When should I use the subjunctive in Spanish?

The subjunctive is not a tense, but rather a mood. We don't tend to use it a lot in English but in Spanish it is used to convey feelings of doubt or emotion. Here is a useful anagram to help you to remember when you should use the subjunctive: W- wishes E- emotions I- impersonal expressions R- recommendations D- doubt O- ójala In Spanish we use the present subjunctive when talking about actions in the present and future and the impersonal subjunctive when talking about actions in the past or when writing a si clause. It is important to especially remember that verbs such as 'pensar' normally do not trigger the subjunctive but when they are made negative e.g. 'no pienso que' they trigger the subjunctive because they introduce a sense of doubt. This is a common mistake among learners. Also try to learn some key examples of expressions which will trigger the subjunctive to use in your writing exercises in the exam or in speakings. Some easy set expressions include: sea como sea (be as it may be) and que yo sea (as far as I know). This is a simple way to increase your marks considerably.