Essentially, take the “yo form” of any verb in the present, knock off the “o” and add the opposite endings (the yo and “el forms are the same) REMEMBER...there are a boat load of verbs in the present tense that have irregualr “yo” forms, so you need to know the present pretty clearly...also stem change verbs DO stem change in the subjunctive !!
yo hable
tú hables
él hable
nosotros hablemos
vosotros habléis
ellos hablen
yo coma
tú comas
él coma
nosotros comamos
vosotros comáis
ellos coman
salir - salgo....salga
tener - tengo...tenga
caber - quepo....quepa
venir - yo vengo....venga
traer - yo traigo...traiga
caer - yo caigo....caiga
hacer - yo hago....haga
poner - yo pongo....ponga
oir - yo oigo.....oiga
ver - yo veo....vea
oler - yo huelo.....huela
ex. Yo tengo --> teng ---> yo tenga (you add an “a” because it is an -er verb)
yo haga
tú hagas
él haga
nosotros hagamos
vosotros hagáis
ellos hagan
quiera
quieras
quiera
queramos
queráis
quieran
ir- vaya
ser - sea
saber - sepa
haber - haya (as in hay or in the present perfect)
tocar -
toque
toques
toque
toquemos
toquéis
toquen
pegar -
pegue
pegues
pegue
peguemos
peguéis
peguen
empezar -
empiece
empieces
empiece
empecemos
empecéis
empiecen
Use of the subjunctive: Remember the essential use of the subjunctive is to convey doubt or uncertainty, but there are a few constructions that always require the subjuntice even if there is no uncertainty...remember...the subjunctive comes in the clause AFTER the que
espero que - I hope (that)
quiero que - I want (that)
estoy contento de que - I am happy (that)
estoy de triste - I’m sad that
ojalá que - god willing (that)
yo prefiero que - I prefer (that)
es bueno que - it’s good that
es importante que - it’s important that
es probable que - it’s probable that
es (una) lástima que - it’s shame that
es preferible que - it’s preferable that
es ridículo que - it’s ridiculous that
es ____________________(put in just about any adjective) que - it's __________that
BUT - do not use the subjunctive when there is no hint of doubt
es cierto que - it is certain that
es claro que - it’s clear that
es verdad que - it’s true that
no es dudoso que - it’s not doubtable that
(The negative of these require the subjunctive)
yo dudo que - I doubt that
no creo que - I don’t believe that
no estoy convencido de que - I’m not convinced that
no pienso que - I don’t think that
no estoy seguro de que - I’m not sure that
no supongo que - I don’t suppose that
quizá - perhaps
talvez - maybe
The oppsites of these do not require the subjunctive...however when used in a question they do...
ex.
Yo pienso que hace frío hoy.
Yo no pienso que haga frío hoy.
¿Piensas que haga frío hoy ?
Te aconsejo que slagas ahora- I advise you to leave now.
Mis padres me dejan que vaya a Boston solo- My parents let me go to Boston alone.
Mi maestra me dice que estudie.- My teacher tells me to study
Yo te pido que compres un buen diccionario.- I ask you to buy a good dictionary
Ella nos pide que lleguemos temprano - She asks us to arrive early.
With expressions of doubt (the “quieras”)
cuandoquiera que - whenever
cualquiera que - whichever
quienquiera que - whoever
dondequiera que - wherever
ex. Dondequiera que vayas, recordarás mi clase (wherever you go, you will remember my class)
or with the pronouns such as whichever “one”
“el que” “la que” or “lo que”
Puedes tomar lo que quieras - You can take whichever you like. (lit..the one which)
always use the subjunctive with the following:
a fin de que - so that
para que - so that
con el propósito de que - with the purpose that
antés de que - before (there are several sources that conflict here, but I have always put antés de que in the category of always needs the subjunctive)
ya que - since
puesto que - since
debido a que - due to the fact that
the following only use the subjunctive if it is an incompleted action, but the indiciative if it is a completed action
a menos que - unless
con tal de que - provided that
en caso de que - in case
a menos que - unless
aunque - even though
hasta que - until
a pesar de que - despite
para que - so that, in order that
tan pronto como - as soon as
en cuanto - as soon as
sin que - without
de manera que - so that
Busco una secretaria que sepa hablar en español.
But...Busco a la secretaria que sabe hablar en español
Used with constructions where you don't know if the thing or person you are "looking for" or "need" (etc) exists
Necesito un perro que sea peludo.
But, Tengo un perro que es peludo.