English technically has a subjunctive — think of "if I were you" or "I suggest that he be on time" — but it has nearly vanished from everyday speech. As a result, English speakers learning Spanish treat the subjunctive as an exotic add-on and default to the indicative whenever possible. The result is a steady stream of small errors: verbs that sound right to the learner but wrong to a native speaker. This page catalogues the most common cases where English speakers reach for the indicative when Spanish needs the subjunctive.
The pattern almost always involves a trigger in the main clause — a verb of wishing, doubting, emotion, necessity, or a conjunction like cuando pointing to the future — followed by que (or a similar connector) and a second verb. That second verb is where the mistake happens. For the full framework, see Subjunctive Triggers Overview.
Mistake 1: "I want you to..." with indicative
Querer que is the single most common subjunctive trigger. Any time the subject of the main clause wants a different subject to do something, the second verb goes into the subjunctive. English speakers translate "I want you to come" and end up with Quiero que vienes, which is ungrammatical.
❌ Quiero que vienes mañana.
Incorrect for 'I want you to come tomorrow.'
✅ Quiero que vengas mañana.
I want you to come tomorrow.
❌ Mis padres quieren que yo estudio medicina.
Incorrect.
✅ Mis padres quieren que yo estudie medicina.
My parents want me to study medicine.
Note: if there is only one subject, use the infinitive instead, not the subjunctive. Quiero venir mañana = "I want to come tomorrow" (I want, I come).
Mistake 2: "I hope" / "I hope that..."
Esperar que expresses a wish about something that is not yet certain — another subjunctive trigger. English speakers say "I hope she arrives on time" and copy it as Espero que llega a tiempo, keeping the present indicative.
❌ Espero que llega a tiempo.
Incorrect for 'I hope she arrives on time.'
✅ Espero que llegue a tiempo.
I hope she arrives on time.
✅ Esperamos que haga buen tiempo el sábado.
We hope the weather is nice on Saturday.
The related expression ojalá (from Arabic, "may it be so") also takes the subjunctive, always. See Ojalá.
Mistake 3: "I doubt that..."
Expressions of doubt flip any following verb into the subjunctive. Dudar que, no creer que, no pensar que, and no estar seguro de que are all triggers.
❌ Dudo que él sabe la respuesta.
Incorrect for 'I doubt he knows the answer.'
✅ Dudo que él sepa la respuesta.
I doubt he knows the answer.
❌ No creo que puede venir.
Incorrect.
✅ No creo que pueda venir.
I don't think he can come.
Notice the asymmetry: creer que in the affirmative takes the indicative (you are asserting a belief as true), but no creer que takes the subjunctive (you are undermining it). English treats them identically; Spanish does not.
Creo que él sabe la respuesta.
I think he knows the answer. (affirmative — indicative)
No creo que él sepa la respuesta.
I don't think he knows the answer. (negative — subjunctive)
See Triggers: Doubt for a full list.
Mistake 4: Impersonal expressions ("It is important that...")
Es importante que, es necesario que, es posible que, es mejor que, and similar impersonal phrases all trigger the subjunctive in the following clause.
❌ Es importante que estudias todos los días.
Incorrect for 'It is important that you study every day.'
✅ Es importante que estudies todos los días.
It is important that you study every day.
❌ Es posible que llueve mañana.
Incorrect.
✅ Es posible que llueva mañana.
It may rain tomorrow.
❌ Es necesario que hablas con él.
Incorrect.
✅ Es necesario que hables con él.
You need to talk to him.
One exception: impersonal expressions that assert fact (es verdad que, es cierto que, es obvio que) take the indicative, because they are not creating the uncertainty that triggers subjunctive. See Triggers: Impersonal.
Mistake 5: Adjective clauses with unknown antecedents
When the thing you are describing does not yet exist — or you don't know if it exists — the verb inside the adjective clause goes into the subjunctive. "I'm looking for a book that is cheap" is subjunctive territory if you don't have a specific book in mind.
❌ Busco un libro que es barato.
Incorrect if the book is hypothetical.
✅ Busco un libro que sea barato.
I'm looking for a (any) cheap book.
❌ Necesito alguien que habla francés.
Incorrect.
✅ Necesito alguien que hable francés.
I need someone who speaks French.
If the antecedent is known, the indicative is correct:
Tengo un amigo que habla francés.
I have a friend who speaks French. (specific person — indicative)
Busco a un amigo que habla francés.
I'm looking for (my specific) friend who speaks French. (specific, indicative)
See Adjective Clauses for the full rule.
Mistake 6: "Cuando" + future reference
Cuando is a chameleon: with past or habitual reference it takes the indicative, but with future reference it requires the subjunctive. English speakers default to the present indicative ("when I come tomorrow...") and get it wrong.
❌ Cuando vengo mañana, te llamo.
Incorrect if 'coming tomorrow' is in the future.
✅ Cuando venga mañana, te llamo.
When I come tomorrow, I'll call you.
