The subjuntivo presente of Querer is used to express desires, wishes, or uncertainty about an action or event, for example: Quiero que tú quieras estudiar más. (I want you to want to study more.)

This is a stem-changing verb, where the e changes to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Querer (to want) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

Querer generally means “to want” or “to love”, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To want or desire: This is the most common meaning. For example, Quiero que vengas a mi fiesta (I want you to come to my party).

To try or attempt: For example, Quiero que lo intentes otra vez (I want you to try it again).

To mean or imply: For example, ¿Qué quieres decir con eso? (What do you mean by that?)

To love or care for: For example, Te quiero mucho (I love you a lot).

To prefer or favor: For example, Quiero que vayamos al cine (I’d prefer that we go to the movies).

Colloquial usage: In some contexts, querer can be used in a rude or vulgar way. For example, ¿Qué quieres, gilipollas? (What do you want, dumbass?)

Examples

Examples of Querer in the Subjunctive Mood

Mis padres quieren que yo quiera estudiar una carrera universitaria. (My parents want me to want to study a university degree.)

Espero que quieras acompañarme al cine esta noche. (I hope you want to accompany me to the movies tonight.)

Es importante que cada persona quiera mejorar y crecer constantemente. (It’s important that each person wants to improve and grow constantly.)

Ojalá queramos cuidar más el medio ambiente en el futuro. (Hopefully we want to take better care of the environment in the future.)

Aunque no lo creas, el jefe quiere que queráis trabajar horas extras este fin de semana. (Although you may not believe it, the boss wants you all to want to work overtime this weekend.)

Mis amigos insisten en que quiera ir de vacaciones con ellos este verano. (My friends insist that I want to go on vacation with them this summer.)

Sería genial que los políticos quieran realmente ayudar al pueblo. (It would be great if politicians really wanted to help the people.)

Dudo que los adolescentes de hoy en día quieran leer libros clásicos. (I doubt that teenagers nowadays want to read classic books.)

Tal vez quieras considerar tomar un curso de cocina el próximo semestre. (Maybe you want to consider taking a cooking course next semester.)

Es necesario que todos queramos un mundo más justo y equitativo. (It’s necessary that we all want a more just and equitable world.)

Ojalá que los niños quieran aprender idiomas desde pequeños. (Hopefully children want to learn languages from a young age.)

Aunque cueste creerlo, mi hermano quiere que quiera ser un influencer. (Although it’s hard to believe, my brother wants me to want to be an influencer.)

Sería bueno que más gente quiera adoptar mascotas en vez de comprarlas. (It would be good if more people wanted to adopt pets instead of buying them.)

Me alegra que quieras aprender sobre otras culturas y tradiciones. (I’m glad you want to learn about other cultures and traditions.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Querer (to want) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.