You already know that verbs expressing emotions, desires, and intentions trigger the subjunctive when two different people are involved (e.g., Quiero que vayas — I want you to go).
However, when you are talking about your own desires or feelings regarding your own actions—meaning the subject does not change—you drop the que and use the infinitive (the unconjugated dictionary form of the verb).
| I intend to develop a new skill this year. | Pretendo desarrollar una nueva habilidad este año. |
| He yearns to develop his skills, so he studies a lot. | Él anhela desarrollar sus habilidades, así que estudia mucho. |
Notice how in these sentences, the person intending or yearning is the exact same person performing the action. Because there is no subject change, the infinitive is required.
Verbs with Prepositions
When setting goals or trying to improve yourself, you will often use verbs of emotion and effort. Keep in mind that some of these verbs require specific prepositions before the infinitive.
For example, arrepentirse (to regret) is always followed by de, and esforzarse (to strive) is always followed by por.
| I regret having this bad habit. | Me arrepiento de tener este vicio. |
| I regret not having the skill, therefore I practice. | Me arrepiento de no tener la habilidad, por lo tanto practico. |
| I strive to develop a new project. | Me esfuerzo por desarrollar un nuevo proyecto. |
Whether you are talking about developing your willpower (la voluntad), breaking a bad habit (el vicio), or sticking to a resolution (el propósito), the rule remains the same: one subject means one conjugated verb followed by an infinitive.
| She strives to have more willpower. | Ella se esfuerza por tener más voluntad. |
| Since I want to improve, I intend to have more willpower. | Como quiero mejorar, pretendo tener más voluntad. |