When we introduce a sentence with a verb that expresses a wish or a feeling in Spanish, whether affirmative or negative, it is followed by the subjunctive. For example:
- "deseo que" (I wish that...)
- "me preocupa que..." (I worry that...)
- "prefiero que..." (I prefer that...)
Let's see some examples expressing "wish":
Let's see some examples expressing "feeling":
Here are some more common "wish" or "feeling" phrases which apply this rule:
- Me gusta que... (I like that...)
- No me gusta que... (I don't like that...)
- Me alegra que... (It makes me happy that...)
- No me molesta que... (It doesn't bother me that...)
- Me da igual que... (I don't care if...)
- No me importa que... (I don't mind if...)
- Me encanta que... (I love that...)
- Me impresiona que...(I'm impressed that...)
- Me sorprende que... (I'm surprised that...)
Have a look and listen to these examples:
Important
Notice how in all the sentences above the subject of the introductory phrase is not the same as the one in the subordinate phrase:
Te deseo que seas muy feliz en el futuro.
deseo = I wish / seas = you are
This condition must be met in order to use the subjunctive in sentences that express "wish" and "feeling".
However, if the subject is the same in the main and subordinate clause, we would use the infinitive (-ar, -er, -ir form) instead:
For example:
Deseo ser feliz en el futuro.
Notice there is no "que" in this case.
I wish to be happy in the future. (=I wish that I am happy in the future.)
See also:
- Using esperar que + present subjunctive in Spanish to express hope
- Using the Spanish subjunctive to express doubt or uncertainty
- Querer que followed by the Spanish present subjunctive (El Presente de Subjuntivo)
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