Impersonal expressions of the form es + adjective/noun + que are one of the most reliable triggers of the subjunctive in Spanish. The structure looks innocuous — it's just es importante que…, es necesario que… — but it forces the subordinate verb into the subjunctive whenever the expression evaluates, judges, or recommends rather than asserts a fact. This page covers the family of impersonals that take the subjunctive, the smaller but critical family that takes the indicative, and the slippery middle ground.
Why impersonals trigger the subjunctive
The pattern is not arbitrary. When you say es importante que estudies, you are not reporting a fact about the world — you are passing a judgment on a hypothetical action (your studying). The action exists in the realm of evaluation, not assertion. Spanish uses the subjunctive precisely to mark this: the subordinate verb refers to something that is being judged, wished for, recommended, or emotionally appraised, rather than something the speaker is claiming to be true.
English collapses this distinction. "It's important that you study" and "It's true that you study" look syntactically identical to an English speaker — both use the bare indicative study. Spanish keeps them apart. The first is a value judgment (subjunctive); the second is an assertion of fact (indicative).
The subjunctive-triggering impersonals
These are the workhorse phrases. They all share one property: they evaluate or recommend rather than assert.
| Expression | English | Type |
|---|---|---|
| es importante que | it's important that | evaluation |
| es necesario que | it's necessary that | necessity |
| es bueno que | it's good that | evaluation |
| es malo que | it's bad that | evaluation |
| es mejor que | it's better that | recommendation |
| es peor que | it's worse that | evaluation |
| es lógico que | it makes sense that | evaluation |
| es natural que | it's natural that | evaluation |
| es raro que | it's strange that | evaluation |
| es una pena que | it's a shame that | emotion |
| es triste que | it's sad that | emotion |
| es increíble que | it's incredible that | emotion |
| hace falta que | it's needed that | necessity |
| conviene que | it's advisable that | recommendation |
| está bien que | it's fine that | evaluation |
| vale la pena que | it's worth it that | evaluation |
| basta con que | it's enough that | sufficiency |
| puede que | it may be that | possibility |
Es importante que estudiéis para el examen del lunes.
It's important that you (all) study for Monday's exam.
Hace falta que nos pongamos de acuerdo antes de la reunión.
We need to get on the same page before the meeting.
Es una pena que no puedas venir a la boda.
It's a shame you can't come to the wedding.
Conviene que llames al médico cuanto antes.
You should call the doctor as soon as possible.
Notice the peninsular vosotros form estudiéis in the first example. In Spain, second-person plural in the subjunctive uses ‑éis (‑ar verbs) or ‑áis (‑er/‑ir verbs) — always with the accent on the penultimate vowel.
Evaluation of past actions: the perfect subjunctive
When the impersonal evaluates an action that has already happened, Spanish uses the perfect subjunctive (haya + past participle), not the present.
Es increíble que hayan ganado el partido sin su delantero estrella.
It's incredible they won the match without their star forward.
Es una pena que no hayáis llegado a tiempo para los entrantes.
It's a shame you didn't get there in time for the starters.
The impersonals that take the INDICATIVE
This is the trap. A second family of impersonals — those that assert truth or certainty — takes the indicative when affirmative. These look syntactically identical to the subjunctive triggers, which is why English speakers consistently use the wrong mood after them.
| Expression | English | Mood (affirmative) |
|---|---|---|
| es verdad que | it's true that | indicative |
| es cierto que | it's certain that | indicative |
| es evidente que | it's evident that | indicative |
| es obvio que | it's obvious that | indicative |
| está claro que | it's clear that | indicative |
| es seguro que | it's certain that | indicative |
| es indudable que | it's undeniable that | indicative |
| resulta que | it turns out that | indicative |
Es verdad que el alquiler en Madrid está por las nubes.
It's true that rent in Madrid is through the roof.
Está claro que no nos vamos a poner de acuerdo.
It's clear we're not going to reach an agreement.
Es evidente que has estado llorando.
It's obvious you've been crying.
