C1 · The subjunctive
Sequence of tenses in the subjunctive
The main clause decides which subjunctive follows — with exceptions that carry meaning.
At a glance
- Remember
- A present pulls the present subjunctive after it, a past the imperfect — and what is still ahead may stay in the present.
- Form
- Quiero que vengas.present: same time or later
- Signal words
- quiero que
- quería que
- me alegro de que
- me gustaría que
- me pidió que
- Trap
- Wrong:Quería que vengas a la fiesta, pero no viniste.Right:Quería que vinieras a la fiesta, pero no viniste.
Your turn
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The form
| present: same time or later | Quiero que vengas. |
| present: before | Me alegro de que hayas venido. |
| past: same time or later | Quería que vinieras. |
| past: before | Me alegré de que hubieras venido. |
| conditional | Me gustaría que vinieras. |
| exception: still ahead | Me pidió que lo llame mañana. |
| exception: past event after a present | No creo que lo supiera. |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
After a main clause in the present, the present subjunctive follows.
Te pido que me ayudes.I am asking you to help me.
After a past tense or the conditional, the imperfect subjunctive follows.
Le pedí que me ayudara.I asked him to help me.
If the event comes before the main clause, the compound form is used.
Me alegré de que hubieras aprobado.I was glad that you had passed.
What is still ahead may stay in the present after a past tense.
Me dijo que lo llame mañana.He told me to call him tomorrow.
Example sentences
Es importante que lo sepas.It is important that you know it.
Era importante que lo supieras.It was important that you knew it.
Me sorprende que no haya llamado.I am surprised that he has not called.
Me sorprendió que no hubiera llamado.I was surprised that he had not called.
6 more example sentences
Te he dicho que no toques eso.I have told you not to touch that.
Nos pidieron que llegáramos temprano.They asked us to arrive early.
No creo que lo hiciera a propósito.I do not think he did it on purpose.
Sería mejor que habláramos en persona.It would be better if we talked in person.
Me extrañó que no hubieras dicho nada.I was surprised that you had not said anything.
Les dije que vengan mañana a las diez.I told them to come tomorrow at ten.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
After a main clause in the past, the subordinate clause stays in the present, because «I wanted you to come» shows no tense once it has become an infinitive. Quería que vengas only works in Spanish if the coming is still ahead. If the matter is over, it is Quería que vinieras.
The full explanation
Read it all · about 1 min
Four forms of the subjunctive are available in the subordinate clause, and which one it is depends on two questions. What tense is the main clause in? And does the event in the subordinate clause happen at the same time, after it or before it?
If the main clause is in the present, the future, the perfecto or the imperative, the present subjunctive follows for what is simultaneous or later, the perfect subjunctive for what came before: Me alegro de que vengas, Me alegro de que hayas venido. If it is in a past tense or the conditional, the imperfect subjunctive follows, and the pluperfect for what came before: Me alegré de que vinieras, Me alegré de que hubieras venido. English mostly hides all this behind an infinitive — «I wanted you to come» — so there is no English habit to lean on.
The rule is a habit, not a law. If the content of the subordinate clause still holds now or still lies ahead, the present can follow a past: Me pidió que lo llame mañana — the call has not happened yet. The other way round, the imperfect can follow a present when the event is over: No creo que lo supiera.
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