Subjuntivo del Ingles: More Explanation

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a mode used to express suggestions, desires, and commands for the future.

Ways to Use the Subjunctive

• When 

            When he arrives, he will be tired.

• Wish 

            I wish I had a horse.  (past simple indicative -  past simple subjunctive)

            I wish she were here.

• Want

            I want you to listen to me

• If (Second Conditional)

            If I were you, I would not do that.

            If I walked more, 

• Tell

            I told him to leave.

Otros:

• It is time you called me. (Ya era hora de que me llamaras)
• I would rather they called me. (Yo preferiria que ellos me llamaran)
• I would rather you didn´t call me. (Yo preferiria que tu no me llamaras)

Subjuntivo pasado o irreal (terminación ara, era) (UNREAL)

• Second Conditional:

If the truth came out in the open, they would fly off the handle. Si la verdad saliera a la luz, ellos se enfadarían.
If I were you. Si yo fuera tu.

• Third Conditional:

If they had brought all their knowledge, many families wouldn´t have been displaced. Si ellos hubiera utilizado su conocimiento, muchas familias no habrian sido desplazadas.

• It is time / It is about time / It is high time (Ya era hora):

It is (high/about) time you paid heed to my advice, I always have your best interest at heart. Ya era hora de que hicieras caso mi consejo, yo siempre quiero lo mejor para ti.

• It is time: It is time to go. Es hora de irnos. It is time for you to go. Es hora de que tu te vayas.

• I wish/ If only (Ojalá): I wish I devoted more time to taking care of my body instead of lounging around. Ojala yo dedicara mas tiempo en cuidar mi cuerpo en lugar de estar holgazaneando.

I wish we hadn´t gone our separate ways. We lost touch. Ojala nuestros caminos no se hubieran separado. Perdimos contacto.
If only all of this were just a dream from which we must awaken. Ojala todo esto fuera simplemente un sueno del cual debamos despertar.

• I would rather / I would sooner (Preferiria):

I would rather / sooner my boss didn´t breathe down my neck at every turn. Preferiria que mi jefe no estuviera pendiente de mi en todo momento.
I would sooner they had put their heart and soul into that work of art. It would have pulled at my heartstrings.  Preferiria que ellos se hubieran esforzado mas hubieran dado mas su alma en esa obra de arte. Me hubiera emocionado más.
I would rather the concert were held a little further away, They always keep me awake the whole night. Preferiria que el concierto fuera celebrado un poco mas lejos,. siempre me mantienen despierto toda la noche.

     Los siguientes se pueden decir en forma de subjuntivo o de presente indicativo.

• What if? (Y si):

What if our product becomes a success? Y si nuestro producto se convierten en un exito? (más probable)
What if our product became a success? Y si nuestro producto se hiciera un exito? (menos probable)

• Supposing (Suponiendo):

Supossing everything went according to plan, would you take the reins of the company? Suponiendo que todo fuera segun lo planeado, asumirias el mando de la empresa?

• Suppose (Supón):

Suppose there were a downpour tomorrow, would it ruin your plans? Supón que hubiera un diluvio mañana, arruinaría tus planes?

• Imagine (Imagina): 

Imagine you were grated a superpower, wich one would you choose? Imagina que te concedieran un superpoder, cual elegirias?

• As if / As though (Como si): 

He talks as if  he knew it all. El habla como si supiera todo.
They always ignore me as if I didn´t exist. Siempre me ignoran como si yo no existiera. 

• Say/ Let´s say (Digamos): 

Say / Let´s say I teamed up with you, I would stand to gain how much money a year? Digamos que yo me uniera a ti, yo ganaría cuanto dinero aproximadamente al año?

Subjuntivo presente o real
Verbs Using the 'That' Clause Structure

This sentence uses the subjunctive mood. When using suggest with a that clause, the verb in the dependent clause remains in its base form (the infinitive without 'to'), regardless of the subject. You do not add an '-s' to the verb even though the subject is 'he'. This is a common way to express recommendations or suggestions formally.



