Subjunctive vs Indicative in Spanish: how to choose
Short answer
The indicative states what the speaker treats as fact. The subjunctive appears when the main clause expresses wish, doubt, emotion, denial, or a purpose that has not happened yet. Creo que viene, but no creo que venga.
Level B2 · verbs, subjunctive
The rule in full
Indicative states a fact. Subjunctive puts the fact in question — wished for, doubted, denied, not yet real.
| Trigger | Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|---|
| creer / pensar | Creo que es verdad. | No creo que sea verdad. |
| es evidente / es posible | Es evidente que viene. | Es posible que venga. |
| cuando (habit / past) | Cuando llego, ceno. | Cuando llegue, cenaré. (future) |
| aunque (fact) | Aunque llueve, salgo. | Aunque llueva, saldré. (hypothesis) |
| Relative clause | Busco un piso que tiene balcón. (a specific one) | Busco un piso que tenga balcón. (any) |
Rule of thumb: if the thing is presented as real and known → indicative; if desired, doubted or still ahead → subjunctive.
Always subjunctive: para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que, con tal de que.
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