indicativevssubjunctive
/in-di-ca-TI-vo/
/sub-hun-TI-vo/
💡 Quick Rule
Indicative for what IS (past/habits). Subjunctive for what MIGHT BE (future).
Think: Indicative = It's happened. Subjunctive = It's hoped for.
- When 'cuando' is a question word (¿Cuándo...?), it always uses the indicative.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | indicative | subjunctive | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arriving Home | Cuando llego a casa, veo la tele. | Cuando llegue a casa, veré la tele. | Indicative ('llego') describes a daily habit. Subjunctive ('llegue') describes a specific plan for the future (tonight). |
| Finishing Work | Me sentí aliviado cuando terminé. | Me sentiré aliviado cuando termine. | Indicative ('terminé') refers to a completed past action. Subjunctive ('termine') refers to a future, anticipated action. |
| Being Older | Cuando era mayor, viajaba mucho. | Cuando sea mayor, viajaré mucho. | Indicative ('era') looks back at a past reality. Subjunctive ('sea') looks forward to a future aspiration. |
✅ When to Use "indicative" / subjunctive
indicative
Use the indicative after 'cuando' to talk about actions that have already happened or things that happen regularly as a habit.
/in-di-ca-TI-vo/
Completed past actions
Cuando llegué a casa, la cena ya estaba lista.
When I got home, dinner was already ready.
Habitual actions in the present
Cuando tengo tiempo libre, leo un libro.
When I have free time, I read a book.
Habitual actions in the past
Cuando éramos niños, siempre jugábamos en el parque.
When we were kids, we always used to play in the park.
subjunctive
Use the subjunctive after 'cuando' to talk about future actions or events that have not yet occurred and are therefore not a fact yet.
/sub-hun-TI-vo/
Future actions that are not yet a reality
Llámame cuando llegues.
Call me when you arrive.
Anticipated future events
Cuando termine la película, nos vamos.
When the movie ends, we'll leave.
Future plans or conditions
Compraré el coche cuando tenga suficiente dinero.
I will buy the car when I have enough money.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "indicative":
Cuando tengo tiempo, escucho música.
When I have time, I listen to music. (A general habit)
With "subjunctive":
Cuando tenga tiempo, escucharé ese podcast.
When I have time, I will listen to that podcast. (A specific future plan)
The Difference: The indicative ('tengo') describes what you *usually* do. The subjunctive ('tenga') describes what you *will* do at a specific future point when the condition is finally met.
With "indicative":
Siempre me alegro cuando te veo.
I'm always happy when I see you. (A recurring fact)
With "subjunctive":
Me alegraré mucho cuando te vea mañana.
I will be very happy when I see you tomorrow. (An anticipated future event)
The Difference: Indicative ('veo') states a fact that happens every time. Subjunctive ('vea') refers to a specific, future meeting that hasn't happened yet.
🎨 Visual Comparison
Use 'cuando + indicative' for past events or habits. Use 'cuando + subjunctive' for future, anticipated events.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Te llamaré cuando llego.
Te llamaré cuando llegue.
The action of arriving is in the future and not yet a fact, so you must use the subjunctive ('llegue'). Using the indicative ('llego') makes it sound like a habit, which doesn't fit.
Cuando sea niño, jugaba mucho.
Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho.
You're talking about the past, which is a factual memory. Therefore, you must use the indicative ('era'). The subjunctive ('sea') is for future hopes, so it creates a contradiction.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
Present Subjunctive
You need to know how to form the subjunctive before you can use it with 'cuando'.
Subjunctive in Adverb Clauses
This lesson explains the specific grammar rule for using the subjunctive after words like 'cuando'.
Future Tense
The 'cuando + subjunctive' structure is almost always paired with a main clause in the future or command form.
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Indicative vs Subjunctive after Cuando
Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct verb: 'Te escribiré un email cuando ___ (tener) un momento.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to other time words like 'en cuanto' or 'tan pronto como'?
Yes, absolutely! The same logic applies. Words like 'en cuanto' (as soon as), 'tan pronto como' (as soon as), and 'después de que' (after) all follow the same pattern: use the subjunctive for a future, anticipated event and the indicative for a past or habitual one.
What tense do I use in the other part of the sentence?
Great question! When you use 'cuando + subjunctive' for the future, the main part of the sentence is usually in the future tense ('Cuando llegue, te llamaré') or is a command ('Cuando llegues, llámame'). When you use 'cuando + indicative' for habits or the past, the main clause is typically in the present or a past tense.