Main sentence, THAT subordinate sentence

Present simple o Past Simple, THAT + subject + infinitive verb without TO



Negative:

Present simple or Past Simple, THAT + subject + NOT + Infinitive verb without TO



These verbs are followed by a clause starting with that, where the verb is in its base form:

• Suggest
• Recommend
• Propose
• Insist
• Demand

Examples:

I suggest that he go home

I suggest that he not go home.

I suggested that he study more

She insisted that the wedding be cancelled.

She insisted that the wedding not be cancelled.

He recommend that the patient remain in bed

He recommend that the patient not walk.

Adjective Structures:

Additionally, this structure is used with the pattern It is + adjective + that, using adjectives like important, essential, necessary, vital, or crucial. (verbos de importancia)


It is + Adjective + That + Subject + infinitive verb without TO

It is best 

It is crucial 

It is desirable 

It is essential 

It is imperative 

It is important 

It is recommended 

It is urgent 

It is vital 

It is necessary 

Examples:

It is important that he go to university. (formal)

It is important that he not go to university.(formal)

Exceptions

I suggest that he go home. (formal, American English)
I suggest that he goes home. (informal, American and British English)


I suggest that he should go home. (neutral, British English)


He recommend that he stay at home. (American English)


He recommended that he stayed at home. (British English)


It is important that he go to university. (formal, American English)
It is important that he goes to university. (informal, American and British English)


It is important that he should go to university. (neutral, British English)

Alternative:  It is + adjective + FOR+ object + TO  +  infinitive verb It is important for him to go to university.    It is important for him not to be late.

Negative:

I suggest that he not go home. (formal, American English).

I suggest that he doesn´t go home.  (informal, American and British English)

I suggest that he shouldn´t go home. (neutral,  British English)

It is important that he not go to university. (formal, American English)

It is important that he doesn´t go to university.   (informal, American and British English)

It is important that he shouldn´t go to university.   (neutral,  British English)

Verbs Using the 'Object + To-Infinitive' Structure

This sentence follows the verb + object + to-infinitive verb. Many verbs that deal with giving advice or commands (like advise, ask, or recommend) prefer or require this structure, where the person being advised acts as the object of the verb, followed by the infinitive form of the action

Verb + Object + TO - infinitive verb


Verb + Object + NOT TO - infinitive verb



Examples:

I advised him to study more.

He commanded the soldiers to stop.

He commanded the soldiers not to go on marching

I ask him to stop talking

I required him to do the shopping.

I advised them to study harder.

I warned him not to smoke there.



These verbs typically do not use the that clause structure described above. Instead, they require an object followed by to plus the infinitive verb:

• Advise
• Ask
• Command
• Require
• Warn

NOTES:

• For example, while you would use the first structure as "He suggested that they stop", you would use the second structure as "He commanded them to stop"

• Formal usage (the pure subjunctive) is often preferred in American English, while informal or "neutral" structures (using "should" or standard indicative) are more common in British English 

WITH VERBS, TO WANT, TO NEED, TO LIKE

(object pronouns) Me, you, him, her, us, them

My father wants me TO work.

I want you TO understand my problem.

They want you TO study more.

I need her TO come.

She needs him TO learn English.

He would like us TO stay here.

Do you want me TO go with you?

Does he want you TO pay now?

She doesn´t need them TO come today.

What do you want me TO do?

I want you TO come tomorrow.

What do you want her TO do?

I want her TO learn English.

What do you want him TO do?

I want him TO play with me.

What do you want your father TO do?

I want my father TO give a gift.

