We have studied a number of situations in which we use the "subjunctive" form of the verb. This is the form of the verb which we first saw in "feeling" sentences. Let's take a fresh look at the charts for "A" and "E" verbs which we have been using.

"A" verbs fact feeling
present A E
past ABA ARA
"E" verbs fact feeling
present E A
past IA IERA

When we talk about "time expressions", we are speaking of phrases which relate two events in time, with reference to each other. For example, we can say that something happens when something else happens. Or, we could say that something will happen as soon as something else happens. Here is a short list of some "time expressions" that we often use when we speak to relate the timing of one event with regard to another event that takes place.

when cuando
as soon as tan pronto como
after después de (que)
until hasta (que)
while mientras

This list gives us some examples, but there are others that we will see as we go along.

Let's see how this works in practice.

The boys took the suitcases to the hotel as soon as the plane arrived.

Los muchachos llevaron las maletas al hotel tan pronto como el avión llegó

We see that one event, the taking of the suitcases to the hotel, is related in time to the other event, the arrival of the plane.

There are certain circumstances when we use "time expressions" relating two events when we have to change the form of the verb. In general, when we say that some event is anticipated to take place when some other event which is also anticipated, but has not yet taken place, happens. In other words, when we relate an event to something else that hasn't happened yet at that point, we are dealing with a reference event that isn't real. It exists, at this point, only in the mind and imagination of the speaker. As we have seen in other situations, when we refer to events that aren't real, that is, they are not actual true facts, we must use the "subjunctive" form of the verb in Spanish. Any time that the main verb of the sentence speaks of an event which is at that time in the future, something expected to happen, related by a time expression to another event that is only "expected" to occur some time later, but hasn't actually happened yet, we have to use the subjunctive. There are a number of possibilities for expressing events in the future, but we have seven basic patterns that are commonly used and they will give us a guide or "roadmap" to follow in determining when the subjunctive verb forms must be used with time expressions. There are seven patterns which we want to learn. First let's look at four of them. We'll use "as soon as" in our examples, but we could use any of the time expressions.

someone will do something as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
someone is going to do something as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
someone wants something to happen as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
do something (a command) as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)

We can see that in order to be able to do these sentences, we will have to know how to use the future ("will") forms, the "feeling" sentences and the subjunctive verb forms needed to express them, and the command forms. If you need to review these patterns, this would be a good time to do it. Let's take a quick look at the patterns used for the commands since they are the forms that we studied just recently.

"llevar" command forms tú usted ustedes (plural)
affirmative lleva lleve lleven
negative no lleves no lleven no lleven

Another thing to remember is that we place object pronouns (it, them, etc.), after affirmative commands, attached to the verb, but negative commands have the object pronouns before the verb.

Let's see how we would follow these patterns, using the same sentence that we saw in the example above.

Los muchachos llevarán las maletas al hotel tan pronto como el avión llegue.
Los muchachos van a llevar las maletas al hotel tan pronto como el avión llegue.
Yo quiero que los muchachos lleven las maletas al hotel tan pronto como el avión llegue.
Muchachos, lleven las maletas al hotel tan pronto como el avión llegue.

Remember, that with verbs that end in "-gar", we have to add a silent "u" after the "g" when it is followed with "e" in order to preserve the "hard" pronunciation of the "g". Otherwise, the pronunciation of the "g" would change and be pronounced similar to the way that we pronounce "h" in English. We change the spelling in verb forms where either "g" or "c" is involved, to keep the pronunciation from changing.

Notice that in each case, we are speaking of an action which will happen in the future. The first two examples, "will do" and "are going to do" are obvious. The third and fourth ones, however, may require a little thought. When we say that someone "wants to do" something or "wants someone else to do" something, the "doing" of the action, isn't happening yet. If it is done, it will happen later, in the future. The same thing applies when we use a command. When we tell someone to "do something", they are not doing it yet. If they actually do it, they will do it after the command is given, that is, in the future.

There are some other patterns which also express events that are expected to occur in the future. We don't have them listed in our forms or our list would be too long. Nevertheless, we want to keep in mind that there can be other patterns which will fit into this situation that aren't actually listed in our examples. If we say that someone "has to do" something, it is clear that the "doing" will be in the future. In other words, it would fit logically into the "will" pattern as far as the future nature of the event is concerned. We could come up with lots of other examples, and we will do some more of these in our practice work. Keep alert for patterns which would fit into this concept.
We will clean the house as soon as Mary helps us.
We are going to clean the house as soon as Mary helps us.
We want to clean the house as soon as Mary helps us.
Boys, clean the house as soon as Mary helps you all.

