What triggers the subjunctive in Spanish?

When deciding whether you should use the subjunctive, you should first consider if there is an element of doubt, uncertainity or desire in the sentence. If so, it is likely that the subjunctive should be used. E.g I don't think that we will leave late > No creo que salgamos tarde. Here, the uncertainity arises from the fact that the speaker is not sure when they will leave. Therefore the verb 'salir' must be conjugated in the subjunctive. Another tip for spotting a subjunctive trigger is the use of 'que' in a sentence you think might need the subjunctive, as triggers often include 'que'. A few examples of this would be 'Es importante que', 'Es bueno que' and 'Es probable que', which all trigger the subjunctive.

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Answered by Kate H. Spanish tutor

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Como ya sabes, hoy en día hay muchos problemas medioambientales. ¿Qué haces en casa para proteger al medio ambiente? ¿Piensas que los ciudadanos son resonsables para la protección del medio ambiente, o sólamente los gobiernos y las grandes empresas?


Translate the following sentences into english.


Es posible llevar una vida sana sin gastar mucho dinero. ¿Estás de acuerdo?


When do you use the subjunctive voice?


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