Keep the Infinitive When the Subject Stays the Same
Many learners overuse que plus the subjunctive after learning triggers. When desire, emotion, purpose, or necessity concerns the same subject, Spanish commonly prefers an infinitive.
Learning objective
Replace unnecessary subjunctive clauses with concise same-subject infinitive structures.
After learning several subjunctive triggers, it is tempting to add que everywhere. Spanish usually prefers an infinitive when the subject of desire, emotion, purpose, or necessity also performs the following action; a finite que clause becomes useful when the subject changes.
Quiero salir presenta un solo sujeto: yo quiero y yo salgo, por eso salir permanece en infinitivo. Quiero que salgas introduce un sujeto diferente: yo deseo la acción de tú, de modo que salgas aparece en subjuntivo.
Prepositions often belong to the same-subject pattern. Me alegro de verte means that I experience the joy and take part in seeing you. Me alegro de que estés aquí introduces your presence as the separately performed situation being evaluated.
Con expresiones impersonales, el infinitivo deja al actor general: Es importante descansar. Es importante que descanses asigna la acción a tú. No se trata de una versión más formal, sino de decidir si hace falta identificar una persona concreta.
Purpose follows the same logic when the subject stays with the speaker. In Guardé el documento para revisarlo, I kept the document so that I could review it myself. When responsibility changes, Guardé el documento para que Ana lo revisara assigns the review to Ana.
Revisa siempre la referencia real, especialmente con infinitivos cuyo sujeto se interpreta por contexto. En Te recomiendo llamar, quien llama normalmente eres tú, receptor de la recomendación, aunque el sujeto gramatical de recomiendo sea yo.
Examples
Espero terminar el informe antes de las cinco.
I hope to finish the report before five.
One speaker both hopes and finishes, so terminar is concise and natural.
Espero que termines el informe antes de las cinco.
I hope you finish the report before five.
Termines marks the changed subject responsible for finishing.
Lamento llegar tarde, pero me alegra que todavía estés aquí.
I'm sorry I'm late, but I'm glad you're still here.
The infinitive belongs to the speaker; the que clause evaluates the listener's presence.
Es necesario reservar, y necesito que tú confirmes el número.
Booking is necessary, and I need you to confirm the number.
Reservar is general, while confirmes assigns a specific responsibility to the listener.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Quiero que viajar este año y espero que encontrar trabajo.
- Try
- Quiero viajar este año y espero encontrar trabajo.
The speaker performs querer, viajar, esperar, and encontrar, so both dependent actions remain infinitives. If another person were responsible, finite clauses would be needed: Quiero que viajes and espero que encuentres trabajo.
Practice
Try it yourself
Rewrite a shared-flat plan as four connected decisions. Include two same-subject infinitives for your own goals, one changed-subject wish for your flatmate, one impersonal general recommendation, and one assigned necessity. Identify each performer in brackets.