B1 · Unit 28 · 42 words, 3 texts with translation
Explain a hard decision
Make a big decision, take stock and turn down an offer politely: stay or leave, with no regrets. Choose quickly between the normal verb form and the subjunctive.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Normal form or subjunctive: four cases on one page
You already know four cases that need the subjunctive: wishes and requests (unit 18), purpose (unit 19), cuando about the future (unit 21) and doubt (unit 24). Now let's put them together, so you can pick the right form quickly, like in a real conversation.
Why you need it. In real life these cases come all mixed up: "I think I'll stay", "I want you to know", "when I find an apartment, I'll invite you over". One sentence needs the normal form, the next one needs the subjunctive.
The big idea. The normal form (indicative) states a fact: this is how it is, how it was, how it will be. The subjunctive names something that isn't treated as a fact: someone wants it, is working toward it, is waiting for it or doubts it.
| Case | After | Subjunctive | Right next to it: no subjunctive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wish, request | quiero que, espero que, te pido que, ojalá | Quiero que te quedes. | Quiero quedarme. |
| Purpose | para que | Te llamo para que lo sepas. | Te llamo para preguntar. |
| Future | cuando | Cuando tenga piso, te invitaré. | Cuando tengo tiempo, cocino. |
| Doubt | no creo que, dudo que | No creo que sea fácil. | Creo que es fácil. |
Reacting to someone else's action goes here too: me gusta que, me molesta que (unit 24).
- Creo que es una buena oferta, pero no creo que sea para mí. — I think it's a good offer, but I don't think it's for me.
- Quiero quedarme aquí y quiero que mis amigos lo sepan. — I want to stay here, and I want my friends to know.
- Cuando tengo dudas, llamo a Lucía. Cuando tenga la respuesta, te llamaré a ti. — When I have doubts, I call Lucía. When I have the answer, I'll call you.
- Te lo digo ahora para que no te preocupes. — I'm telling you now so you don't worry.
Three questions before the verb, and where you don't need the subjunctive
You already know which words take the subjunctive (see the block above). Now you need to learn not to use it where it doesn't belong. Before the verb, ask yourself three questions.
1. Is it one person who wants and acts, or two different people? One person: no que, just the infinitive: Quiero quedarme. Estudio para aprobar. ("I want to stay. I'm studying to pass.") Two people: que + subjunctive: Quiero que te quedes. Te ayudo para que apruebes. ("I want you to stay. I'm helping you so you pass.") English works in a similar way: "I want to stay", but "I want you to stay".
2. Am I stating something, or only wanting it or doubting it? Knowing, thinking, being sure, passing on what someone said: the normal form: sé que, creo que, me parece que, seguro que, dice que. Wanting, asking, doubting: the subjunctive.
3. Does it happen, did it happen, or is it only going to happen? This is the question for cuando: a habit or the past takes the normal form, the future takes the subjunctive.
The word que itself decides nothing. What decides is the word in front of it:
- Sé que viene. Creo que viene. Dice que viene. — I know he's coming. I think he's coming. He says he's coming.
- Quiero que venga. No creo que venga. — I want him to come. I don't think he'll come.
No subjunctive here, even if you're tempted:
- after si ("if"): Si tengo tiempo, iré — If I have time, I'll go; never ✗ si tenga (unit 3);
- after aunque meaning "although": Aunque llueve, salgo — Although it's raining, I'm going out (unit 5);
- after a lo mejor ("maybe"): A lo mejor viene — Maybe he'll come.
Common mistakes. The first one is putting the subjunctive after every que, "just in case": ✗ creo que sea, ✗ sé que vengas. The second one is the opposite. English "I don't think he'll come" sounds like a plain statement, so learners say ✗ no creo que es. But no before creer changes everything: there's no opinion anymore, only doubt, so you need the subjunctive.