❌ Te veo cuando llegas a casa.
Incorrect if 'arriving' hasn't happened yet.
✅ Te veo cuando llegues a casa.
I'll see you when you get home.
But notice — habitual or past uses stay indicative:
Cuando llego a casa, siempre cocino.
When I get home, I always cook. (habitual — indicative)
Cuando llegué a casa, cociné.
When I got home, I cooked. (past — indicative)
The same test applies to hasta que, en cuanto, tan pronto como, después de que, and antes de que (which is always subjunctive because "before" inherently points to something not yet done). See Adverbial Clauses: Time.
Mistake 7: "Para que" (so that)
Para que introduces a purpose clause and is always followed by the subjunctive — always, no exceptions. English speakers are tempted to use the present indicative because "so that you know" feels like a fact.
❌ Te llamo para que sabes la verdad.
Incorrect.
✅ Te llamo para que sepas la verdad.
I'm calling so you know the truth.
❌ Hablo despacio para que entiendes.
Incorrect.
✅ Hablo despacio para que entiendas.
I speak slowly so you understand.
If there is only one subject, drop que and use the infinitive: Trabajo para ganar dinero ("I work to earn money"). The subjunctive only appears when the subjects differ.
Mistake 8: Emotional reactions ("I'm glad that...")
Verbs and expressions of emotion — alegrarse de que, sentir que (to regret), temer que (to fear), me gusta que, me molesta que — all trigger the subjunctive, because they comment on a situation rather than asserting it.
❌ Me alegro de que estás aquí.
Incorrect.
✅ Me alegro de que estés aquí.
I'm glad you're here.
❌ Siento que no puedes venir.
Incorrect.
✅ Siento que no puedas venir.
I'm sorry you can't come.
❌ Me molesta que él llega tarde siempre.
Incorrect.
✅ Me molesta que él llegue tarde siempre.
It bothers me that he's always late.
See Triggers: Emotions.
Mistake 9: Commands and recommendations
Decir que, pedir que, recomendar que, sugerir que, aconsejar que, and mandar que all trigger subjunctive when they express a request or recommendation (as opposed to reporting a fact).
❌ Te recomiendo que lees este libro.
Incorrect.
✅ Te recomiendo que leas este libro.
I recommend you read this book.
❌ El doctor me pide que tomo la medicina.
Incorrect (as a request).
✅ El doctor me pide que tome la medicina.
The doctor is asking me to take the medicine.
But decir que reporting a fact uses indicative:
Me dice que llega mañana.
He tells me (that) he's arriving tomorrow. (report — indicative)
Mistake 10: "Aunque" with hypothetical meaning
Aunque ("although / even if") takes the indicative when the situation is a known fact, but the subjunctive when it is hypothetical or contested. English speakers default to indicative.
Aunque llueva, vamos a salir.
Even if it rains (hypothetical), we're going out.
❌ Aunque es difícil, lo voy a hacer.
Correct if you mean 'it is (known to be) difficult.' If you mean 'even if it should prove difficult,' use the subjunctive:
✅ Aunque sea difícil, lo voy a hacer.
Even if it's difficult, I'm going to do it.
Quick summary table
| Trigger | Example (correct) | Why subjunctive |
|---|---|---|
| Querer que | Quiero que vengas. | Wish affecting another subject |
| Esperar que | Espero que llegue. | Uncertain hope |
| Dudar que / no creer que | Dudo que sepa. | Doubt / negation of belief |
| Es importante que | Es importante que estudies. | Impersonal necessity |
| Adjective clause (unknown) | Busco un libro que sea barato. | Antecedent not specific |
| Cuando + future | Cuando venga mañana. | Future reference |
| Para que | Te llamo para que sepas. | Purpose (always) |
| Alegrarse de que | Me alegro de que estés aquí. | Emotional reaction |
| Recomendar que | Te recomiendo que leas. | Recommendation / request |
| Antes de que | Llegó antes de que saliéramos. | Always subjunctive |
See also
Related Topics
- Subjunctive Triggers OverviewB1 — An overview of the WEIRDO categories that introduce the subjunctive in Spanish dependent clauses.
- Subjunctive vs Indicative: Key ContrastsB2 — Side-by-side comparisons of the indicative and subjunctive in Spanish across the most common triggers.
- Wishes and Desires (Querer que, Esperar que)B1 — Use the subjunctive after verbs of wish, hope, and desire when the subject changes.
- Doubt and Denial (Dudar que, No creer que)B1 — Expressions of doubt, disbelief, and denial that require the present subjunctive in Spanish.
- Emotions (Alegrarse de que, Sentir que)B1 — Use the subjunctive after main clauses that express an emotional reaction to another subject's actions or states.
- Subjunctive in Adjective ClausesB2 — Using the present subjunctive to describe unknown, hypothetical, or nonexistent people and things.
- Adverbial: Time (Cuando, Hasta que)B2 — Time conjunctions that take the subjunctive when referring to future events in Spanish.