El modo Subjuntivo - The Subjunctive mood

You remember that the Indicative mood sign is the mood of reality: it expresses the objective truth.

The subjunctive mood is the mood of unreality or reality seen through the emotions and value judgments of a person.





Para expresar probabilidad:

• Quizás estudie todos los días.
• Tal vez llegue a tiempo

Para expresar un deseo o exhortación.

• ¡Que tengas buen viaje!
• ¡Ojalá Carlitos salga bien en el examen!
• ¡Que pases feliz cumpleaños!

En las oraciones que expresan un juicio de valor o obligación personal.

• Es absurdo que lo vendas.
• Es importante que terminemos a tiempo.

En las oraciones subordinadas, cuando el verbo principal influye sobre el verbo subordinado. Estos verbos pueden expresar: deseos, dudas, órdenes, consejos y reacciones emotivas.

• Quiero que me traigas algún regalo.
• Dudo que llegue hoy.
  

Cuando el verbo de la oración subordinada expresa una acción no realizada. Con las conjunciones y locuciones: cuando, apenas, después (de) que, en cuanto, hasta que, mientras, tan pronto como, etc.

• Llámame cuando termines el trabajo.
• Esperaremos hasta que salga.
• Corre mientras puedas.

Now try doing this exercises. Fill the blanks with Indicative or Subjunctive of the verbs in parenthesis. In case you have a doubt you can write us or make a comment.

1. Yo espero graduarme cuando __________ (terminar) este semestre.
2. Es obvio que las profesoras no ____________ (estar) contentas.
3. Tienes que llamarme para que yo no _____________ (olvidar) la tarea.
4. Susana piensa casarse antes que ella y su novio se ___________ (graduar).
5. Necesito una persona que _____________ (poder) ayudarme.
6. Me sorprende que ______________ (hacer) tan buen tiempo hoy.
7. No niego que nosotros no ___________ (haber) estudiado.
8. No me importa que Rogelio ___________ (venir) con ella
9. No dudo que tú te ______________ (divertir) mucho.
10. El quiere salir con ella sin que su padre los _____________ (oír).
11. Siempre vamos de compras después que ellos nos ___________ (pagar).
12. Es increíble que ella ____________ (querer) que nosotros __________ (trabajar) juntos.
13. Ella nos recomienda que ___________ (visitar) el Prado.
14. Pienso que tú no _______________ (tener) razón.
15. Partiremos tan pronto como vosotros _____________ (llegar).
16. El profesor les manda que [ellos] ____________ (escribir) una composición para el lunes.
17. Se ve claramente que ellas no se _______________ (sentir) bien.
18. Me alegro de que ustedes _________________ (ser) felices.

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A teacher abroad: a testimonial

I chose the country of my internship abroad because of the language (among other things), my mother tongue is Spanish and I wanted to learn different languages, my choice was among French and Portuguese, the two I love. I finally chose to go to Brazil.

While being there, on my first day at work I didn’t understand anything of what my boss was speaking. The first two weeks the mental effort to understand and talk Portuguese ended up exhausting me at the end of the day. I was language lost for some weeks.

I had traveled before, but in this exchange I understood what it means to be an intern who works in another country without speaking the native language (In an ONG, not Spanish at all).The effort made to interact with local people, understand new ways, to adapt to them, do a good job in this new culture. At times I thought these exchanges were part of a 'Master Plan' for the interns to see things they wouldn't see in their home town because being inside, you're part of it, immersed in the same things and the usual routine …everything is normal. But running to another country, challenges people to go further, to question yourself, to self-establish new habits you to take away others, etc.

In my day to day in Brazil, I realized that it was sometimes difficult to carry on a conversation not knowing the linguistic conventions to answer a simple conversation in Brazil, I used to linger, to edit, etc... Many times I saw some european friends fighting this and I tried to help. For some reason they didn’t want to take Portuguese lessons.

Being abroad you can make many friends. Speaking the language plays an important role in reaching out to local people, but sometimes the language can also get away from the culture. Not speaking properly or feeling insecure makes the communication not flowing and ends up in a switch to English (the most common language) or a switch to be with those who do speak the same language. This, in the short term, will push away foreigner from the riches that the exchange experience offers.

When I had to leave, I already had a better Portuguese, but I wasn't going to use it much. I was eager to return to start a new experience having my new learnt language as an advantage on my side.

For me, the significance of the exchange is the apprenticeship and what you do with it, the more it hits others, the better. I write this post and I will continue to help my students making an incredible experience of their own in my country, Peru.