When do you use subjunctive?
Subjunctive is a mode, a way of approaching reality. In its pure sense, subjunctive is considered as "not new information", this is, it is something you say that either describes a mental state, or an image that so far exists only in the minds of the people speaking. This is a bit complex and maybe not practical so let´s have a look at some of the most common uses of subjunctive you will need to master in A Level: 1- Hypothesis. You need subjunctive past to describe a hypothetical scenario (you will need the conditional after to express what you would do if that scenario happened). Ex. Si fuera rico, me iría de vacaciones a las Bahamas. 2- Describing a point in the future. You will need the subjunctive present to describe a point of the future , or subjunctive past to refer to a "future in the past" (a point that was the future...when the person was talking about it in the past). Ex. Cuando vengas, llámame- When you get here, call me. Te dije que cuando vinieras, me llamaras. I told you to call me when you got here. The same sentence as above, just as reported speech. In this case, both parts of the sentence go in the subjunctive past (not the reporting verb "te dije"). 3- With verbs of influence (querer, desear, esperar...) when the person who is the subject of that verb of influence is different to the person who may do the action. Bear in mind if the person is the same we use the infinitive instead. Ex. Quiero que vengas. I want you to come (Vs quiero venir- I want to come) Espero que apruebe el examen- I hope he will pass the exam (vs espero aprobar el examen- I hope to pass). 4- With the word "ojalá¨. This word introduces a hope, something that you really would like to happen. If the scenario is seen as possible, you will use the subjunctive present "Ojalá no llueva hoy"- I hope it does not rain today. If the scenario is seen as unlikely or even impossible, you use the subjunctive past "Ojalá no estuviera lloviendo¨- I wish it was not raining, o ¨ojalá viviera en París¨- I wish I lived in Paris.
