B1 Spanish grammar

Querer Que and the Spanish Subjunctive for Wants and Influence

When one person wants, asks, recommends, or influences another person to act, Spanish uses que plus the subjunctive. A shared subject normally uses an infinitive.

querer que subjunctive: Use querer que for different subjects

Conjugate querer for the person with the wish and use subjunctive in the clause naming the desired action.

Quiero que vengas temprano.
I want you to come early.I have the wish; you perform the action.

Quick check

We want them to stay.

Extend the pattern to influence verbs

Pedir, recomendar, aconsejar, insistir en, and permitir commonly introduce subjunctive clauses.

El médico recomienda que descanses.
The doctor recommends that you rest.The recommendation influences another person's action.

Use an infinitive with the same subject

When the person wanting and the person acting are the same, omit que and use the infinitive.

Quiero aprender español.
I want to learn Spanish.The same person wants and learns.

Common mistakes

Quiero que vienes temprano.

Quiero que vengas temprano.

The desired action uses the subjunctive.

Me pidió que vengo.

Me pidió que viniera.

A past request normally requires a past subjunctive; at B1, first recognise the mood relationship.

Quiero que aprendo español.

Quiero aprender español.

No second subject requires a conjugated que clause.

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Practice querer que subjunctive

Wants and influence FAQ

What does wants and influence cover?

When one person wants, asks, recommends, or influences another person to act, Spanish uses que plus the subjunctive. A shared subject normally uses an infinitive.

What is the first rule to remember?

Conjugate querer for the person with the wish and use subjunctive in the clause naming the desired action.

What is another important B1 pattern?

Pedir, recomendar, aconsejar, insistir en, and permitir commonly introduce subjunctive clauses.

How can I practise querer que subjunctive?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

Continue learning

Emotions and reactionsUse the subjunctive after expressions of happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, and annoyance about another clause.Impersonal judgmentsUse es importante que, es posible que, conviene que, and similar judgments with the subjunctive.Doubt and denialContrast affirmative belief with doubt, denial, and negated opinion to choose the mood.Complete B1 Spanish grammar courseSee every B1 unit and continue through the course in order.Spanish tense guidesCompare the major tense systems used throughout this course.