Regular Conjugations in the Subjunctive

Regular verbs can be conjugated into the six subjunctive tenses - let's learn more about that.

The subjunctive is not a tense but a mood, like the indicative mood. In other words, this means that you cannot conjugate a verb in the subjunctive per se, but in the present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, etc.

For this reason, in Spanish lessons, you will often see that the names of tenses are accompanied by -de indicativo or -de subjuntivo (presente de indicativo, presente de subjuntivo).

The subjunctive has 6 tenses:

We will review the regular verb conjugation for each tense, but not the usages, which have been reviewed in the previous grammar point. Check it out before studying the conjugations. Click here to read it!

Presente de Subjuntivo

Rule 1. For all regular verbs ending in -ar, add the following endings:
-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.

Let's see an example with the verb hablar.

Rule 2. As usual, verbs ending in -er and -ir have the same conjugations, so for -er and -ir verbs add the following endings:
-a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.

Let's see an example with the verbs comer and vivir.

Imperfecto de Subjuntivo

The imperfect subjunctive can express any of the uses seen in W.E.I.R.D.O.; however, this tense is peculiar, because it can be used to speak of the present as well as the past or future. Therefore, you must pay attention or use the appropriate temporal expressions in your sentence to avoid confusion.

Rule 3. To conjugate regular -ar ending verbs in the imperfect subjunctive, add either of the two ending groups shown below.

Option 1. -ara, -aras, -ara, -áramos, -arais, -aran

Option 2. -ase, -ases, -ase, -ásemos, -aseis, -asen

You are probably wondering why there are two conjugation options. This is because different speakers from different regions use one or the other.

That said, both are correct, and their use simply has to do with the region. In Mexico, for example, option one is preferred over option two, although it is not uncommon to see option two used in written language as well.

Let's see an example with the verb comprar.

Rule 4. For -er and -ir ending verbs, add either of the two ending groups shown below.

Option 1. -iera, -ieras, -iera, -iéramos, -erais, -ieran

Option 2. -iese, -ieses, -iese, -iésemos, -ieseis, -iesen

Let's see an example with the verbs beber and escribir.

Futuro de Subjunctivo

It is important to mention that the future subjunctive is practically in disuse, because it tends to be used to talk about hypothetical situations. As you may already know, there are other tenses that express the same thing and sound more natural to native speakers.

Nowadays, you can hear the future subjunctive in popular sayings, law-related texts, and older written works.

Nonetheless, let's review the conjugation.

Rule 5. For -ar ending verbs, add the endings: -are, -ares, -are, -áremos, -áreis, aren.

Let's see an example with the verb trabajar.

Rule 6. For -er and -ir endig verbs, add the endings: -iere, -ieres, -iere, -iréremos, -iereis, -ieren.

Let's see some examples with the verbs aprender and discutir.

Subjunctive Compound Tenses

Rule 7. As with the indicative, the compound tenses of the subjunctive are made up of the verb haber conjugated with the main verb in its participle form. Below, we'll show you the conjugation of the verb haber in the three compound tenses of the subjunctive.