Don't Worry About The Spanish Subjunctive, Here's Why

[@SpanishWithNate.]

Click here for my free Spanish course! 🎉 spanishwithnate.com/

[@SpanishwithSam]

Cool program bth great job, 👍 nate 😎 ❤

[@mexicanfluency]

Really good lesson, amigo. This is definitely a challenging subject for all of my students - will be sharing this!

[@isaaclipham2715]

Great info here. It wasn't until after about 3 years of exposing myself to content in Spanish that I sat down and really studied the subjunctive grammar. Way easier to learn that way lol

[@msmendes214]

Yeah, I'm 3 yrs into studying & even on duolingo, they are just starting to introduce it to me now.

[@Scooter1E]

Great video!!!! Please do more videos like this... basically with common sentences people would say. (for example: I wished they had arrived on time!) Thanks in advance!

[@CalvinLimuel]

Fun fact, we also have a subjunctive in English, "It's important that he study", and study is not conjugated. idk if that helps. Also drilling type 2/3 conditionals might help.

[@BrianQuail]

@@CalvinLimuel And it sounds normal, correct... But to me it does not sound wrong to alternatively say “it is important that he studies.” (It may be wrong, however.) In contrast saying “he study French” while understandable feels jarring.

[@dr.joshuacastillo7678]

This is good stuff and speaks truth. I make mistakes all the time, however, by being "pretty close" in many instances, the point is understood. The only time I'd recommend keeping your spanish crisp and on point is when talking to someone who's speaking professional all the time such as a Spanish teacher, Politician, Medical professional, etc. However, amongst laypeople, it's free game. On the contrary, many spanish speakers that I've spoken with make intentional mistakes with their vocabulary as well and we are all on the same page at the end of the day : D. It gets even more fun when Spanglish starts to happen.

[@brayandominguezramirez4848]

I'm a native spanish speaker, even so i didn't know some things you mentioned jeje, it just sounds natural to me the subjunctive, great video

[@deborahsearle2339]

Me gustó esta lección. La explicó muy bien. Gracias!

[@catboy721]

Nate, I don’t think mnemonics are designed to be used in real time speech. They’re just tools for studying and grasping new concepts. If WEIRDO helps, so be it, right?

[@hanslueschen5190]

Right on Nate

[@Shiggysho]

solid explanation

[@isaaclipham2715]

first comment?

[@Pewtah]

Thanks for that pretty simple rule of thumb. In other words (latín) : In dubio pro subjunctivo.

[@tanizaki]

"oh well, you'll still be understood" is horrible advice. We wouldn't say to someone learning English, "don't bother with irregular verbs - people will understand you just fine if you say, 'I goed to the store and buyed some groceries."

[@SpanishWithNate.]

I respectfully disagree! I understand your point, but I think you missed the idea and possibly didn't watch the entire video. The specific example you provided is exactly what I'm advocating students learn first (important concepts like irregular verbs, preterite vs imperfect, key vocabulary...) before moving on to the subjunctive mood. It's more important (in my opinion) to get down other concepts that will have a greater impact on your ability to have conversations than working on the subjunctive mood early o. Students should still learn the subjunctive of course, but later on during the learning process. Thank you for your comment and for watching the video! Saludos.

[@alexartamonov2010]

Analogy is not a good way to prove your point. Using incorrect regular forms of English verbs instead of the correct ones is not the same as using indicative mood instead of subjunctive in Spanish. It definitely sounds worse. Using subjuntivo is much more subtle and advanced thing.

[@tanizaki]

@@alexartamonov2010 > incorrect forms of English is not the same as using indicative instead of subjunctive To the extent there is such a thing as “incorrect” in language, both are equally incorrect. It is only “subtle and advanced” to you as a non-native. The difference between “Espero que no llueva” and “Espero que no llueve” is not subtle or advanced. It’s that one is correct and the other is not.

[@alexartamonov2010]

@@tanizaki I get your point. You defy the existence of grades in difficulty and importance for different features of the language. So for you every incorrect form is just as wrong as another incorrect form. Yeah, it may be so - according to the formal binary logic. But we're talking communication here. It's much more complicated than formal logic. And the analogy IS considered a weak argument in a discussion. It's not just my opinion.

