🎯 Why This Matters
Formal style, documents.
High level of literacy.
🇪🇸 The Challenge
Usage mismatch. Spanish/Italian use Subjunctive constantly for emotions/doubt. English uses it rarely and formally ('I suggest that he go'). Learners overuse it or don't recognize it.
🇲🇽🇨🇴🇦🇷 DON'T overuse subjunctive
Problem: Spanish uses subjunctive constantly (emotions, doubt, wishes)
Watch out: Trying to translate Spanish subjunctive directly into English
✅ Fix: English rarely uses subjunctive. Only after suggest/insist/demand + that, and 'if I were'
🧠 Mental Note: Spanish: 'Espero que vengas' = English: 'I hope you come' (NOT subjunctive!)
🇪🇸 Same overuse tendency
Problem: Castilian Spanish also uses subjunctive frequently
Watch out: Translating all Spanish subjunctive to English subjunctive
✅ Fix: English alternatives: infinitive (want you TO go), indicative (hope you ARE), or should
🧠 Visual Explanation (The Mental Fix)
The Formal Command
After suggest/insist/demand + that → use BASE VERB (no -s, no conjugation).
🗣️ Pronunciation Guide
How Spanish speakers should pronounce this structure:
Subjunctive sounds 'wrong'
Spanish Habit: Expecting conjugated verb after that
English Reality: Subjunctive uses base form which sounds odd at first
Examples:
- that he GO (not goes)
- that she BE (not is)
- that it REMAIN (not remains)
Practice: This is formal/legal English. In casual speech, 'should' + verb is common instead.
📖 How It Works
Teacher Recommendation: Self-study friendly
Time Investment: 3 hours
🔑 Signal Words (Memory Anchors)
These words/phrases appear with this structure:
| English | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| suggest that | sugerir que | I suggest that she go (base form) |
| insist that | insistir en que | He insists that we be on time |
| demand that | exigir que | They demand that he leave |
| if I were | si yo fuera | If I were you... (hypothetical) |
| I wish I were | ojalá fuera | I wish I were taller |
💬 Real Examples
Let's see this structure in action with correct vs incorrect usage:
Example 1: Suggest + subjunctive
✅ CORRECT: "I suggest that he leave early."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Sugiero que se vaya temprano."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "I suggest that he leaves early."
Why wrong? After 'suggest that', use base form: LEAVE (not leaves)
Example 2: Insist + subjunctive
✅ CORRECT: "She insisted that he be present."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Ella insistió en que él estuviera presente."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "She insisted that he is/was present."
Why wrong? After 'insist that', use BE (base form), not is/was
Example 3: Fixed expressions
✅ CORRECT: "If I were you, I would accept."
🇪🇸 Translation: "Si yo fuera tú, aceptaría."
❌ COMMON MISTAKE: "If I was you, I would accept."
Why wrong? 'If I WERE' is subjunctive (hypothetical). Formal = were, informal = was.
✏️ Practice Exercises
Ready to test your understanding? Let's practice!