Irregular present subjunctives

The rule from The present subjunctive: forms (yo form, drop -o, opposite vowel) covers most verbs. This lesson covers the three groups where you need something extra.

1. Stem-changing verbs

Verbs that change their stem in the present (Stem-changing verbs e → ie (querer, empezar), Stem-changing verbs o → ue, u → ue (poder, jugar), Stem-changing verbs e → i (pedir, repetir)) change in the same places in the subjunctive: every person except nosotros and vosotros.

-ir stem-changers have an extra twist: nosotros and vosotros get a small change too (e → i, o → u), the same one you saw in the preterite pidió, durmió (Preterite stem and spelling changes: pidió, durmió, busqué, leyó).

Like dormir: morir. Like sentir: preferir, divertirse, mentir. Like pedir (i everywhere): repetir, servir, seguir, vestirse.

• Espero que duermas bien esta noche.I hope you sleep well tonight.
• Quiero que volváis antes de las diez.I want you to come back before ten.
• Prefiero que no juguéis en la calle.I'd rather you didn't play in the street.

2. Spelling changes

The subjunctive swaps the vowel, and Spanish spelling has to protect the sound of the consonant before it. These are the same changes as in the preterite yo form (busqué, llegué, empecé):

• Necesito que alguien me explique esto.I need someone to explain this to me.
• Es mejor que empecemos ya.It's better if we start now.

3. The six true irregulars

Six verbs do not follow the yo rule (their yo forms don't end in -o, or are too short). Learn them as a set:

Dé (subjunctive of dar) has an accent to distinguish it from the preposition de (of, from). Esté differs from este (this) and está (is). Haya is the subjunctive of hay: Ojalá haya sitio = I hope there's room.

• Ojalá haya entradas para el concierto.I hope there are tickets for the concert.
• Es posible que esté en casa de su novia.It's possible he's at his girlfriend's.
• No quiero que vayas sola.I don't want you to go alone.
• Espero que seáis muy felices.I hope you'll be very happy.
• Dudo que sepa la respuesta.I doubt she knows the answer.
• Dile que nos dé su número.Tell him to give us his number.

Latin America

Same forms everywhere, with ustedes forms for every plural "you": Quiero que vuelvan antes de las diez.

Common mistakes

• Dormamos, pedamos: -ir stem-changers keep a small change in nosotros: durmamos, pidamos.
• Piensemos, vuelvamos: -ar and -er stem-changers do not change in nosotros/vosotros: pensemos, volvamos.
• Busce, llege, empieze: spelling changes protect the sound: busque, llegue, empiece.
• Que voy, que soy, que sé after quiero que or ojalá: vaya, sea, sepa.
• Quiero que me de: the subjunctive of dar is dé, with an accent.