Subjunctive vs Infinitive

Many of the verbs and expressions that trigger the subjunctive don't take it when both clauses share the same subject. Instead, Spanish uses the infinitive. This is one of the most important simplifications in the language: you do not need a subordinate que-clause if there's no change of subject.

The core rule

• Different subjects → que + subjunctive
• Same subject → infinitive (no que)

The first sentence has a single subject ("I") for both actions, so Spanish uses the infinitive salir. The second has two different subjects ("I" wants, "you" leaves), so Spanish requires the full subjunctive clause que salgas.

Why Spanish works this way

English uses a very different strategy: it accepts the pattern "I want you to leave" with a subject pronoun directly followed by an infinitive ("you to leave"). Spanish flatly does not allow this. When there's a subject change, Spanish requires a full subordinate clause, introduced by que and with its verb conjugated.

Wrong: Quiero tú salir. Right: Quiero que salgas.

Conversely, when the subjects match, Spanish does not use que at all. It goes directly to the infinitive.

Verbs of wishing, hoping, and preferring

Verbs like querer, esperar, desear, preferir, necesitar follow this rule consistently.

Verbs of emotion

Emotional triggers like alegrarse de, sentir, tener miedo de, estar contento de also obey the same rule.

Notice the preposition de appears with the infinitive too, but que only shows up when there's a subject change.

Para vs. para que

The purpose conjunction para shows the same alternation. When the subject is the same, use para + infinitive. When it changes, use para que + subjunctive.

The same pattern applies to antes de / antes de que, sin / sin que, después de / después de que, and similar prepositions that have a que-form.

Impersonal expressions: both options often available

With impersonal expressions like es importante, es necesario, es bueno, Spanish allows either an infinitive (for a general statement) or a que-clause (when a specific subject is implied).

Both are grammatical. The infinitive version is more general and advice-like; the que-clause targets a particular person or group.

Verbs that always require que

A few verbs resist the infinitive shortcut because, by their nature, they always involve another person. Decirle a alguien que (to tell someone to), pedirle a alguien que (to ask someone to), and similar verbs of influence almost always appear with a que-clause and a different subject.

These verbs include an indirect object (le, les) that names the person being addressed, and the que-clause describes what that person should do.

Common mistake: forgetting the subject change rule

A very common error for English speakers is to write sentences like Quiero que salir or Espero llegues. These are ungrammatical. The first is wrong because que requires a conjugated verb after it, not an infinitive. The second is wrong because esperar with a subject change needs que.

For the broader picture, see the triggers overview.