Spanish Subjunctive vs. Indicative: Key Differences and When to Use Each

One of the most challenging aspects of learning Spanish is understanding when to use the subjunctive and when to use the indicative. These are both verb moods, but they serve different purposes. In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences, provide clear examples, and give you practical tips to master their use!

What Is the Indicative Mood?

The indicative mood is the one we use to talk about facts, realities, and actions that are happening or have happened. If something is real and certain, it’s all about the indicative. It’s used all the time in everyday conversations.

When to Use the Indicative

Facts and Certainty: When something is real and confirmed.
- El agua hierve a 100 grados Celsius. (Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.)
Completed Actions: When referring to events that have already happened.
- Ayer fuimos al cine. (Yesterday, we went to the cinema.)
Scheduled or Certain Future Actions: When an event is planned and certain to happen.
- Mañana tengo una reunión a las 10. (Tomorrow, I have a meeting at 10.)

Examples of the Indicative Mood

Present: Yo hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
Past: Nosotros comimos pizza ayer. (We ate pizza yesterday.)
Future: Ellos viajarán a Madrid la próxima semana. (They will travel to Madrid next week.)

What Is the Subjunctive Mood?

The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations. Unlike the indicative, the subjunctive does not describe reality as it is but rather possibilities, desires, or uncertainties.

When to Use the Subjunctive

Wishes and Desires: Expressing hopes or preferences.
- Espero que tengas un buen día. (I hope you have a great day.)
Doubt or Uncertainty: When something is not confirmed or certain.
- No creo que él venga hoy. (I don’t think he is coming today.)
Hypothetical Situations: Expressing unreal or imagined conditions.
- Si tuviera dinero, viajaría a París. (If I had money, I would travel to Paris.)

Examples of the Subjunctive Mood

Wish: Ojalá que llueva mañana. (I hope it rains tomorrow.)
Doubt: Es posible que ella venga a la fiesta. (It’s possible that she’ll come to the party.)
Hypothesis: Si tuviera dinero, viajaría a París. (If I had money, I would travel to Paris.)

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Key Differences Between the Indicative and Subjunctive

Situation	Indicative	Subjunctive
Certainty	Sé que es verdad. (I know it’s true.)	No creo que sea verdad. (I don’t think it’s true.)
Objective Fact	El sol brilla en verano. (The sun shines in summer.)	Espero que el sol brille mañana. (I hope the sun shines tomorrow.)
Hypothetical	Voy al cine si tengo tiempo. (I go to the cinema if I have time.)	Iré al cine aunque tenga poco tiempo. (I will go to the cinema even if I have little time.)

Common Expressions That Trigger the Subjunctive

Some expressions are commonly followed by the subjunctive, especially when expressing desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty:

Es importante que… (It’s important that…)
Ojalá que… (Hopefully…)
No creo que… (I don’t think that…)
Es posible que… (It’s possible that…)
Quiero que… (I want that…)

Common Expressions That Trigger the Indicative

When expressing certainty, factual statements, or objective reality, the indicative is typically used:

Es cierto que… (It’s certain that…)
Estoy seguro de que… (I’m sure that…)
Es obvio que… (It’s obvious that…)
No hay duda de que… (There is no doubt that…)

Practical Tips to Master the Subjunctive and Indicative

Practice with real-life sentences: Pay attention to how native speakers use these moods.
Memorize trigger words: Recognizing phrases that typically require the subjunctive or indicative can help you decide quickly.
Use interactive exercises: Online quizzes and grammar drills can reinforce the rules.
Listen and read in Spanish: Exposure to authentic Spanish content (books, podcasts, movies) will help you internalize correct usage.
Don’t stress over mistakes! Learning takes time, and practice makes perfect!

Quick Exercise!

Fill in the blanks with either the indicative or the subjunctive:

Es cierto que Juan __________ (tener) una reunión mañana.
Ojalá que tú __________ (pasar) el examen.
Creo que ella __________ (llegar) tarde.
Es obvio que ellos __________ (trabajar) mucho para el proyecto.
Espero que tú __________ (venir) a la fiesta.
Aunque me __________ (gustar) mucho, no puedo ir al concierto.
Aunque me __________ (gustar) mucho, no puedo ir al concierto.

Still Have Questions?

If you’re still a bit confused or have any doubts, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re here to help you with anything you need. Just drop us a message, and we’ll guide you through it!

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Who wrote this post?

Small school,
big learning.

We are CactusBCN Languages, a Spanish language school located in Barcelona.

In March 2020, the pandemic situation encouraged us to start teaching online. All our students were happy with this change so we will keep teaching online for a while 🙂

The school was founded and is run by enthusiastic teachers. Our team was teaching Spanish around the world for a few years and when we came back to Spain, we decided to start our own school.

It is a small local business. We work with small groups because we like to get to know all our students and design personalized lessons.

We are looking forward to meeting you in class!

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Online classes are as fun as face-to-face classes but with the added benefits of online learning: