The Ultimate Spanish Subjunctive Cheatsheet

✨ Use the subjunctive when a sentence expresses a wish, request, command, recommendation, permission, prohibition, or other attempt to influence what happens. This also includes standalone wishes and commands with que, and nouns that express a request, requirement, or recommendation.

Don’t use the subjunctive just because there is a verb followed by que. If the sentence simply reports information, states a fact, or communicates a belief, Spanish normally uses the indicative. What matters is whether the speaker is describing reality or trying to influence it:

• El profesor dice que el examen empieza a las nueve = “The teacher says that the exam starts at nine” → indicative (fact)
• El profesor dice que entreguemos la tarea mañana = “The teacher says to hand in the homework tomorrow” → subjunctive (request)

😻 Use the subjunctive when the main clause expresses a reaction, preference, indifference, or tolerance: happiness, annoyance, surprise, worry, regret, liking, or disliking. The focus is the speaker’s reaction or evaluation, not presenting the event as information.

Don’t use the subjunctive just because a sentence involves feelings. Some verbs can express either an emotional reaction or a perception of reality, like physical sentir que:

• Siento que me duele la cabeza = “I can feel that my head hurts” → indicative (perception of a fact)
• Siento que te duela la cabeza = “I’m sorry you have a headache” → subjunctive (emotional reaction)

Quejarse de que normally presents the content of a complaint as a fact, so the following verb uses the indicative:

• Ximena se queja de que el ascensor está roto = “Ximena complains that the elevator is broken” → indicative

⚖️ Use the subjunctive after phrases that evaluate, require, recommend, or say that something is sufficient: es importante que, es necesario que, es mejor que, es raro que, basta con que, and me parece raro que.

Don’t use the subjunctive after phrases that clearly present something as true, such as es evidente que, es cierto que, or está claro que:

• Es evidente que el supermercado está cerrado = “It is obvious that the supermarket is closed” → indicative (stated as fact)
• Es raro que el supermercado esté cerrado tan temprano = “It’s strange that the supermarket is closed so early” → subjunctive (speaker’s evaluation)

🚫 Use the subjunctive when the sentence denies, doubts, or rejects an idea: no creo que, dudo que, no es cierto que, es falso que, and similar expressions.

Use the indicative when the sentence still presents the information as fact, and after affirmative statements of belief, certainty, reporting, or perception: creo que, sé que, es cierto que, dicen que, veo que:

• Creo que mi hermana tiene razón = “I think my sister is right” → indicative
• No creo que mi hermana tenga razón = “I don’t think my sister is right” → subjunctive

🎲 Use the subjunctive after established expressions such as puede que, es posible que, es probable que, es imposible que, and noun phrases like la posibilidad de que.

Don’t assume every uncertain statement requires the subjunctive. A lo mejor and seguro que normally take the indicative, while quizá(s) and tal vez can take either mood. Compare Seguro que viene with Lo más seguro es que venga. See the “Ambiguous” section for more details.

🎯 Use the subjunctive with para que, a fin de que, or when de modo/manera/forma que express a purpose. Use it after no sea que or no vaya a ser que to guard against an unwanted possibility, and after sin que when a separate action or situation does not occur.

Don’t use the subjunctive when the second clause is presented as an asserted outcome, such as a consequence after así que. De modo/manera/forma que can introduce either an aim with the subjunctive or an asserted outcome with the indicative:

• Hablé despacio, de modo que los estudiantes me entendieron = “I spoke slowly, so the students understood me” → indicative (asserted outcome)
• Hablé despacio de modo que los estudiantes me entendieran = “I spoke slowly so that the students would understand me” → subjunctive (aim)

🔍 Use the subjunctive when the sentence does not assert that a matching person or thing exists or when its identity remains open. The speaker describes the kind of person or thing wanted rather than an identified person or thing.

Don’t use the subjunctive when the person or thing is identified (even if it uses un) or the sentence asserts that it exists:

• Conozco a un médico que trabaja los sábados = “I know a doctor who works on Saturdays” → indicative
• Busco al médico que trabaja los sábados = “I’m looking for the doctor who works on Saturdays” (I know there is one) → indicative
• Busco un médico que trabaje los sábados = “I’m looking for a doctor who works on Saturdays” (I haven’t identified one yet) → subjunctive

⏰ Use the subjunctive after time expressions such as cuando, después de que, en cuanto, and hasta que when the event is still in the future or has not yet happened at the time of the main action.

