“Quiero que vengas”: the subjunctive
CEFR B1 · part 1
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
Giving orders, and being polite about itForming commands for “tú”, “usted”, “vosotros” and “ustedes”, positive and negative…“Creo que es” but “no creo que sea”Choosing indicative or subjunctive after verbs of thinking, saying and seeming…Three ways of saying “will”Choosing between the present, “ir a” + infinitive and the simple future, and knowing…“Pedir” or “preguntar”: one “ask”, two verbsUsing “preguntar” for a question and “pedir” for a request: “le pregunté la hora”…“Quedar”, “quedarse”, “dejar”Four everyday verbs that English packs into “stay”, “leave”, “keep” and “arrange”…“Ser” or “estar”: two verbs for one “to be”Choosing between “ser” and “estar” in everyday sentences: who you are and what you are…The rule, in three lines
When you want, ask, hope or doubt something about SOMEBODY ELSE, Spanish needs que and a subjunctive: quiero que vengas, espero que llegue, dudo que sea. If the subject is the same person, there is no que and no subjunctive: quiero venir. To build it, take the yo form of the present, drop the -o and swap the vowel: hablo to hable, como to coma, tengo to tenga.
The usual slip. Using an infinitive because English does: quiero que venir, quiero tú venir.
Why it catches you out. English has almost nothing left of its subjunctive — “I suggest he be here” is the last corner of it — so it says “I want YOU TO COME”, with an infinitive and an object. Spanish cannot do that: two different subjects means “que” and a subjunctive, with no way round it. The good news is that the test is mechanical: count the subjects.