Some time expressions require the use of the word "que" when a "clause" follows. A "clause" means a phrase in a sentence, which has its own subject and verb, that is, it's really a sentence within a sentence. We don't always use "que" after these expressions. For example:

...después de la fiesta (after the party)

...después de que el avión llega

Notice that when we have a verb in the phrase, as in this case, "the plane arrives", we have to put "que". If we only have a noun (or an infinitive=a verb acting like a noun) we don't include the word "que".

I will pick up the suitcases after six o'clock
I will pick up the suitcases after the plane arrives.
I am going to pick up the suitcases after six o'clock.
I am going to pick up the suitcases after the plane arrives.
I want you to pick up the suitcases after six o'clock.
I want you to pick up the suitcases after the plane arrives.
Pick up the suitcases after six o'clock.
Pick up the suitcases after the plane arrives.
I will not be able to buy the tickets until tomorrow.
I will not be able to buy the tickets until John gives me the money.
I am not going to be able to buy the tickets until tomorrow.
I am not going to be able to buy the tickets until John gives me the money.
I don't want to buy the tickets until tomorrow.
I don't want to buy the tickets until John gives me the money.
Don't buy the tickets until tomorrow.
Don't buy the tickets until John gives you the money.

This would be a good time to review some of the irregular verbs that we have studied, since often they will have an exception that we have to learn in the "subjunctive" form. For example, here is the chart for the verb "to bring".

TRAER fact feeling
traigo
traes
trae
traemos
traen
traiga
traigas
traiga
traigamos
traigan

Notice that when the "yo" fact form ends in "-go", all of the "feeling" forms ("subjunctive" forms), will have the letter "g" included.

We will study when Mary brings the books.
We are going to study when Mary brings the books.
We want to study when Mary brings the books.
Boys, study when Mary brings the books.

The verb "hacer" ("to do/make") has a number of irregular forms which we have to memorize. We have seen some of them. Let's take another look at the irregular forms of "hacer" to refresh our memories.

HACER fact feeling
hago haga
haces hagas
hace haga
hacemos hagamos
hacen hagan

In addition to these basic forms of "hacer", we need to remember that the future "stem" for the "will" and "would" forms is "har-" instead of the complete infinitive. Let's look at the "will" and "would" forms of "hacer" before we do sentences which use this verb with time expressions.

"Will" and "Would" Forms of "HACER" haré haría
harás harías
hará haría
haremos haríamos
harán harían

We will do the work when John brings the tools (las herramientas).
We are going to do the work when John brings the tools.
We want to do the work when John brings the tools.
Boys, do the work when John brings the tools.

Now let'ss take a look at the way that sentences with time expressions work in the past tense. We saw that there were four patterns in the present. In the past, we have three patterns to learn.

The first pattern that we want to look at is identified with the word "would". Let's look at an example.

I thought that John would help us as soon as he could.

Notice that that the "time expression" could be something else, and the basic pattern would still be the same. We could have said, "when", etc.

If we stop and think, "would" is the past of "will". With the "will" pattern, we used the present subjunctive in the part of the sentence after the "time expression". This pattern is similar, but with "would" we use the past subjunctive in the part of the sentence that follows the "time expressioin". In other words, this pattern, the fifth one that we have seen, is really a past tense "reflection" of the first one.

Yo creía que Juan nos ayudaría tan pronto como él pudiera.

The sixth pattern is the past "reflection" of pattern two. Compare the following sentences.

I think that that John will help us as soon as he can.

I thought that John would help us as soon as he could.

In Spanish we would have the following.

Yo creo que Juan nos ayudará tan pronto como él pueda.

Yo creía que Juan nos ayudaría tan pronto como él pudiera.

Now we have the comparison between pattern three and pattern seven. Let's look at the examples. We have a situation where someone says, "someone wants to do (wants someone else to do) something" as soon as something else happens.

I hope that that John helps us as soon as he can.

I was hoping that John would help us as soon as he could.

In Spanish we would have the following.

Yo espero que Juan nos ayude tan pronto como él pueda.

Yo esperaba que Juan nos ayudara tan pronto como él pudiera.

Notice that these three patterns, "will do", "is going to do", "want to do" (or "want someone to do") have parallel patterns in the past tense. With the present patterns, after the time expression we use the present subjunctive. With the past patterns, we use the past subjunctive.

