Uso del Subjuntivo en Inglés: Presente y Pasado

Clase 3 de 21 • Curso de Inglés Avanzado C1: Lenguaje Coloquial y Habitual

Resumen

¿Qué es el modo subjuntivo en inglés?

El modo subjuntivo en inglés es un tema fascinante que con frecuencia genera confusión. Usado para expresar deseos, arrepentimientos, demandas y requisitos, este modo verbal requiere una comprensión cuidadosa de cómo conjugar los verbos de manera diferente. ¿Alguna vez has querido expresar un deseo imposible o hablar sobre situaciones hipotéticas? Entonces, el subjuntivo es tu mejor amigo. Acompáñanos en este recorrido para desentrañar el uso del subjuntivo en inglés, centrándonos en sus formas presentes y pasadas.

¿Cuándo se usa el subjuntivo presente?

El subjuntivo presente se utiliza para hablar de acciones o situaciones futuras, pero curiosamente, nunca se usa en tiempo futuro. En cambio, lo encontramos en expresiones idiomáticas, recomendaciones, exigencias, sugerencias y requisitos. Por ejemplo, la oración "I asked that everyone be on time" utiliza la forma base del verbo "be", sin conjugación.

Puntos clave del subjuntivo presente:

Usar la forma base del verbo.
Emplear en situaciones que requieren acciones futuras o al hacer solicitudes.
Aparecer en oraciones idiomáticas como "Far be it from me to call you a liar".

¿Cómo funciona el subjuntivo pasado?

El subjuntivo pasado pinta un cuadro diferente; se emplea para hablar de situaciones hipotéticas, improbables o imposibles, así como para expresar deseos o lamentos. Seguro has oído hablar de las oraciones en condicional, donde el subjuntivo pasado juega un papel clave. Una frase como "If I won a million dollars, I would buy a house" utiliza este modo para expresar situaciones hipotéticas.

Puntos clave del subjuntivo pasado:

Uso del verbo "were" para todas las personas (e.g., "I wish he were here").
Aplicación de la forma pasada de los verbos en general.
Empleo en oraciones condicionales para describir situaciones que no han sucedido.

¿Cómo identificar frases desencadenantes y practicar el subjuntivo?

Saber cuándo usar el subjuntivo a menudo se reduce a identificar ciertas frases desencadenantes como "I wish", "It is crucial", o "You act as if". Estas señales indican la necesidad de utilizar el modo subjuntivo.

Consejos para practicar:

Reconocer y marcar frases como "as if" y "I wish" que suelen requerir el subjuntivo.
Resolver ejercicios prácticos para afinar tus habilidades en la distinción de presentaciones del subjuntivo presente y pasado.

No te preocupes si al principio te resulta un poco confuso; con práctica constante, comenzarás a reconocer patrones y a utilizar el subjuntivo con confianza. ¡Sigue practicando y descubre la magia del subjuntivo en el inglés!

Andrés Felipe Barreto Hernandez

student•

Past and present subjunctive

we conjugate when we use subjunctive

Present subjunctive

When do we use subjunctive present?

Future actions or situations

Idiomatic expressions

Recommendations, demands, suggestions, and requirements.

How:

Base form of verbs

I asked the everyones be on time

Far be it from me to call me a liar.

PAST SUBJUNCTIVE

When:

hypothetical, improbable, or impossible situations.

Regret, wisher, or longing.

How:

wre for all persons.

Past tense of the verb.

I wish he was here.

Past subjunctive

If your father were here now, he would be produd

You act as if the dog wew human

I is crucial he appears he appear.

The president requiere that be civil.

I wish i had done it.

I wish i were you

Diego Reyes Cabrera

student•

I didn't get it quite well. In the previous lesson, we were told that subjunctives are related to conditional sentences. But "I asked that everyone be on time" seems to me to be an indicative mood 🤔 I am indicating what I asked. Am I missing something?

Álvaro Dávila

student•

The phrase "I asked that everyone be on time" expresses uncertainty since the speaker requested something, a desire that everyone should be on time. The indicative mood is used to express facts, statements about something. It's not imperative either since the command is not direct.

Álvaro Dávila

student•

Also, according to the worksheet: "The present subjunctive is used in clauses that begin with "that" following verbs that express a wish, suggestion, or demand."

Javier Rojas buitrago

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jess harris is such a great teacher.