Don’t use the subjunctive when the time clause describes a habit, a present fact, or a completed event. These uses usually take the indicative:

• Siempre preparo café cuando viene Julia = “I always make coffee when Julia comes” → indicative (habitual action)
• Prepararé café cuando venga Julia = “I’ll make coffee when Julia comes” → subjunctive (future event)

With a finite verb, antes de que always takes the subjunctive because its event is still later than the main action, even when both events are in the past:

• Salí antes de que Pedro llegara = “I left before Pedro arrived” → subjunctive

With después de que, completed events usually take the indicative, while future or not-yet-completed events take the subjunctive:

• Cerré la puerta después de que Tomás salió = “I closed the door after Tomás left” → indicative (completed event)
• Voy a cerrar la puerta después de que Tomás salga = “I’ll close the door after Tomás leaves” → subjunctive (future event)

Be careful with siempre que. With the indicative, it usually means “whenever” and describes a habit. With the subjunctive, it usually means “provided that” and introduces a condition:

• Visitaba a mis abuelos siempre que tenía tiempo = “I visited my grandparents whenever I had time” → indicative (habit)
• Puedes venir siempre que me avises antes = “You can come provided that you let me know first” → subjunctive (condition)

☔ Use the subjunctive after expressions of condition, exception, or dependence such as en caso de que, a menos que, con tal de que, and depender de que.

Salvo que and excepto que use the subjunctive when they mean “unless” and introduce a possible exception, but use the indicative when they add an exception presented as fact:

• Ximena estará contenta con el trabajo, salvo que tenga que trabajar los fines de semana = “Ximena will be happy with the job unless she has to work weekends” → subjunctive (it is a possible condition)
• Ximena está contenta con el trabajo, salvo que tiene que trabajar los fines de semana = “Ximena is happy with the job, except that she has to work weekends” → indicative (the weekend work is a fact)

Por muy… que takes the subjunctive, and como si takes the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive:

• Por muy cansado que esté, terminará el trabajo = “However tired he is, he will finish the work” → subjunctive
• Habla como si lo supiera todo = “He talks as if he knew everything” → imperfect subjunctive

For normal “if this happens…” sentences with si, see “Indicative.” Use the imperfect subjunctive with si in imaginary “if things were different…” sentences:

• Si lloviera, llevaría paraguas = “If it rained, I would bring an umbrella” → subjunctive

🌀 Use the subjunctive in open-choice expressions such as “whatever,” “whoever,” “wherever,” “whenever,” and “however” when the sentence leaves the option open rather than reporting what actually or habitually happens.

Spanish often expresses this meaning with a double-verb pattern: pase lo que pase (“whatever happens”), digan lo que digan (“whatever they say”), venga quien venga (“whoever comes”), estés donde estés (“wherever you are”), and sea como sea (“however it may be”).

Don’t use the subjunctive when the clause reports a particular fact or what actually or habitually happens:

• Sé dónde vive tu profesor = “I know where your teacher lives” → indicative
• Podemos comer donde prefieras = “We can eat wherever you prefer” → subjunctive

📋 Use the indicative when the main clause reports, states, or presents information as true. Reporting verbs such as decir, contar, saber, and informar do not trigger the subjunctive.

Don’t confuse reporting information with influencing actions. Dijo que venías reports that you were coming (indicative), but dijo que vinieras means he told you to come (subjunctive).

👀 Use the indicative when the sentence presents an idea as believed, certain, seen, noticed, or supported by evidence: creo que, estoy seguro de que, veo que, es evidente que. Whether the statement is actually correct is not important. What matters is that the speaker presents it as a fact rather than doubting or rejecting it.

Positive creer que, pensar que, opinar que, suponer que, and ordinary parecer que normally use the indicative because they present an idea as believed or apparent.

Don’t confuse bare parecer que with evaluative parecer + adjective + que:

• Parece que Inés está cansada = “It seems that Inés is tired” → indicative (appearance)
• Me parece raro que Inés esté cansada = “It seems strange to me that Inés is tired” → subjunctive (evaluation)

🤞 Use the indicative with a lo mejor for “maybe,” and with seguro que when the speaker presents something as very likely or practically certain.

Don’t treat every “maybe” word the same. A lo mejor is normally followed by the indicative, but quizá(s) and tal vez often (not always!) use the subjunctive, especially for future events.