Common idiomatic expressions

These expressions preserve the subjunctive, such as 

• God bless you/ May God bless you. (inversion)
• Long live the queen
• Long live the bride and groom
• May the force be with you.  (inversion)
• May he rest in peace. (inversion)
• Be that as it may .......    (pase lo que pase)

Exercises:

• I recommend that she do exercise.(formal)
• I recommend that she does exercise.(informal)
• I recommend that she should do exercise.(neutral)

• He advised me not to be late.
• He warned him not to shout in class

• It is important that she pass this test
• It is neccesary for him not to be late

Reported Speech - Subjuntivo

Cuando reportamos lo que alguien dijo, el verbo principal que elijas (como suggest o advise) va a cambiar por completo la estructura del resto de la oración.

Aquí tienes las dos listas completas y agrupadas por su estructura gramatical.

Grupo 1: Verbos de Subjuntivo (Estructura con "That")

Estos verbos expresan sugerencias, peticiones, demandas o insistencia. Su regla de oro es que el verbo que va después del "that" siempre se queda en su forma base (infinitivo sin to), incluso si hablas en pasado o en tercera persona.

Estructura: Sujeto + Verbo de reporte + THAT + Alguien + Verbo en forma base

• Suggest (Sugerir): The experts suggested that she study more.
• Recommend (Recomendar): The doctor recommended that he rest for a week.
• Insist (Insistir): They insisted that we stay for dinner.
• Demand (Exigir / Demandar): The boss demanded that everyone be on time.
• Propose (Proponer): The committee proposed that the company change the policy.
• Request (Solicitar formalmente): They requested that he attend the meeting.
• Urge (Instar / Rogar con urgencia): The government urged that citizens save water.
• Advise (Aconsejar - Nota: Este verbo es especial porque puede jugar en ambos grupos, pero aquí se usa de forma muy formal): The legal team advised that the contract be signed.

Grupo 2: Verbos de Objeto + Infinitivo (Como "Advise" o "Tell")

Estos verbos se usan para dar órdenes, consejos, advertencias o invitaciones. Su regla es que obligatoriamente necesitas mencionar a la persona (el objeto) y el siguiente verbo va con "TO".

Estructura: Sujeto + Verbo de reporte + Alguien + TO + Verbo

• Advise (Aconsejar): The teacher advised us to practice every day.
• Tell (Decir / Ordenar): She told me to close the door.
• Ask (Pedir / Preguntar): He asked his friend to help him.
• Encourage (Animar / Motivar): My mom encouraged me to study English.
• Warn (Advertir): They warned us not to go there. (Para negar, pones el not antes del to).
• Remind (Recordar a alguien): He reminded her to pay the bill.
• Invite (Invitar): They invited us to join the party.
• Order (Ordenar / Mandar): The officer ordered the man to stop.
• Persuade (Persuadir / Convencer): She persuaded him to buy the car.
• Forbid (Prohibir): The rules forbid students to use phones.

💡 Nota:

• Si vas a usar THAT, piensa en el Grupo 1 (el verbo va en su forma base).
• Si vas a usar una persona directamente (me, you, us, professionals, etc.), piensa en el Grupo 2 (el verbo necesita el TO).

Comparación:

Observa esta oracion. 

This is why experts suggest that professionals learn English every day

Dependiendo de lo que quieras enfatizar, aquí tienes las opciones de cómo podría cambiarse:

Opción 1 (Pasado Simple - Reportando un hecho general). 

Si usas el verbo "said", debes cambiar el presente original (learn) al pasado simple (learned).

• The experts said that professionals learned English every day.

Opción 2 (Subjuntivo en pasado - Manteniendo la idea de sugerencia). 

La regla del subjuntivo en inglés dice que el verbo que le sigue se queda exactamente igual en su forma base (learn), sin importar que el inicio esté en pasado.

• The experts suggested that professionals learn English every day.

Opción 3 (Usando el infinitivo - Cambiando el verbo principal). 

Para usar el infinitivo con "to" (to learn), no puedes usar el verbo said. Tendrías que cambiarlo por un verbo de orden o consejo como "told" o "advised".

• The experts told professionals to learn English every day.