[@tanizaki]

@@alexartamonov2010 Then let’s not be binary. Can you argue why “espero que no llueve” is a more “subtle and advanced” error than saying “God blesses America!”?

[@ZhivagoDoctor]

Terrible advice !

[@scotthullinger4684]

Telling someone to study only the subjunctive mood in Spanish is just as stupid as saying that it's best to learn ONLY the preterite form of verbs, rather than also the imperfect forms. Some things absolutely can't be communicated unless the proper verb form is used. Try saying THIS in Spanish without using the subjunctive - "I want you to do this for me." A direct translation: It can't be done without the subjunctive. "Quiero que me hagas esto." Yes, that's a direct translation - Hey, and even if native speakers will still understand you when you don't use the subjunctive, well ... it's not good for your ongoing learning simply because you'd actually be practicing an incorrect form, and then your brain would need to learn how to shift gears again when you actually DO comprehend the subjunctive mood more deeply. It's also used in English, although perhaps not as often. But here's a memorable sample in English - A song from a movie, and the lyrics are as follows: "If I were a rich man ... " The word "were" is used in the subjunctive form because you're expressing something which is contrary to fact - You're actually NOT rich. I was a Spanish teacher. I lived in Argentina. I have a university degree in Spanish. I know damn well what I'm talking about. And the BEST advice anyone can get is to actually LEARN the subjunctive mood deeply ... and then actually use it in your speech when the situation demands. Nate, you're very skilled. But you sure as hell DON'T know everything, as you seem to pretend.

[@alexartamonov2010]

Clearly you meant "indicative" in the first sentence, not "subjunctive".

[@scotthullinger4684]

@@alexartamonov2010 - No, quite wrong: I said what I meant - The problem with much of the erroneous instruction is that some of the so-called "teachers" don't know the difference between various verb tenses, or at least, they don't know the proper associated vocabulary. It's apples and oranges to them. In Spanish - just as in English - it is BEST to learn and properly comprehend the use of ALL verb forms. It's surely useful to know what the verb tenses are called, but it's not absolutely necessary in order to speak properly. After all ... infants eventually learn how to speak properly without knowing that grammar is actually grammar.

[@alexartamonov2010]

@@scotthullinger4684 I never said students shouldn't learn the proper grammar and train to use it. You get me wrong in that. In fact I personally prefer Qroo Paul's approach: learn subjuntivo as soon as you can. What I said is giving examples from a different language is not always a good idea to prove a point ("it's the same as..."). "God bless America " vs "God blesses America " are clearly different messages, while "espero que mañana no lleva" vs "espero que mañana no lleve " not so much so - especially said by a foreigner with mediocre command of Spanish.

[@scotthullinger4684]

@@alexartamonov2010 - Well, you're wrong right there: The best way to teach a language - and yes, I've actually been a public school Spanish teacher - is to offer examples in the native language of the student in order to help them comprehend the equivalent in the foreign language, if any such equivalent actually exists. True enough for Spanish and English. But I'm not so sure about Chinese. LOL - And if you're actually trying to say "I hope it does not rain" ... then the proper thing to say is ... "Espero que no llueva." Rather than what you said there. You both spelled it wrong, and you also got the wrong verb tense. "God bless America" = "Que Dios bendiga a America." It sure as hell does NOT mean "God blesses America." Comparing those is a BAD example precisely because they DO NOT mean the same thing. Saying "God bless America" is a plea to God to bless America. That fact alone requires the subjunctive mood of the verb. A possible equivalent would be ... "May God bless America." Offering examples from a different language is absolutely THE BEST way to explain it! For example ... "Que Dios bendiga America." A very good complete translation of the intended meaning is ... "May God bless America." It's the same as saying "God bless America" in English. It's not a command. We aren't commanding God to bless America. It's a request. And a request requires the SUBJUNCTIVE mood of the verb. The same for a command.

[@alexartamonov2010]

@@scotthullinger4684 too long - and at the very beginning it's obvious you don't even try to understand what I'm saying. You're tweaking my argument. Ok, let's leave it there. And yes , I did spell it wrong - it happens.