• A lo mejor viene mañana = “Maybe he/she is coming tomorrow” → indicative
• Quizás venga mañana = “Maybe he/she will come tomorrow” → subjunctive

🤕 Don’t assume “emotion equals subjunctive” mechanically. A few specific expressions may look emotional but still report a fact or physical sensation. Some common traps are menos mal que and physical sentir que:

• Siento que me duele la cabeza = “I can feel that my head hurts” → indicative (physical perception)
• Siento que te duela la cabeza = “I’m sorry you have a headache” → subjunctive (emotional reaction)

🔗 Use the indicative for factual reasons and asserted outcomes. Normal porque, ya que, puesto que, clause-initial como meaning “because,” and actual-result clauses normally present information as fact.

Don’t use the indicative when de modo/manera/forma que expresses an aim rather than an asserted outcome. In that reading, use the subjunctive. See the “Ambiguous” section for rejected reasons with porque.

🔁 With time expressions that alternate according to timing, such as cuando and después de que, use the indicative when the event is present, habitual, or already completed. Words like siempre, normalmente, ayer, and a past-tense context often make this clear.

Don’t assume that words like cuando or después de que automatically require the subjunctive. With these expressions, completed events normally take the indicative, while future or not-yet-realized events normally take the subjunctive.

☔ Use the indicative after si in normal “if this happens…” sentences. Si may feel uncertain, but it does not actually behave like a subjunctive trigger.

These sentences mean basically the same, but only the second one uses the subjunctive:

• Si llueve, llevaré paraguas = “If it rains, I’ll bring an umbrella” → indicative
• En caso de que llueva, llevaré paraguas = “In case it rains, I’ll bring an umbrella” → subjunctive

For imaginary “if things were different…” sentences with si, see “Advanced.”

📍 Use the indicative in relative clauses when the referent is identified or the sentence asserts that it exists.

Don’t rely only on the article (el vs. un). Un or una can refer to a real, identified person or thing and therefore take the indicative.

🕵️‍♀️ Use the indicative when the sentence asks for, knows, forgets, or reports a specific fact, place, time, or manner with qué, dónde, cuándo, or cómo.

Be careful because these words may also trigger subjunctive when used for open-ended statements:

• Open choice “whatever / wherever / whenever / however”: lo que quieras, donde puedas, cuando te convenga, como prefieras
• Future time: cuando llegue, cuando termine, cuando vuelva

The same word can behave differently:

• No sé cuándo viene Pedro = “I don’t know when Pedro is coming” → indicative
• Te aviso cuando venga Pedro = “I’ll let you know when Pedro comes” → subjunctive
• Ven cuando quieras = “Come whenever you want” → subjunctive

👥 With many verbs, use the infinitive when the same person performs both actions or when the sentence refers to an action in general. Use que + subjunctive when the second action has a different subject:

• Quiero reservar una mesa para dos = “I want to reserve a table for two” → infinitive (same subject)
• Quiero que reserves una mesa para dos = “I want you to reserve a table for two” → subjunctive (different subject)

The infinitive is also used when talking about actions in general:

• Es importante dormir bien = “It is important to sleep well” → infinitive (general statement)
• Es importante que duermas bien = “It is important that you sleep well” → subjunctive (specific person)

Connectors such as antes de, después de, para, and sin also allow an infinitive when the subject is shared:

• Lo haré después de salir = “I’ll do it after going out” → infinitive
• Entró sin hacer ruido = “He entered without making noise” → infinitive
• Estudio para aprobar el examen = “I study in order to pass the exam” → infinitive

However, connectors such as cuando, mientras, en cuanto, and una vez que cannot normally be followed by an infinitive in this way:

• Te llamaré cuando llegue = “I’ll call you when I arrive” → subjunctive

🎲 Quizá(s) and tal vez can take either mood. With present or past events, the indicative presents the possibility more assertively, while the subjunctive leaves it less asserted:

• A lo mejor el restaurante está abierto = “Maybe the restaurant is open” → always indicative
• Quizás el restaurante está abierto = “Maybe the restaurant is open” → indicative, more strongly asserted
• Quizás el restaurante esté abierto = “Maybe the restaurant is open” → subjunctive, less strongly asserted

With clearly future situations, Spanish normally uses the subjunctive, future indicative, or conditional rather than the present indicative:

• Quizás esté abierto mañana = “Maybe it will be open tomorrow” → subjunctive, the most common option
• Quizás estará abierto mañana = “Maybe it will be open tomorrow” → future indicative, more like a prediction
• Quizás estaría abierto mañana = “Maybe it would be open tomorrow” → conditional, softer or more tentative
• Not: Quizás está abierto mañana

Probablemente and posiblemente can also use either mood depending on context and speaker attitude.

