How To Use The Subjunctive Tense In Spanish When Expressing Opinions

Today we are going to take another look at how to use the subjunctive tense in Spanish when expressing opinions. As many grammarians will insist, the subjunctive is actually a "mood" as opposed to a tense. The subjunctive tense or mood in Spanish is very useful for expressing opinions although this doesn't mean we always have to use it to express opinions. For example we use the Indicative with:

Para m? (For me)
En mi opini?n (In my opinion)
Desde mi punto de vista (From my point of view)
Also, some phrases need Indicative when they are affirmative:
Me parece que (I think that)
Creo que (I think /believe that)
Pienso que (I think that)

But the same phrases need Subjunctive when they are negative:

No me parece que (I don't think that)
No creo que (I don't think/believe that)
No pienso que (I don't think that)

So, let's imagine that on a T.V show some people are arguing about living in:

"El campo o la ciudad"(" The Country or The City")

Juan: "Yo creo que la ciudad es muy estresante, y lo mejor es vivir en el campo" (I think the city is very stressful, and it is best to live in the country)
Cecilia: "No me parece que vivir en el campo sea la mejor opci?n, porque hay pocas oportunidades laborales" (I do not think that living in the country is the best option, because there are few job opportunities)
Eduardo: "Pienso que el campo te da la satisfacci?n de una vida tranquila, mejor calidad de vida, no creo que el dinero y el trabajo sean lo m?s importante en la vida". (I think the country gives you the satisfaction of a quiet life, better quality of life; I do not think money and work are the most important things in life)

In addition to expressing opinions in a personal way, the subjunctive allows us to express impersonal views.

Es bueno que (It's good that)
Es malo que (It's bad that)
Es importante que (It's important that)
Es terrible que (It's terrible that)
Es triste que (It's sad that)
There are some exceptions that need Indicative:
Es verdad que (It's true that)
Es l?gico que (It's logical that)
Est? claro que (It's clear that)
Es obvio que (It's obvious that)

But be careful, these 4 structures need subjunctive if they are negative. Lets get back to our conversation about living in the "Country or City".

Juan: "Es importante que cualquier persona viva en un entorno saludable, de aire puro y sin ruidos molestos" (It is important that everyone lives in a healthy environment, with clean air and undisturbed by noise)
Eduardo: "Es triste que la gente se vuelva ego?sta en la ciudad" (It's sad that people become selfish in the city)
Cecilia: "No es verdad que la ciudad est? llena de gente ego?sta, es obvio que hay mucha competencia y hay mucha m?s diferencia de personalidades que en el campo" (It is not true that the city is full of selfish people, it is obvious that there is a lot of competition and there is much more of a difference of personalities than in the country.)

For further practice with Spanish's subjunctive the most helpful tools are Learning Spanish Like Crazy Level 2, FSI Spanish Level 2 and the Spanish Subjunctive Up Close by Eric Vogt, Ph.D.

Translation: Is It a Science or an Art?

How to Learn a Language Fast: Defining Fluency Goals

How To Form The Progressive Tense In Spanish or Gerunds In The Spanish Language

This lesson covers how to form the progressive tense in Spanish or how to form gerunds in the Spanish language. A gerund in English is when we add an "ing" to a verb. For example, "I went dancing" or "I am reading."

In Spanish, the Gerund is used in many of the same instances it is used in English, but sometimes in Spanish we used the infinitive of a verb instead. For example "I love dancing/ Amo bailar." As you can see in this example, in English we use the Gerund (dancing) but in Spanish we use the infinitive (bailar).

Let's look at some more examples of when we have to use Gerund in Spanish.

When we are speaking about an action in process:

"Los empleados est?n trabajando en la oficina en este momento". (The employees are working in the office in this moment)
"Me estaba duchando cuando se cort? el agua". (I was taking a shower when the water stopped.)
It is also possible to use it in the Preterite tense. In this case, the gerund put emphasis on the action.
"Ayer estuve limpiando la casa todo el d?a". (Yesterday I was cleaning the house all day.)
We use gerunds when we are speaking about manner or mood.
"Juan pas? el examen estudiando mucho". (Juan passed the exam by studying hard)
"Voy a la escuela caminando todos los d?as". (I walk to school every day)

Also, we use gerund with conditions:

"Haciendo ejercicio, bajar?s de peso". (Doing exercise, you will lose weight)
"Ahorrando dinero, podremos ir a Europa". (Saving money, we will go to Europe)
With simultaneous Actions:
"Estudio tomando mate" (I study while drinking mate)
"Ellas trabajan escuchando la radio". (They work listening the radio)

We can also use it to speak about Time Duration (with "Llevar"):

"Llevo d?as pensando en ese problema" (I have been thinking for days about that problem)
"Anita lleva 5 meses comiendo verduras". (Anita has been eating vegetables for 5 months)

As you can see, the use of "Gerundio" in Spanish is similar to its use in English, but with some notable instances where it is used differently. Hopefully this exercise will help you utilize the use of gerundio in Spanish more effectively. Remember to practice whenever you can.

Some other tools that I recommend for the serious student of the Spanish language are Breaking Out of Beginner Spanish (available at Amazon.com) and the Verbarrator software which covers conjugating Spanish verbs in all of the various tenses including the progressive tense or gerunds.