¡Hola a todos!

Hoy vamos a ver el uso del Presente de Subjuntivo en frases temporales (temporary sentences). A temporary sentence is one which uses words such as “when”, “while”, “before”, “after”, “until”, etc, with a verb afterwards. For example: “Cuando hace calor voy a la playa” which means “When it is hot I go to the beach”. The verb following “cuando” can be in indicative (ordinary present or different past tenses) or in subjunctive.

Let´s see when we put the verb in indicative and when we put it in subjunctive:

Cuando + indicativo: To express an action in the present or in the past:

Cuando + presente:
• Cuando vuelvo del trabajo, estudio español: When I return from work, I study Spanish

Cuando + pret. imperfecto:
• Cuando vivíamos en Barcelona, éramos muy felices: When we lived in Barcelona, we were very happy

Cuando + pret. indefinido:
• Cuando estuve en Madrid visité muchos museos: When I was in Madrid, I visited many museums

Cuando + subjuntivo: To express an action in the future:

Cuando + presente de subjuntivo:
• Cuando vaya a París, comeré caracoles: When I go to Paris, I will eat snails
• Cuando lleguéis a casa, llamadme: When you get home, phone me

You don´t always have to use “cuando”, there are other expressions that follow the same rules we have seen before (indicative to express an action in the present or past and subjunctive to express an action in the future).

Let’s look at some of these other expressions now:

En cuanto: As soon as:
• Llámanos en cuanto tengas tiempo: Call us as soon as you have time
• Nos llamó en cuanto tuvo tiempo: He called us as soon as he had time

Mientras: While:
• Yo haré la comida mientras Lucía estudie: I will make the food while Lucía studies
• Yo hice la comida mientras Lucía estudiaba: I made the food while Lucía was studying

Hasta que: Until:
• No salgas de la cocina hasta que termines la comida: Don´t leave the kitchen until you finish your food
• No saliste de la cocina hasta que terminaste la comida: You didn´t leave the kitchen until you finished your food

With the expressions “antes de” (before) and “después de” (after) we use the verb in infinitive when the main action in done by the same person as the action after “antes de” or “después de”.

For example:

Siempre me ducho antes de desayunar: I always take a shower before having breakfast.
Voy a ir al supermercado después de comer: I will go to the supermarket after eating

If the person who does the main action is different to the one after the words “antes de” or “después de” you have to put “antes de que” or “después de que” and a verb in subjunctive.

For example:

Antes de que: Before …:
• Quiero hablar contigo antes de que te vayas: I want to speak to you before you go
• Quería hablar contigo antes de que te fueras: I wanted to speak to you before you left

Después de que: After …:
• Voy a hablar con él después de que coma: I am going to speak to him after he eats
• Hablé con él después de que comiera: I spoke to him after he ate

Bueno, esto es todo por hoy. We have learned another use of the Present Subjunctive. We will see quite a few different uses, so keep reviewing the different classes to make sure that you remember in which situations you should use it. This is certainly not easy, but with time, patience and perseverance you will eventually be talking like a native Spanish speaker!

I look forward to seeing you again in our next Spanish video lesson.

¡¡¡Que paséis una buena semana y hasta pronto!!!