Now let's look at the fourth pattern. Remember that in this case, we use a command. We tell someone to do something. "after", "as soon as", "when", etc. something else happens. With patterns five, six, and seven, we were just shifting the number one, two, and three patterns into the past. Can we shift a command into the past? We can tell someone to do something, but we can't logically make a command in the past. You can't say to someone, "Did it already!" This doesn't make any sense. You can't command someone to already have done something. Therefore, there isn't an eighth pattern which would be parallel to pattern four. We have a total of seven patterns that we want to look for which use "time expressions" in which we have to be alert to use the subjunctive ("feeling" form) of the verb. Here would be a complete chart of the patterns for sentences in which we need to use the subjunctive verb forms after "time expressions". Let's keep in mind that the third and seventh pattern have two variations, one using the infinitive when someone wants to do something him/herself, and the other using the subjunctive when we have a "feeling" sentence (someone cares what someone else does).

pattern #1 someone will do something as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
pattern #2 someone is going to do something as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
pattern #3a someone wants to dosomething as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
pattern #3b someone wants someone else to dosomething as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
pattern #4 do something (a command) as soon as something else happens (subjunctive)
pattern #5 someone would do something as soon as something else happened (past subjunctive)
pattern #6 someone was going to do something as soon as something else happened (past subjunctive)
pattern #7a someone wantedto do something as soon as something else happened (past subjunctive)
pattern #7b someone wantedsomeone else to do something as soon as something else happened (past subjunctive)

One thing that we should point out. The third and seventh pattern each have two variations. We can either say that "someone wants to do something" (himself), or "someone wants someone else to do something". Look at the following examples.

I want to pick up the suitcases as soon as the plane arrives.

I want John to pick up the suitcases as soon as the plane arrives.

In Spanish we would have the following.

Yo quiero recoger las maletas tan pronto como el avión llegue.

Yo quiero que Juan recoja las maletas tan pronto como el avión llegue.

Notice that in the second case, we would have two subjunctive verbs in the same sentence. They would be used for different reasons however. The past "reflection" of these possibilities would be as follows.

I wanted to pick up the suitcases as soon as the plane arrived.

I wanted John to pick up the suitcases as soon as the plane arrived.

In Spanish we would have the following.

Yo quería recoger las maletas tan pronto como el avión llegara.

Yo quería que Juan recogiera las maletas tan pronto como el avión llegara.

Let's put this together and see how all seven (or nine) patterns would be. We'll use the verb "tener" ("have"). Here are the forms of "have" displayed in charts.

TENER fact feeling
present tengo
tienes
tiene
tenemos
tienen tenga
tengas
tenga
tengamos
tengan
past tenía
tenías
tenía
teníamos
tenían tuviera
tuvieras
tuviera
tuviéramos
tuvieran

commands tú usted ustedes (plural="you all")
affirmative ten tenga tengan
negative no tengas no tenga no tengan

Another irregular verb which we use frequently that is very important is "to go". Here we see the patterns for this verb which has forms that we must memorize.

IR fact feeling
present voy
vas
va
vamos
van vaya
vayas
vaya
vayamos
vayan
past iba
ibas
iba
íbamos
iban fuera
fueras
fuera
fuéramos
fueran

commands tú usted ustedes (plural="you all")
affirmative ve vaya vayan
negative no vayas no vaya no vayan

Now let's practice some sentences.