🎈 With aunque, the indicative normally presents information as an asserted fact (“although it is true that…”), while the subjunctive presents it as hypothetical or future:

• Aunque estoy cansado, iré a la fiesta = “Although I’m tired, I’ll go to the party” → indicative (the speaker is tired now)
• Aunque esté cansado, iré a la fiesta = “Even if I’m tired, I’ll go to the party” → subjunctive (the speaker may or may not be tired by then)

❄️ Por si and por si acaso normally take the indicative in ordinary “in case” sentences. Don’t confuse them with en caso de que, which takes the subjunctive:

• Lleva una chaqueta por si hace frío = “Take a jacket in case it is cold” → indicative
• Lleva una chaqueta en caso de que haga frío = “Take a jacket in case it is cold” → subjunctive

🔗 Use the indicative when porque presents a reason as fact:

• Lo hago porque tú lo dices = “I’m doing it because you say so” → indicative, your saying it is presented as the reason

Don’t choose the subjunctive merely because no or solo appears. Use it when the sentence rejects the proposed reason as “just because”:

• No lo hago porque tú lo digas = “I’m not doing it just because you say so” → subjunctive, your saying it is rejected as sufficient reason
• No lo hago solo porque tú lo dices = “I am doing it, but not simply because you’re telling me to” → indicative, the reason is acknowledged as fact but is not the only reason

⛔️ Negation does not automatically require the subjunctive. Use the indicative when the information is presented as true. Use the subjunctive when it is not confirmed, or when decir means “tell someone to”:

• José no dijo que Emma venía = “José didn’t say Emma was coming” → indicative; Emma’s coming is treated as a fact that José did not mention
• José no dijo que Emma viniera; nadie sabía sus planes = “José didn’t say Emma was coming; nobody knew her plans” → subjunctive; her coming is not confirmed
• José no le dijo a Emma que viniera = “José didn’t tell Emma to come” → subjunctive; decir introduces an instruction

🧩 Expressions such as el hecho de que, lo bueno es que, lo malo es que, and lo peor es que can use either mood depending on how the speaker presents the situation.

Use the indicative when the situation is presented as the main asserted fact. Use the subjunctive when it is treated as already known or background information, or as a possible outcome:

• Lo peor es que no viene nadie → indicative, presented as the actual situation
• Lo peor sería que no viniera nadie → subjunctive, presented as a possible outcome

✅ In affirmative sentences, entender que, comprender que, and aceptar que can express different meanings.

Use the indicative when someone recognizes or acknowledges information as a fact:

• Después de leer el horario, entiendo que Javier trabaja los viernes = “I understand from the schedule that Javier works on Fridays”
• Acepto que el plazo vence hoy = “I accept that the deadline expires today”

Use the subjunctive when entender or comprender expresses sympathetic understanding, or when aceptar expresses tolerance or consent:

• Entiendo que Javier trabaje menos horas; está cuidando a su padre = “I understand why Javier works fewer hours; he is caring for his father”
• Acepto que cambies la fecha = “I agree to let you change the date”

Negated forms normally take the subjunctive.

🤞 In affirmative sentences, use the subjunctive with esperar que when it means “to hope”:

• Espero que venga pronto = “I hope he/she comes soon” → subjunctive

Don’t treat esperar que as a fixed subjunctive trigger. When it means “to expect,” it can use the future, conditional, or ir a indicative:

• Espero que llegará a las ocho = “I expect he/she will arrive at eight” → future indicative

🙀 Use the subjunctive with temer que when it expresses fear about something possible:

• Temo que le moleste = “I’m afraid it may bother him/her” → subjunctive

Don’t treat temer que as a fixed subjunctive trigger. It can use the indicative when the speaker presents the feared result as an expectation or prediction:

• Temo que le va a molestar = “I’m afraid it is going to bother him/her” → indicative

Me temo que… often means “I’m afraid/sorry to say that…” and reports unwelcome information with the indicative.