Gabriel Obregón

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The present subjunctive

When to use the present subjunctive:

Future actions or situations: Though we talk about the future, the subjunctive is only used in the present or past tense.
Idiomatic expressions: Common phrases that use the subjunctive form.
Recommendations, demands, suggestions, and requirements: These often require the subjunctive.

How to use the present subjunctive:

Use the base form of the verb: There’s no conjugation for tense (past, future, etc.) or even different present tenses.

Examples:

"I asked that everyone be on time."
- Here, "be" is used instead of "is" because it's a request, which requires the present subjunctive.
"Far be it from me to call you a liar."
- This is an idiomatic expression, meaning "I would never call you a liar."
"It was essential she listen to her teacher."
- "Listen" is used instead of "listens" because it's a requirement, triggering the present subjunctive.

The past subjunctive

When to use the past subjunctive:

Hypothetical, improbable, or impossible situations: Often seen in the second and third conditional forms.
Regrets, wishes, and longing: Expressing things that didn’t happen or are unlikely.

How to use the past subjunctive:

Use "were" for all persons: Whether "he," "she," or "I," always use "were" in the subjunctive.
Use the past tense of the verb: For all other verbs, use the standard past tense.

Examples:

"If I won $1,000,000, I would buy a house."
- "Won" is used here to describe an improbable situation.
"I wish he were here."
- "Were" is used instead of "was" because it's a wish, requiring the past subjunctive.
"You act as if the dog were human."
- "Were" is used because "as if" is a trigger phrase for the subjunctive.
"I wish I were taller."
- Again, "were" is used because it expresses a wish.

Juan David Cuervo Rojas

student•

Present Subjunctive

When to use:

Future actions or situations
Idiomatic expressions
Recommendations, demands, suggestions, and requirements

How to use:

Use the base form of the verb (no tense conjugation)

Examples:

I asked that everyone be on time.
Far be it from me to call you a liar.
It was essential she listen to her teacher.

Past Subjunctive

When to use:

Hypothetical, improbable, or impossible situations
Wishes, regrets, and longings

How to use:

Use "were" for all subjects
Use past tense for other verbs

Examples:

If I won $1,000,000, I would buy a house.
I wish he were here.
You act as if the dog were human.
I wish I were taller.

Luz Amanda Quilindo Celis

student•

If she had known the answer, she would have told us.
If she knew the answer, she would have told us.

me queda la duda cual de las dos formas es correcta. aunque en el pdf dice la primera . yo siento q la segunda tambine esta bien. pero so sabria cual seria la diferencia cuando usar una o la otra ?

Andres ELIAS Arroyo Gonzalez

student•

In your sentence, you're talking about a past hypothetical situation, so it should follow the third conditional structure. The correct sentence is:

Correct Sentence: "If she had known the answer, she would have told us."

Andres ELIAS Arroyo Gonzalez

student•

In your sentence, you're talking about a past hypothetical situation, so it should follow the third conditional structure. The correct sentence is:

Correct Sentence: "If she had known the answer, she would have told us."

or you can say

If she knew the answer, she would tell us.

The thing is with this one you are taking the second conditional that is used for hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future not in the past as the subjuntive.

Andres ELIAS Arroyo Gonzalez

student•

They insisted that I be at home.
They insist that I should be at home.
If I talked to Jess, I'd tell him the truth.
You wouldn't say that if he were here.
I wish he ate less junk food.
I would rather you came.

Those are some examples I wanted to share platzinautas.

Diego Mauricio Rodríguez Ronderos

student•

who or where can I find the answers of the worksheet? Quien o en dónde encuentro las respuestas del taller??

KIMBERLY CHACÓN

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The past subjunctive remind me a lot of songs 'I wish you were here', 'If I were a boy'...

Álvaro Dávila

student•

My answers to the worksheet:

Complete the following sentences using the present subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses.

It is crucial that everyone be here by 8 PM.
The manager requested that he submit the report by Friday.
She demanded that he apologize immediately.
The law requires that each car have a valid registration.

Complete the following sentences using the past subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses.

If I were rich, I would travel the world.
I wish you came to the party last night.
If she knew the answer, she would have told us.
I wish they were here to see this.

I think there is a mistake in the answer for the third sentence of the past subjunctive practice because it's using a perfect tense and not past tense. Can someone confirm this?

Andres Velasquez

student•

I am lost