The logic: these expressions don't evaluate — they assert that the subordinate clause is a fact. "It's true that X" presupposes X is true. The speaker is committing to the reality of the proposition, so Spanish uses the indicative.
The polarity flip
Here is where it gets subtle. When you negate one of these certainty expressions, the assertion disappears — and the subjunctive comes back.
No es verdad que el alquiler esté bajando.
It's not true that rent is going down.
No está claro que vayan a aprobar la ley.
It's not clear they're going to pass the law.
No es evidente que haya mentido.
It's not obvious he lied.
When there's no specific subject: the infinitive option
When the impersonal is not directed at anyone in particular — when you're making a general statement that applies to people in general — Spanish drops the que and uses the infinitive instead.
Es importante estudiar todos los días.
It's important to study every day.
Hace falta tener mucha paciencia con los niños.
You need to have a lot of patience with kids.
Es mejor no decir nada que mentir.
It's better to say nothing than to lie.
Compare this with the que + subjunctive structure, which targets a specific person:
Es importante que estudies todos los días.
It's important that *you* study every day.
The infinitive is generic. The subjunctive with que is directed. Both are correct, but they mean slightly different things — choose based on whether you have a specific subject in mind.
Doubt and possibility: puede que, es posible que
The expressions of possibility deserve their own mention because they are very high frequency in everyday Spanish.
Puede que llueva esta tarde, mejor lleva paraguas.
It might rain this afternoon — better take an umbrella.
Es posible que no lleguemos a tiempo, hay mucho tráfico.
We might not make it on time, there's a lot of traffic.
Es probable que cancelen el vuelo por la huelga.
They'll probably cancel the flight because of the strike.
Note that a lo mejor — another very common Spanish way of saying "maybe" — does the opposite. It takes the indicative:
A lo mejor llueve esta tarde.
Maybe it'll rain this afternoon.
There is no logical shortcut here — a lo mejor is the odd one out and you simply have to remember it.
Common mistakes
❌ Es importante que estudias para el examen.
Incorrect — 'estudias' is indicative; this expression requires subjunctive.
✅ Es importante que estudies para el examen.
It's important that you study for the exam.
This is the cardinal English-speaker error. English uses the bare form ("that you study") which looks identical to the Spanish indicative estudias. You must consciously override it to estudies.
❌ Es verdad que tengas razón.
Incorrect — 'es verdad que' asserts truth, so it takes indicative.
✅ Es verdad que tienes razón.
It's true that you're right.
Once learners discover the impersonal-subjunctive rule, they often over-apply it to certainty expressions. Remember: es verdad que, es cierto que, está claro que all take the indicative when affirmative.
❌ No creo que es importante que vienes.
Incorrect — both clauses need the subjunctive.
✅ No creo que sea importante que vengas.
I don't think it's important for you to come.
When an impersonal is itself embedded under another subjunctive trigger like no creo que, both verbs need to be in the subjunctive. The subjunctive trigger cascades downward.
❌ Hace falta que ir al médico.
Incorrect — you can't follow 'que' with an infinitive.
✅ Hace falta ir al médico.
One needs to go to the doctor. (generic)
✅ Hace falta que vayas al médico.
You need to go to the doctor. (specific)
If you want a generic statement, drop que entirely and use the infinitive. If you want a directed one, use que + subjunctive. Never use que + infinitive.
❌ Puede que vendrá mañana.
Incorrect — 'puede que' requires subjunctive, not future indicative.
✅ Puede que venga mañana.
He might come tomorrow.
The future tense is indicative. Puede que is incompatible with it. To express future possibility, use the present subjunctive.
Key takeaways
- Impersonal expressions of evaluation, judgment, recommendation, necessity, emotion, or possibility trigger the subjunctive.
- Impersonal expressions of certainty or assertion of fact take the indicative when affirmative — but flip to subjunctive when negated.
- For generic statements (no specific subject), drop que and use the infinitive.
- Puede que is your everyday "maybe" — always subjunctive. A lo mejor is the spoken alternative — always indicative.
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