The Subjunctive Mood

Advanced English Grammar

The Subjunctive Mood in English

Guía visual completa para dominar el subjuntivo de presente y pasado

A diferencia del español, el subjuntivo en inglés no cambia las terminaciones de casi todos los verbos. Es una estructura formal que se limita a mantener el verbo en su forma más pura o usar el pasado para hipótesis.

🟢 1. El Subjuntivo de Presente

Mandatos y Consejos

Se utiliza tras verbos de sugerencia, recomendación o exigencia (suggest, recommend, demand, insist) seguidos de la partícula that.

La Regla de Oro: El verbo va siempre en su forma base pura (infinitivo sin "to") para todas las personas. No lleva "-s" en 3ª persona y el verbo to be se queda literalmente como be.

💬 "I suggest that you be there on time."
💬 "It is important that he study every day." (¡Nunca studies!)

🔴 La Negación en el Subjuntivo

Sin Auxiliares

Para negar una frase en subjuntivo de presente, añadimos la partícula NOT directamente antes del infinitivo base. Está prohibido usar don't o doesn't.

💬 "I recommend that he not drink so much again."
💬 "The boss demands that they not be late."

🔵 2. El Subjuntivo de Pasado

Situaciones Irreales

Se utiliza para referirse a deseos imposibles en el presente o situaciones hipotéticas. Se conjuga en Pasado Simple.

La Regla de Oro del Verbo TO BE: En contextos formales, el pasado del verbo to be se transforma en WERE para todas las personas (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).

Estructura	Ejemplo Práctico
2º Condicional	If I were you, I would go.
WISH (Deseos)	I wish she were here now.
AS IF (Como si)	He talks as if he knew the answer.

🏋️ Quick Quiz: Test Your Subjunctive

1. It is vital that she ___________ (arrive) on time.

👁️ Ver solución

Respuesta: arrive
💡 Es subjuntivo de presente activado por "It is vital that". No se añade "-s" de tercera persona.

2. I insist that he ___________ (not be) late for the meeting.

👁️ Ver solución

Respuesta: not be
💡 Para la forma negativa colocamos "not" directamente antes de la forma base del verbo "to be".

3. If he ___________ (be) a millionaire, he would travel around the world.

👁️ Ver solución

Respuesta formal: were
💡 Subjuntivo de pasado en segundo condicional. Se usa "were" para todas las personas en gramática formal.

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Learn more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/upper-intermediate/unit-20/session-1

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Infinitive of purpose

A to-infinitive can be used to express purpose:

I'm calling to place an order for delivery.

Diya went to the door to open it.

To pass this test, you need to achieve a score of 60% or more.

In order to and so as to can be used before a to-infinitive for emphasis in more formal styles:

He took a book with him in order to have something to read on the train.

The parties started negotiations so as to reach an agreement as soon as possible.

In order to attract a wider audience, we need to rethink our marketing strategy.

The negative is always in order not + to-infinitive or so as not + to-infinitive:

He tiptoed through the hall so as not to be heard.

In order not to lose time, we must act at once.

The infinitive of purpose can only be used if the doer of the action expressed by the infinitive is the same as the subject of the main clause. 

If the subjects are different, we can use so + that-clause with the present simple tense or with the modal verbs may, can, will, might, could or would:

Jerry works hard so that his family has everything they need.

I'll leave the door open so that you can come in.

Tina gave me a shopping list so that I wouldn't forget anything.

In order + that-clause is also possible in this case; however, it is more formal and less common. In the that-clause, we can use the modal verbs may, shall, might or should:

Our company does everything in order that all complaints may be dealt with fairly and effectively.

With come and go, we can use the infinitive of purpose with the verb in any present or past tense or with the gerund form of the verb:

I'm just coming to help.

We went to talk to a lawyer.

Have you thought of going to see a doctor?

But if come and go are used as infinitives or as imperatives, we use and instead of to:

I must go and check the heater.

He will come and dance with you.

Go and fetch a glass.

http://www.grammaring.com/the-infinitive-of-purpose

Grammar Cheat Sheet

Infinitive of Purpose

Cómo expresar finalidad y propósito en inglés correctamente

🟢 Mismo Sujeto (The doer is the same)

Si la persona que realiza la acción principal es la misma que realiza el propósito, usamos el infinitivo con TO.

✔ Forma Afirmativa: to / in order to / so as to + Infinitive

• Diya went to the door to open it.
• He took a book in order to have something to read.

