Subjunctive vs Indicative Practice: Test Your Spanish Mood Skills
20 quick questions with instant results-ideal for indicative vs subjunctive practice.
Editorial: Review CompletedUpdated Aug 28, 2025
This quiz helps you master the subjunctive vs indicative by choosing the right mood in real sentences. Answer 20 short items and see instant results with notes to spot what to fix. For more practice with tricky pairs, try the ser vs estar quiz, check your tenses with the preterite vs imperfect test, or review prepositions in the por vs para test.
Study Outcomes
- Understand the differences between the subjunctive and indicative moods in Spanish.
- Analyze sentence structures to identify the correct mood based on context.
- Apply grammar rules to determine when to use the subjunctive versus the indicative mood.
- Evaluate exam-style questions to select the appropriate verb mood.
- Demonstrate readiness for tests by effectively distinguishing between verbal moods.
Spanish: Subjunctive vs Indicative Cheat Sheet
- Indicative vs. Subjunctive Basics - The indicative mood is your go‑to for stating facts, certainties, and describing what's real and happening. The subjunctive, however, thrives on uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and things that haven't happened yet. Once you tune into the vibe - fact vs. possibility - you'll slay those mood choices every time.
- Spotting Subjunctive Triggers - Certain verbs and expressions automatically flip your sentence into subjunctive mode when they express wishes, emotions, or doubts. Phrases like "quiero que" or "me alegra que" are classic red flags for the subjunctive. Keep an ear out for these triggers to avoid mixing up moods.
- Remember the WEIRDO Acronym - WEIRDO stands for Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial, and Ojalá. It's a super‑handy mnemonic that helps you recall the main reasons to use the subjunctive. Repeat it a few times, and it'll become second nature!
- Conjunctions That Demand Subjunctive - Words like "para que" (so that) and "cuando" (when, for future or uncertain events) invite the subjunctive to the party every time. Get familiar with these, and you'll never accidentally slip into the indicative when talking about future plans or hypothetical situations.
- Certainty vs. Uncertainty Drill - To master moods, analyze whether the speaker believes something is real or not. If it's a known fact, it's indicative; if it's up for debate or simply a wish, it's subjunctive. Practicing this mindset shift helps you choose correctly on the fly.
- Doubt vs. Belief Rule - The subjunctive shines when you express doubt, denial, or lack of information. In contrast, the indicative comfortably handles situations you assume to be true. Spotting the difference in tone can make or break your sentence's meaning.
- Key Phrase Flashcards - Create flashcards for phrases like "es importante que" and "ojalá que" to lock in the subjunctive triggers. Reviewing these regularly will train your brain to automatically switch moods when those phrases pop up. It's a quick win in your study routine!
- Subordinate Clauses with "que" - Whenever you see "que" introducing a clause that's subjective - like hopes, feelings, or opinions - you'll use the subjunctive. This pattern is super common, so mastering it will boost your confidence in conversations and writing alike.
- Conjugation Practice - Drill both indicative and subjunctive forms of regular and irregular verbs until they feel second nature. The more you conjugate out loud, the faster you'll recall the correct endings under pressure. Consider making mini‑quizzes for yourself or teaming up with a study buddy.
- Interactive Quizzes & Exercises - Reinforce your knowledge by tackling exercises that mix both moods in various contexts. The instant feedback from online quizzes helps you spot patterns and fix mistakes on the spot. Turn it into a game - beat your high score each time!