I will go to the store as soon as I have time.
I am going to go to the store as soon as I have time.
John, I want you to go to the store as soon as you have time.
John, go to the store as soon as you have time.
I thought that John would go to the store as soon as he had time.
I thought that John was going to go to the store as soon as he had time.
I was hoping that John would go to the store as soon as he had time.
Mary will buy the things for the party as soon as John lends her the money.
Mary is going to buy the things for the party as soon as John lends her the money.
We hope that Mary buys the things for the party as soon as John lends her the money.
Mary, buy the things for the party as soon as John lends you the money.
I thought that Mary would buy the things for the party as soon as John loaned her the money.
I thought that Mary was going to buy the things for the party as soon as John loaned her the money.
I was hoping that Mary would buy the things for the party as soon as John loaned her the money.
We will sell the house as soon as the lawyer signs (firmar) the papers.
We are going to sell the house as soon as the lawyer signs the papers.
Mary wants us to sell the house as soon as the lawyer signs the papers.
Gentlemen, we want you to sell the house as soon as the lawyer signs the papers.
Gentlemen, sell the house as soon as the lawyer signs the papers.
We thought that the gentlemen would sell the house as soon as the lawyer signed the papers.
We thought that the gentlemen were going to sell the house as soon as the lawyer signed the papers.
We were hoping that the gentlemen would sell the house as soon as the lawyer signed the papers.
You will have to help me change the tire as soon as John brings the tools.
You are going to have to help me change the tire as soon as John brings the tools.
Pancho, I want you to help me change the tire as soon as John brings the tools.
Pancho, help me change the tire as soon as John brings the tools.
Pancho, I thought that you would help me change the tire as soon as John brought the tools.
Pancho, I thought that you were going to help me change the tire as soon as John brought the tools.
Pancho, I was hoping that you would help me change the tire as soon as John brought the tools.
The boys will buy the tickets after nine o'clock.
The boys will buy the tickets after Mary gives them the money.
The boys are going to buy the tickets after nine o'clock.
The boys are going to buy the tickets after Mary gives them the money.
Boys, we want you all to buy the tickets after nine o'clock.
Boys, we want you all to buy the tickets after Mary gives you all the money.
Boys, buy the tickets after nine o'clock.
Boys, buy the tickets after Mary gives you all the money.
Boys, we were hoping that you would buy the tickets after nine o'clock.
Boys, we were hoping that yo all would buy the tickets after Mary gave you the money.
I will cash the check after eating breakfast (desayunar).
I will cash the check after the bank opens.
I am going to cash the check after eating breakfast.
I am going to cash the check after the bank opens.
I want to cash the check after eating breakfast.
I want to cash the check after the bank opens.
Mary, cash the check after eating breakfast.
Mary, cash the check after the bank opens.
I thought that Mary would cash the check after eating breakfast.
I thought that Mary would cash the check after the bank opened.
I thought that Mary was going to cash the check after eating breakfast.
I thought that Mary was going to cash the check after the bank opened.
I was hoping that Mary would cash the check after eating breakfast.
I was hoping that Mary would cash the check after the bank opened.
The boys will do the homework (las tareas) after seven o'clock.
The boys will do the homework after Mary explains the lesson.
The boys are going to do the homework after seven o'clock.
The boys are going to do the homework after Mary explains the lesson.
We hope that the boys do the homework after Mary explains the lesson.
Boys, do the homework after Mary explains the lesson.
I thought that the boys would do the homework after Mary explained the lesson.
I thought that the boys were going to do the homework after Mary explained the lesson.
I was hoping that the boys would do the homework after Mary explained the lesson.
Boys, I was hoping that you all would do the homework after Mary explained the lesson.

-

Nosotros limpiaremos la casa tan pronto como María nos ayude.

Nosotros vamos a limpiar la casa tan pronto como María nos ayude.

Nosotros queremos limpiar la casa tan pronto como María nos ayude.

Muchachos, limpien la casa tan pronto como María los ayude.

Yo recogeré las maletas después de las seis.

Yo recogeré las maletas después de que el avión llegue.

Yo voy a recoger las maletas después de las seis.

Yo recogeré las maletas después de que el avión llegue.

Yo quiero que tú recojas las maletas después de las seis.

Yo quiero que tú recojas las maletas después de que el avión llegue.

Recoge las maletas después de las seis.

Recoge las maletas después de que el avión llegue.

Yo no podré comprar los boletos hasta mañana.

Yo no podré comprar los boletos hasta que Juan me dé el dinero.

Yo no voy a poder comprar los boletos hasta mañana.

Yo no voy a poder comprar los boletos hasta que Juan me dé el dinero.

Yo no quiero comprar los boletos hasta mañana.

Yo no quiero comprar los boletos hasta que Juan me dé el dinero.

No compres los boletos hasta mañana.

No compres los boletos hasta que Juan te d&eaucte; el dinero.

Nosotros estudiaremos cuando María traiga los libros.

Nosotros vamos a estudiar cuando María traiga los libros.

Nosotros queremos estudiar cuando María traiga los libros.

Muchachos, estudien cuando María traiga los libros.

Nosotros haremos el trabajo cuando Juan traiga las herramientas.

Nosotros vamos a hacer el trabajo cuando Juan traiga las herramientas.

Nosotros queremos hacer el trabajo cuando Juan traiga las herramientas.

Muchachos, hagan el trabajo cuando Juan traiga las herramientas.

Yo iré a la tienda tan pronto como yo tenga tiempo.

Yo voy a ir a la tienda tan pronto como yo tenga el dinero.

Juan, yo quiero que tú vayas a la tienda tan pronto como tú tengas el tiempo.

Juan, ve a la tienda tan pronto como tú tengas el tiempo.

YO creía que Juan iría a la tienda tan pronto como él tuviera tiempo.

Yo creía que Juan iba a ir a la tienda tan pronto como él tuviera tiempo.

