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Difficulty: EasySubjunctive vs. Indicative Mood in Complex Sentences

While revising a draft of a persuasive essay on environmental policy, you encounter the following incomplete sentence:

"Es imprescindible que el gobierno ________ nuevas regulaciones para reducir la contaminación."

Which of the following verb forms correctly completes the sentence?

  1. implementeAnswer
  2. B
    implementa
  3. C
    implementará
  4. D
    implementó

Answer

The correct verb form is 'implemente', which is the present subjunctive.
The phrase 'Es imprescindible que' is an impersonal expression that conveys a strong necessity or recommendation. In Spanish syntax, when an impersonal expression implies necessity, doubt, or emotion (rather than certainty or fact), the verb in the dependent clause must be conjugated in the subjunctive mood. The correct third-person singular present subjunctive form of the -ar verb 'implementar' is 'implemente'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the main clause of the sentence.
The main clause is 'Es imprescindible que' (It is imperative/essential that).
Identifying the nature of the main clause determines the mood required in the subordinate clause.
2
Determine the grammatical mood triggered by the main clause.
Impersonal expressions conveying necessity, emotion, or doubt require the subjunctive mood in the following dependent clause.
This is a fundamental rule of Spanish syntax for complex sentences.
3
Conjugate the verb for the subject of the subordinate clause.
The subject is 'el gobierno' (third-person singular). The present subjunctive of 'implementar' for the third-person singular is 'implemente'.
The verb must match the subject in person and number while being in the correct grammatical mood.

Key Concept

Impersonal expressions of necessity triggering the subjunctive mood.

Hints

1
Look closely at the introductory phrase 'Es imprescindible que'. Does this express a statement of fact, or a strong necessity/recommendation?
2
Phrases like 'Es necesario que', 'Es importante que', and 'Es imprescindible que' trigger a specific grammatical mood in the dependent clause.
3
Because 'Es imprescindible que' expresses a necessity, the verb that follows must be conjugated in the present subjunctive, not the indicative.

Practice More

Review other impersonal expressions that trigger the subjunctive, and compare them to those that trigger the indicative, such as 'es obvio que' or 'es cierto que'.

Alternative Method

You can use the WEIRDO acronym (Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt, Ojalá) to remember when to use the subjunctive. 'Es imprescindible que' falls under 'I' for Impersonal expressions.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Subjunctive vs. Indicative Mood in Complex Sentences

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