Indicative vs Subjunctive in Spanish: Easy Guide with Simple Examples

Spanish has two moods that mix everyone up at first. The indicative and the subjunctive. They look scary. English doesn’t use them like this. But here’s the truth. Know the feel of each one? The whole thing gets easy.

The indicative? It’s for facts. Stuff you see. Stuff you know. Real things.

The subjunctive? It’s for feels. Wishes. Doubts. Hope. Not-real-yet stuff. Things that might happen. Or might not.

Learn that idea? You get almost all of it.

This guide breaks it down easily. No hard grammar. Just clear steps. Real examples you can use now.

What’s the Indicative?

The indicative is the normal mood. Use it for true stuff. Real stuff. Sure stuff.

Use it for:
• facts
• real events
• daily stuff
• things you know
• things you see
• clear or confirmed things

If it’s solid and true? Use indicative.

Examples:
• Yo sé la respuesta.
I know the answer.

• Ella tiene un perro.
  She has a dog.
• Nosotros comemos a las ocho.
  We eat at eight.
• Él vive en México.
  He lives in Mexico.

Simple. Real. Done.

What’s the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive? It’s for not-real-yet stuff. Not confirmed. Not sure. Or full of feels.

Use it for:
• wishes
• hope
• doubt
• fear
• feels
• maybe stuff
• advice
• asks
• stuff that depends on other stuff

Any feelings? Any doubt? Any “maybe”? You need a subjunctive.

Examples:
• Espero que vengas.
I hope you come.

• Es posible que ella llegue tarde.
  Maybe she’ll be late.

See the pattern? None are solid facts. They feel. Or maybe.

Easy Trick to Know Which One

Real or confirmed? Use indicative.
Not real yet? In your mind only? Use subjunctive.

Real = indicative
Not real yet = subjunctive

Think:
• indicative = the world you see
• subjunctive = the world in your heart or head

Signal Words for Indicative

These words? They mean indicative is coming:

• creo que (I think that)
  • pienso que (I think that)
  • está claro que (it’s clear that)
  • saber que (to know that)
  • ver que (to see that)

Examples:
• Sé que él trabaja aquí.
I know he works here.

All facts. Or things you think are facts

Signal Words for Subjunctive

These phrases? They need subjunctive:

• quiero que (I want you to)
  • espero que (I hope that)
  • ojalá que (hopefully)
  • dudo que (I doubt that)
  • es posible que (maybe)
  • es importante que (it’s important that)
  • es necesario que (you need to)
  • recomiendo que (I say you should)
  • sugiero que (I suggest that)

Examples:
• Quiero que tú estudies.
I want you to study.

• Te sugiero que descanses.
  I say you should rest.

These show doubt. Feels, wants.

The Famous “Que” Rule

Most subjunctive? It looks like:

person 1 + feeling word + que + person 2 + subjunctive verb

Two people.
Plus que.
Plus a feeling or doubt.

Also Read: Me Too en Español: Easy Guide to Say It Right in Any Situation

Present Subjunctive Forms

Let’s take hablar (to speak).

Normal present:
• yo hablo
• tú hablas
• él habla

Subjunctive present:
• yo hable
• tú hables
• él hable

Take an -ar verb.
Drop the -ar.
Add:
• e
• es
• e
• emos
• éis
• en

For -er and -ir verbs? Add:
• a
• as
• a
• amos
• áis
• an

With comer:
• yo coma
• tú comas
• él coma

With vivir:
• yo viva
• tú vivas
• él viva

See? Easy pattern.

When They Change Meaning

Pick one or the other? The whole meaning changes.

Él dice que vengas.
He tells you to come. (gives an order)

Big difference. One’s reality. One’s a want or command.

More Examples to Make It Clear

Simple pairs. See how the mood changes it all.

Indicative:
Él estudia español.
He studies Spanish. (fact)

Subjunctive:
Espero que él estudie español.
I hope he studies Spanish. (hope)

Also Read: Words of Encouragement in Spanish: Warm, and Real Phrases Anyone Can Use

When Both Work

Sometimes? You can pick. Depends on the meaning.

Quizás viene.
Maybe he’s coming. (you think it’s likely)

Quizás venga.
Maybe he’s coming. (you’re not sure)

Both work. The feeling changes.

Subjunctive in One Word: Unsure

Lost? Ask this:
Is this real and confirmed?
Yes? Use indicative.
No? Use subjunctive.

Practice Time

Guess the mood!

Sé que ella está feliz.
Indicative. (you know it)

Espero que ella esté feliz.
Subjunctive. (you hope it)

Es verdad que él viene.
Indicative. (true)

No es verdad que él venga.
Subjunctive. (not confirmed)

Quiero que tú descanses.
Subjunctive. (a want)

Creo que tú descansas.
Indicative. (you think it’s fact)

Dudo que él tenga dinero.
Subjunctive. (doubt)

Él tiene dinero.
Indicative. (fact)

See? Patterns never change.

Also Read: Spanish Christmas Carols: Easy Guide to Songs, Meanings, and Warm Holiday Music

Train Your Brain Fast

Easy ways to learn this:

• Read short Spanish texts. See where the subjunctive pops up.
  • Do tiny sentences each day.
  • Use cards for common verbs.
  • Remember: real vs not real.
  • Say it out loud.
  • Keep a small list of trigger words.

See it more? It gets easier.

These two moods? Not enemies. They help the Spanish say more. Indicative talks about what’s real. Subjunctive? What’s not real yet. Or what you want. Fear. Doubt. Hope.

Remember:
• indicative = facts
• subjunctive = feels and unsure stuff

Keep this in mind? It all feels natural.

Keep at it. Say small sentences. See patterns. You’ll get it fast. Soon? You’ll use subjunctive like you were born with it.

You got this!