Yo esperaba que Juan fuera a la tienda tan pronto como él tuviera tiempo.

María comprará las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le preste el dinero.

María va a comprar las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le preste el dinero.

Nosotros esperamos que María compre las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le preste el dinero.

María, compra las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan te preste el dinero.

Yo creía que María compraría las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le prestara el dinero.

Yo creía que María iba a comprar las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le prestara el dinero.

Yo esperaba que María comprara las cosas para la fiesta tan pronto como Juan le prestara el dinero.

Nosotros venderemos la casa tan pronto como el abogado firme los papeles.

Nosotros vamos a vender la casa tan pronto como el abogado firme los papeles.

María quiere que nosotros vendamos la casa tan pronto como el abogado firme los papeles.

Señores, nosotros queremos que ustedes vendan la casa tan pronto como el abogado firme los papeles.

Señores, vendan la casa tan pronto como el abogado firme los papeles.

Nosotros creíamos que los señores venderían la casa tan pronto como el abogado firmara los papeles.

Nosotros creíamos que los señores iban a vender la casa tan pronto como el abogado firmara los papeles.

Nosotros esperábamos que los señores vendieran la casa tan pronto como el abogado firmara los papeles.

Tú me tendrás que ayudar a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.

OR

Tú tendrás que ayudarme a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.
Remember, the object pronoun (in this case "me") must either be in front of the verb phrase, or it can come after the infinitive when the verb phrase ends in an infinitive.)

Tú me vas a tener que ayudar a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.

OR

Tú vas a tener que ayudarme a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.

Pancho, yo quiero que tú me ayudes a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.

Pancho, ayúdame a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan traiga las herramientas.

Remember, when the commant is affirmative (positive=do something), the object pronoun is attached to the end of the command form of the verb.

Pancho, yo creía que tú me ayudarías a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan trajera has herramientas.

Remember that the past subjunctive of "TRAER" is irregular. It is in the "X" category. You have to memorize the irregular "stem", which is "traj-", and you have to drop the "i" from "iera" after the letter "j".

Pancho, yo creía que tú me ibas a ayudar a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan trajera las herramientas.

OR

Pancho, yo creía que tú ibas a ayudarme a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan trajera las herramientas.

Pancho, yo esperaba que tú me ayudaras a cambiar la llanta tan pronto como Juan trajera las herramientas.

Los muchachos comprarán los boletos después de las nueve.

Los muchachos comprarán los boletos después de que María les dé el dinero.

Los muchachos van a comprar los boletos después de las nueve.

Los muchachos van a comprar los boletos después de que María les dé el dinero.

Muchachos, nosotros queremos que ustedes compren los boletos después de las nueve.

Muchachos, nosotros queremos que ustedes compren los boletos después de que María les dé el dinero.

Muchachos, compren los boletos después de las nueve.

Muchachos, compren los boletos después de que María les dé el dinero.

Muchachos, nosotros esperábamos que ustedes compraran los boletos después de las nuevel.

Muchachos, nosotros esperábamos que ustedes compraran los boletos después de que María les dé el dinero.

Yo cambiaré el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo cambiaré el cheque después de que el banco abra.

Yo voy a cambiar el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo voy a cambiar el cheque después de que el banco abra.

Yo quiero cambiar el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo quiero cambiar el cheque después de que el banco abra.

María, cambia el cheque después de desayunar.

María, cambia el cheque después de que el banco abra.

Yo creía que María cambiaría el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo creía que María cambiaría el cheque después de que el banco abriera.

Yo creía que María iba a cambiar el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo creía que María iba a cambiar el cheque después de que el banco abriera.

Yo esperaba que María cambiara el cheque después de desayunar.

Yo esperaba que María cambiara el cheque después de que el banco abriera.

Los muchachos harán las tareas después de las siete.

Los muchachos haráan las tareas después de que María explique la leccion.

Los muchachos van a hacer las tareas después de de que María explique la leccion.

Los muchachos van a hacer las tareas después de que María explique la leccion.

Nosotros esperamos que los muchachos hagan las tareas después de que explique la leccion.

Muchachos, hagan las tareas después de que María explique la leccion.

Yo creía que los muchachos harían las tareas después de que María explicara la leccion.

Yo creía que los muchachos iban a hacer las tareas después de que María explicara la leccion.

Yo esperaba que los muchachos hicieran las tareas después de que María explicara la leccion.
Notice that the irregular past subjunctive stem of "hacer" is "hic-". It is an "X" category verb.

Muchachos, yo esperaba que ustedes hicieran las tareas después de que María explicara la leccion.