Common Subjunctive Mistakes and How to Fix Them Easily

The subjunctive? A challenge every Spanish learner faces. But just like learning to ride a bike, once you get it, you never forget it. Join us on this journey and you'll see—with enough practice, you'll master it.

In this article, I’ll show you the most common mistakes with the Spanish subjunctive and teach you how to avoid them.

What is the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive is one of the Spanish verb moods, used to talk about situations that are not concrete or real—like wishes, doubts, hypotheses, or future actions that depend on something else. Unlike the indicative, which expresses real and certain facts, the subjunctive is used when we want to speak about something uncertain or subjective.

Uncertainty doesn’t have to get the best of you—here are some tips to avoid common subjunctive mistakes. Let’s get started!

1. The Big Confusion: Indicative vs. Subjunctive

Subjunctive mistakes often happen when it’s confused with the indicative. This can completely change the meaning of a sentence. So how do you avoid this mix-up?

Think of them as two different worlds:

• The indicative is concrete, real, certain.
  
  
• The subjunctive reflects what we don’t know for sure.

Indicative: El viento sopla fuerte – The wind blows strongly
Subjunctive: Es posible que el viento sople fuerte mañana – It’s possible that the wind will blow strongly tomorrow

Golden Rule: If you're expressing wishes, doubts, or possibilities, use the subjunctive.

2. The Subjunctive in Conditionals: A Classic Slip-Up

Conditional phrases can be tricky. When you’re talking about hypothetical situations, you need the subjunctive in the first part of the sentence:

❌ Si me ganaría la lotería, compraría una casa.
✅ Si me ganara la lotería, compraría una casa. – If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.

A trick: Think of it like a science fiction movie. If you’re describing an alternate universe (hypothetical), you need the subjunctive.

3. Relative Clauses: The Undefined World

The subjunctive shows up when we talk about something undefined or nonexistent.

❌ Vi una película que sea interesante.
✅ Quiero ver una película que sea interesante. – I want to watch a movie that is interesting.

Practical Rule: If the person or thing you're mentioning is uncertain, use the subjunctive.

4. Subjunctive in Time Clauses: The Uncertain Future

When talking about the future, the subjunctive reigns.

❌ Cuando llegas, empezamos la reunión.
✅ Cuando llegues, empezaremos la reunión. – When you arrive, we will start the meeting.

Tip: If the action takes place in the future and depends on another action, use the subjunctive.

5. Impersonal Expressions: The Subjunctive is a Must

When using phrases like "es importante que", "es necesario que", or "es posible que", the subjunctive is required.

❌ Es posible que ella llega tarde.
✅ Es posible que ella llegue tarde. – It’s possible that she will arrive late.

Key Tip: If the sentence introduces an opinion or possibility, use the subjunctive.

Key Conjugations for Your Spanish

One of the most common mistakes with the subjunctive is forgetting the correct conjugation. So here’s a list of verbs with their indicative and subjunctive forms—to make your life easier!

Now some examples:

• Estar
  Indicative: Estoy feliz – I am happy
  Subjunctive: Espero que él esté feliz – I hope he is happy
  
  
• Ir
  Indicative: Tú vas a la reunión – You are going to the meeting
  Subjunctive: No creo que tú vayas a la reunión – I don’t think you will go to the meeting
  
  
• Tener
  Indicative: Tengo tiempo – I have time
  Subjunctive: Dudo que tengas tiempo – I doubt you have time
  
  
• Haber
  Indicative: He comido – I have eaten
  Subjunctive: Es posible que haya comido – It’s possible that I have eaten
  
  
• Saber
  Indicative: Sé cómo hacerlo – I know how to do it
  Subjunctive: Tal vez sepa cómo hacerlo – Maybe he/she knows how to do it
  
  
• Dar
  Indicative: Doy regalos – I give gifts
  Subjunctive: Espero que me des un regalo – I hope you give me a gift

Master the Subjunctive

We’ve looked at some of the most common subjunctive mistakes and how to fix them. Today, we’ve demystified the subjunctive—a key part of sounding like a native Spanish speaker. Even if it feels tricky at first, with practice and patience, you’ll feel more and more comfortable using it to express wishes, doubts, and possibilities.

At WorldsAcross, we’re here to make your learning journey smoother and show you how to tackle even the most complex parts of Spanish. That’s why we created this guide on common subjunctive errors and how to avoid them.

Our personal advice: Don’t let mistakes hold you back—they’re part of the process. Look on the bright side. Keep practicing, stay curious, and soon enough, your Spanish will become more accurate and authentic.

Count on us to help you improve your Spanish every single day.