, too bad, a shame
   
8. bueno,
   good
   
9. malo,
   bad
   
10. probable,
    probable
    
11. triste,
    sad
    
12. preferible,
    preferable
    
13. natural,
    natural
    
14. imperativo,
    imperative
    

Es___________que lo haga.

(
It’s     that he do it, that he does it, that he should do it
.)

Es____________que lo hagan.

(
It’s     that they do it, that they should do it
.)

Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Remember that “es” followed by an adjective or a noun and the word “que” requires the subjunctive.

1. It’s necessary that he do it.
   
2. It’s terrible that he should do it.
   
3. It’s possible that he does it.
   
4. It’s incredible that he should do it.
   
5. It’s a pity that they do it.
   
6. It’s preferable that they do it.
   
7. It’s natural that he should do it.
   
8. It’s good that he should do it.
   

Check your sentences with the translations below.

1. Es necesario que lo haga.
   
2. Es terrible que lo haga.
   
3. Es posible que lo haga.
   
4. Es increíble que lo haga.
   
5. Es lástima que lo hagan.
   
6. Es preferible que lo hagan.
   
7. Es natural que lo haga.
   
8. Es bucno que lo haga.
   

Another expression that requires the subjunctive is:

“que,”
let, may
(with the subjunctive).

    
EXAMPLES
:

The expression “May they” (que) belongs to a whole subjunctive family that expresses hope, desire, or a sincere wish that heaven be on your side.

THE FAMILY OF HOPE

1. ESPERO QUE (
   I hope that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   
2. QUE (
   May you, he, she, they
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   
3. DIOS QUIERA QUE (
   God grant, want that, God be willing that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   
4. OJALÁ QUE (
   I certainly hope that, Oh Allah that
   ) is followed by the subjunctive.
   

This last expression was borrowed from the Moors who lived in Spain for eight centuries (711–1492).

   
EXAMPLES
:

1. Espero que tenga suerte.
   I hope that you’ll have luck
   .
   
2. Que tenga suerte.
   May you have luck
   .
   
3. Dios quiera que tenga suerte.
   God grant that you have luck
   .
   
4. Ojalá que tenga suerte.
   I certainly hope that you’ll have luck
   .
   

REQUEST, PREFERENCE, COMMAND

In Spanish an expression that states that somebody wants you to do something requires the subjunctive. This ranges from the most delicate request or preference to the most authoritative command.

1. QUIERE QUE mande.
   He wants you to send
   .
   
2. DICE QUE mande.
   He says that you should send
   .
   
3. PREFIERE QUE mande.
   He prefers that you should send
   .
   
4. PIDE QUE mande.
   He asks you to send
   .
   
5. EXIGE QUE mande.
   He demands that you send
   .
   
6. LE RUEGA QUE mande.
   He begs you to send
   .
   
7. LE SUPLICA QUE mande.
   He begs you to send
   .
   
8. PROPONE QUE mande.
   He proposes that you send
   .
   
9. PROHIBE QUE mande.
   He forbids you to send
   .
   

Notice that the above expressions involve two people.

Notice also that all the verbs above are followed by “que” and that they are all commands in one degree or another. “Dice que es bonito” (
He says that it’s pretty
) is not a command; therefore it does not belong to the above group.

Combine the words below in different ways to form as many sentences as you can. Be sure to use words from each of the columns in every sentence you form.

A

B

C

1	2	3
Dice que	mande	el dinero
( He, she says that )	( you should send )	el paquete
Dicen que	vaya	al despacho
( They say that )	( you should go )	al club
	termine	el trabajo
	( you should finish )	la carta

Translate the following sentences into Spanish. Write out each sentence in Spanish, using the columns above as a guide. Check your sentences with the translations below this exercise.

1. Let him sing.
   
2. Let her come.
   
3. Let him go out.
   
4. Let her do it.
   
5. Let him bring it.
   
6. Let him come in.
   
7. Let her go.
   
8. Let her stay.
   
9. Let him play.
   
10. I hope that you will sell the car.
    
11. I hope that you will buy the house.
    
12. I certainly hope that you will find the money.
    
13. I certainly hope that they will come to the party.
    
14. God want (grant) that she see her son.
    
15. He says that you should send the money.
    
16. She says that you should go to the office.
    
17. They say that you should finish the work.
    

Check your sentences with the translations below.

1. Que cante.
   
2. Que venga.
   
3. Que salga.
   
4. Que lo haga.
   
5. Que lo traiga.
   
6. Que entre.
   
7. Que vaya (
   Let her go away
   . Que se vaya).
   
8. Que se quede.
   
9. Que juegue.
   
10. Espero que venda el auto.
    
11. Espero que compre la casa.
    
12. Ojalá que encuentre el dinero.
    
13. Ojalá que vengan a la fiesta.
    
14. Dios quiera que vea a su hijo.
    
15. Dice que mande el dinero.
    
16. Dice que vaya al despacho.
    
17. Dicen que termine el trabajo.
    

Remember that “dice” is followed by the subjunctive
ONLY
when it is used as a command.

THE
INDEFINITE OR UNKNOWN FAMILY

When you speak of an indefinite or unknown person, place, or thing you must use the subjunctive.

   
EXAMPLES
:

P
ERSONS
U
NKNOWN

1. I want a maid who will do the work well
   .
   Quiero una criada que haga el trabajo bien.
   Since you don’t know who the maid will be you must use the subjunctive.
   
2. I want a secretary who won’t talk all the time
   .
   Quiero una secretaria que no hable todo el tiempo.
   Since you don’t know who the secretary will be you must use the subjunctive.
   
3. Serve coffee to those who come (anybody who comes
   ).
   Sírvales café a los que vengan.
   Since you don’t know who they will be you must use the subjunctive.
   

T
HINGS
AND
P
LACES
U
NKNOWN

1. I wani a house that has a fireplace
   .
   Quiero una casa que tenga chimenea.
   Since you don’t know which house it will be you must use the subjunctive.
   
2. I want a house that is near the station
   .
   Quiero una casa que esté cerca de la estación.
   Since you don’t know which house it will be you must use the subjunctive.
   
3. Let them say what they will (say
   ).
   Que digan lo que digan.
   Since you don’t know what they will say you must use the subjunctive.
   
4. Let them do what they will (do
   ).
   Que hagan lo que hagan.
   Since you don’t know what they will do you must use the subjunctive.
   
5. Let them do what they want
   .
   Que hagan lo que quieran.
   Since you don’t know what they will want to do you must use the subjunctive.