B1.2 - Writing e-mails and letters

The present subjunctive - irregular verbs: cierre, pida, agradezca...

El presente de subjuntivo - los verbo irregulares: cierre, pida, agradezca...

Los verbos irregulares del presente de subjuntivo pueden ser totalmente irregulares (como ser) o parcialmente irregulares (como cerrar).

(Irregular verbs in the present subjunctive can be completely irregular (like ser) or partially irregular (like cerrar).)

When do you use the present subjunctive here?

Use present subjunctive after que when the first clause expresses:

  • a request / instruction: Le ruego que…, Le pido que…
  • a recommendation / preference: Prefiero que…
  • evaluation / importance: Es importante que…

It’s the “non-factual” mood: you are not stating what happens; you are expressing what you want, recommend, or consider important.

Quick build: “trigger + que + subjunctive”

TriggerqueSubjunctive verb
Prefieroquecerremos el correo…
Es importantequeme pida confirmación…
Le agradeceréqueagradezca la respuesta…
  • After que, don’t use a “normal present” form.
  • English often uses should or a plain verb: “I ask that you close…”

How to form it (and why these verbs look irregular)

For many verbs, the subjunctive uses the yo present as its base:

  • agradecer → yo agradezco → subjunctive: agradezca, agradezcas…
  • pedir → yo pido → subjunctive: pida, pidas…

So: if a verb is irregular in the present (especially in yo), it usually keeps that irregularity in the present subjunctive.

Stem changes: e→ie, o→ue, e→i (and the key exception)

Some verbs change their vowel in the stem in the subjunctive too:

VerbChangeSubjunctive examples
cerrare → ieque tú cierres, que ellos cierren
pedire → ique usted pida, que ustedes pidan

Exception to remember: for e→ie and o→ue, the stem change does not appear in nosotros and vosotros:

  • que yo cierre / que nosotros cerremos
  • que tú cierres / que vosotros cerréis

Note: For e→i verbs like pedir, this “no change” rule is not the focus here—follow the table: pida, pidamos, pidáis.

Spot the common mistakes (and how to self-correct)

  • Mistake 1: using indicative after que
    Es importante que me pide confirmación.
    Es importante que me pida confirmación.
  • Mistake 2: inventing a wrong stem vowel
    Le pido que peda cita.
    Le pido que pida cita.
  • Mistake 3: forgetting the nosotros/vosotros pattern in cerrar
    Prefiero que nosotros cierremos el correo.
    Prefiero que nosotros cerremos el correo.

Fast self-check before you speak or write

  1. Is there a trigger (request, preference, importance) + que?
  2. If yes: choose the present subjunctive form.
  3. Check the verb type:
    • cerrar: watch ie (except nosotros/vosotros)
    • agradecer: watch -zc- → agradezca
    • pedir: watch e→i → pida

If you can do those three checks, you will reliably produce forms like cierre, agradezca, pida, cerremos in professional contexts (emails, requests, recommendations).

  1. Verbs with an irregular stem in the present indicative repeat the irregularity in the subjunctive: hacer → haga, tener → tenga
  2. Some verbs have a vowel change (e → ie, e → i, o → ue).
Cerrar (to close)Agradecer (to thank)Pedir (to ask for)
Que yo cierreQue yo agradezcaQue yo pida
Que tú cierresQue tú agradezcasQue tú pidas
Que él/ella/usted cierreQue él/ella/usted agradezcaQue él/ella/usted pida
Que nosotros/as cerremosQue nosotros/as agradezcamosQue nosotros/as pidamos
Que vosotros/as cerréisQue vosotros/as agradezcáisQue vosotros/as pidáis
Que ellos/ellas/ustedes cierrenQue ellos/ellas/ustedes agradezcanQue ellos/ellas/ustedes pidan

Exceptions!

  1. The vowel change does not appear in nosotros or vosotros: e → ie, o → ue: cierre / cerremos.
  2. There are completely irregular verbs: estar → esté; dar → dé; ser → sea; ir → vaya.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. Le ruego que ___ el asunto del correo con una frase clara, por ejemplo: "Confirmación de cita".

I ask that you ___ the email subject with a clear phrase, for example: "Appointment confirmation".

2. Es importante que me ___ confirmación antes de reenviar el mensaje a toda la lista.

It is important that you ___ me for confirmation before forwarding the message to the entire list.

3. Le agradeceré que ___ la respuesta y que adjunte el archivo en PDF.

I would appreciate it if you ___ them for the reply and attach the PDF file.

4. Prefiero que ___ el correo con "Un saludo cordial" y luego la firma electrónica.

I prefer that we ___ the email with "Kind regards" and then the electronic signature.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences beginning with “Que + subject” (present subjunctive) to express a request or recommendation; use the verb indicated (cerrar, agradecer or pedir).

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Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (tú) Cierra la puerta, por favor.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Que tú cierres la puerta, por favor.
    (That you close the door, please.)
  2. Hint Hint (usted) Señora, cierre la ventana porque hace frío.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Que usted cierre la ventana porque hace frío.
    (That you close the window because it's cold.)
  3. Hint Hint (nosotros/as) Tenemos que cerrar la reunión a las seis en punto.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Que nosotros cerremos la reunión a las seis en punto.
    (That we close the meeting at six o'clock sharp.)
  4. Hint Hint (vosotros/as) Enviad un mensaje y agradeced la ayuda al equipo de soporte.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Que vosotros agradezcáis la ayuda al equipo de soporte.
    (That you thank the support team for their help.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

1.
Incorrect: after «que» in this context, the subjunctive is needed («agradezcas»), not the indicative («agradeces»).
2.
Incorrect: «pedir» does not form the subjunctive with «e» (not *peda*); the stem change is e → i, so the correct form is «pida».

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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 19/05/2026 23:20