New
New
Year 11
AQA

¿Qué es importante para construir un futuro mejor? Conversation practice

I can use the subjunctive to discuss actions that are essential for a better future.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

¿Qué es importante para construir un futuro mejor? Conversation practice

I can use the subjunctive to discuss actions that are essential for a better future.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The subjunctive expresses uncertainty, wishes, emotions or future possibilities.
  2. Use 'cuando' + indicative if the action is regular or certain, and 'cuando' + subjunctive if the action is uncertain.
  3. After statements of fact or certainty use the indicative; after subjective points of view, use the subjunctive.
  4. Wishing verbs ('querer', 'esperar', 'desear', 'preferir', 'necesitar') are followed by an infinitive or the subjunctive.
  5. Use a verb of wishing + 'que' + subjunctive when you want someone else to do something.

Keywords

  • Subjunctive - verb form that indicates actions which are uncertain, wished for or that have not yet happened

Common misconception

The subjunctive is a matter of the speaker's attitude so when I am the speaker I can always choose whether to use the subjunctive or not.

Certain situations and structures always require the subjunctive: 'cuando' + subjunctive + future tense for events that have not yet happened; 'es' + adjective + que for subjective points of view; verbs of wishing that someone else does something.


To help you plan your year 11 spanish lesson on: ¿Qué es importante para construir un futuro mejor? Conversation practice, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The subjunctive will only be tested at Higher tier for GCSE. However, teachers may feel that it is worth all pupils learning its highest frequency forms ('sea', 'tenga', 'haga', 'vaya', 'venga' and 'haya') and main uses as it broadens pupils' communicative range.
Teacher tip

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:entrar,to enter, entering

to enter, entering

Correct Answer:cortar,to cut, cutting

to cut, cutting

Correct Answer:producir,to produce, to cause

to produce, to cause

Correct Answer:respirar,to breathe, breathing

to breathe, breathing

Correct Answer:mantener,to maintain, maintaining

to maintain, maintaining

Correct Answer:lograr,to achieve, achieving

to achieve, achieving

Q2.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:carerra (f),race

race

Correct Answer:competición (f),competition

competition

Correct Answer:juguete (m),toy

toy

Correct Answer:juventud (f),youth

youth

Correct Answer:sesión (f),session

session

Correct Answer:vez (f),time

time

Q3.
Order the words to say: 'the new law affects the companies'.
1 - la
2 - nueva
3 - ley
4 - afecta
5 - a
6 - las
7 - empresas
Q4.
Order the words to say: 'I don't trust them because they have a secret'.
1 - no
2 - confío
3 - en
4 - ellos
5 - porque
6 - tienen
7 - un secreto
Q5.
Write in English: 'nuestros amigos son pesados'.
Correct Answer: our friends are boring
Q6.
Write in Spanish: 'the member does not use his key'.
Correct Answer: el miembro no usa su llave

4 Questions

Q1.
Which statements about the subjunctive are true?
It is always used after 'cuando'.
It is always used after 'que'.
Correct answer: It is always used after a verb of wishing that someone else does something.
The speaker can choose when to use it depending on their attitude.
Correct answer: It is used if the action is uncertain or subjective.
Q2.
'Quiero __________ más consciente de los problemas sociales'. Choose the correct missing verb.
soy
Correct answer: ser
sea
seas
Q3.
'Cuando yo tiempo, iré a una manifestación'. Write the correct missing verb.
Correct Answer: tenga
Q4.
'Es important que tú algo para ayudar'. Write the correct missing verb.
Correct Answer: hagas

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