Words in this unit
el modo — way, manner
No me gusta su modo de hablar. — I don't like his way of talking.
de todos modos — anyway, in any case
No sé si voy a ir, pero de todos modos te llamo. — I don't know if I'm going to go, but I'll call you anyway.
en el fondo — deep down, at heart
En el fondo, sé que tienes razón. — Deep down, I know you're right.
después de todo — after all
Después de todo, es tu vida. — After all, it's your life.
a fin de cuentas — at the end of the day, in the end
A fin de cuentas, es mi vida. — At the end of the day, it's my life.
a pesar de — despite, in spite of
A pesar de la lluvia, fuimos a la playa. — Despite the rain, we went to the beach.
la elección — choice, election
Es una elección difícil. — It's a hard choice.
la alternativa — alternative, other option
No hay otra alternativa. — There's no other alternative.
marcharse — to leave, to go away
Me marcho mañana por la mañana. — I'm leaving tomorrow morning.
definitivamente — for good, permanently, definitely
Me voy definitivamente en junio. — I'm leaving for good in June.
la conclusión — conclusion
¿Cuál es tu conclusión? — What's your conclusion?
en resumen — in short, to sum up
En resumen, el viaje fue perfecto. — In short, the trip was perfect.
dar las gracias — to thank, to say thank you
Quiero dar las gracias a todos. — I want to thank everyone.
el agradecimiento — gratitude, thanks
Quiero expresar mi agradecimiento a mis profesores. — I want to express my gratitude to my teachers.
la lección — lesson
Fue una buena lección para mí. — It was a good lesson for me.
el valor — courage, value
Hace falta mucho valor para empezar de cero. — It takes a lot of courage to start from scratch.
seguir adelante — to keep going, to move on, to go ahead
Es difícil, pero hay que seguir adelante. — It's hard, but you have to keep going.
salir adelante — to pull through, to get through hard times
Con tu ayuda voy a salir adelante. — With your help, I'm going to pull through.
empezar de cero — to start from scratch, to start over
Quiero empezar de cero en otra ciudad. — I want to start from scratch in another city.
pasar página — to turn the page, to move on
Ya es hora de pasar página. — It's time to turn the page.
acertar — to get it right, to guess right, to make the right choice
No acierto con el regalo para mi madre. — I can't find the right gift for my mother.
el acierto — right move, good decision, good call
Venir a Madrid fue un acierto. — Coming to Madrid was the right move.
el balance — overall result, assessment
El balance del año es bueno. — The overall result of the year is good.
hacer balance — to take stock
En diciembre hago balance del año. — In December I take stock of the year.
el rumbo — course, direction
Mi vida no tiene rumbo. — My life has no direction.
cerrar una etapa — to close a chapter (of your life)
Me voy para cerrar una etapa de mi vida. — I'm leaving to close a chapter of my life.
en paz — in peace, at peace
Ahora estoy en paz con mi decisión. — Now I'm at peace with my decision.
la incertidumbre — uncertainty
Vivo con mucha incertidumbre. — I live with a lot of uncertainty.
apostar — to bet
¿Apostamos un café? — Should we bet a coffee?
apostar por — to bet on, to believe in, to go for
Apuesto por mi futuro aquí. — I'm betting on my future here.
el cajón — drawer
Las llaves están en el cajón. — The keys are in the drawer.
la fe — faith
Tengo fe en ti. — I have faith in you.
la mente — mind
Tengo muchas cosas en la mente. — I have a lot on my mind.
tener en mente — to have in mind
¿Tienes en mente algún sitio? — Do you have a place in mind?
el espíritu — spirit
Tiene un espíritu joven. — He has a young spirit.
por encima de todo — above all
Por encima de todo, quiero ser feliz. — Above all, I want to be happy.
cumplir un sueño — to make a dream come true, to fulfill a dream
Voy a cumplir un sueño: viajar por Asia. — I'm going to fulfill a dream: traveling around Asia.
echar la vista atrás — to look back
Si echo la vista atrás, estoy contenta. — If I look back, I'm happy (woman speaking).
pase lo que pase — whatever happens, no matter what
Pase lo que pase, estoy contigo. — Whatever happens, I'm with you.
sea como sea — either way, one way or another, no matter what
Sea como sea, llego a las ocho. — One way or another, I'll be there at eight.
ojalá pudiera — I wish I could, if only I could
Ojalá pudiera quedarme más tiempo. — I wish I could stay longer.
cambiar de opinión — to change your mind
He cambiado de opinión. — I've changed my mind.
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