❌ Forma Negativa (¡Cuidado! Nunca usar "not to" a secas): in order not to / so as not to + Infinitive

• He tiptoed so as not to be heard.
• In order not to lose time, we must act at once.

🔵 Diferente Sujeto (Different subjects)

Si el propósito está destinado a una persona u objeto distinto al sujeto principal, el infinitivo no sirve; es obligatorio enlazar con una frase completa.

Structure: so that + clause (Present Simple / Modal Verbs)

• Jerry works hard so that his family has everything they need.
• I'll leave the door open so that you can come in.

⚠️ Verbos Especiales: Come & Go

Normalmente usan "to" en gerundio o pasados (We went to talk to a lawyer). Sin embargo, cambia en infinitivo o imperativo:

📌 ¡Usa "AND" en lugar de "TO"!
• I must go and check the heater.
• Go and fetch a glass.

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Relative clauses I

Defining relative clauses

These provide essential information about the antecedent, so the sentence would be incomplete without them.

The pronouns who (people), which (things) and that (people
and things) can be omitted if they do not function as the
subject. Whose (possession) cannot be omitted or replaced.

She is the girl (who / that) I met in England.
(Ella es la chica a la que conocí en Inglaterra.)
I did not get the e-mail (which / that) you sent.
(No recibí el correo electrónico que mandaste.)
This is the blog whose author is unknown.
(Este es el “blog” cuyo autor es desconocido.)

When (time) and where (place) are relative adverbs.
When can be omitted or replaced by that. Where cannot be
replaced by that and it can only be omitted in a few cases.

I’ll never forget the day (when / that) I met her.
(Nunca olvidaré el día en que la conocí.)
I visited the area where all the trendy shops are.
(Visité la zona donde están todas las tiendas de moda.)

If a preposition is related to the relative pronoun or adverb, this is omitted and the preposition is located after the verb.

The boy (who / that) I talked to was nervous.
(El chico con el que hablé estaba nervioso.)

Non-defining relative clauses

These add information about the antecedent and they go between commas. They are introduced by who, which, when, where and whose (never by that), which cannot be omitted. They are not common in spoken English because they are very formal.

Jack, who is English, works for a French firm.
(Jack, que es inglés, trabaja para una empresa francesa.)

https://blogdeletstalk.blogspot.com/2023/10/relative-clauses.html

Relative Clauses 

Aprende a conectar oraciones con soltura en inglés

🎯 Defining Relative Clauses

Aportan información esencial sobre la persona o cosa. Sin ellas, la frase pierde el sentido.

• Pronombres: who (personas), which (cosas) y that (ambos).
• ⚠️ Omitir el pronombre: Se pueden quitar si **NO** funcionan como el sujeto de la frase de relativo.
• 📌 Whose (Posesión): Significa "cuyo/a". **NUNCA** se puede omitir ni cambiar por that.

• She is the girl (who / that) I met in England. (Se puede omitir)
• This is the blog whose author is unknown. (Prohibido omitir)

✍️ Non-defining Relative Clauses

Añaden información extra o secundaria. Son muy formales y van **siempre entre comas**.

• ❌ Regla estricta: **NUNCA** se puede usar that.
• ❌ Omitir: En este tipo de oraciones, los pronombres **NUNCA** se pueden omitir.

• Jack, who is English, works for a French firm. (¡Lleva comas y no usa "that"!)

💡 Adverbios y Preposiciones al final:
• Usamos where para lugares y when para tiempo.
• Si hay una preposición vinculada al pronombre (ej. talk to), el pronombre se puede omitir y la preposición se coloca **detrás del verbo**:
→ "The boy (who) I talked to was nervous."

🏋️ Quick Quiz: Test Your Relatives

1. I did not get the e-mail ___________ you sent.

👁️ Ver solución y por qué

Respuesta: which / that / o nada (ø)

💡 Explicación: Hablamos de una cosa ("the e-mail"). Es una oración defining (esencial) y el pronombre funciona como objeto directo, por lo que puedes omitirlo por completo.

2. London, ___________ is the capital of the UK, is huge.

👁️ Ver solución y por qué

Respuesta: which

💡 Explicación: Es una oración non-defining (va entre comas). En este tipo de estructuras está totalmente prohibido usar "that" y tampoco se puede omitir el pronombre.

3. This is the girl ___________ car was stolen yesterday.

👁️ Ver solución y por qué

Respuesta: whose

💡 Explicación: Indica posesión ("el coche de la chica" → "cuya chica"). Recuerda que whose nunca se puede omitir ni sustituir por that.

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