The subjuntivo presente of cantar is used to express desires, doubts, or hypothetical situations, for example: Espero que cantes bien en el concierto. (I hope you sing well at the concert.)

Cantar is a regular -ar verb, so its present subjunctive conjugations follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Cantar (to sing) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

Cantar generally means “to sing”, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To sing: The most common meaning, que cante una canción (that he/she sings a song).

To tell or reveal: For example, que cante todo lo que sabe (that he/she reveals everything he/she knows).

To confess or admit: For example, que cante la verdad (that he/she confesses the truth).

To inform or report (colloquial): For example, que me cante si va a venir (that he/she informs me if he/she is coming).

To criticize or complain (colloquial): For example, que no cante tanto (that he/she doesn’t complain so much).

To brag or boast (colloquial, rude): For example, que no cante victoria todavía (that he/she doesn’t brag about victory yet).

Examples

Examples of Cantar in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que cantes con pasión en el concierto. (It’s important that you sing with passion at the concert.)

El profesor quiere que todos los alumnos canten en el coro. (The teacher wants all the students to sing in the choir.)

Mamá desea que cantemos juntos en la fiesta familiar. (Mom wishes that we sing together at the family party.)

Ojalá que ustedes canten con entusiasmo en el karaoke. (I hope you all sing enthusiastically at the karaoke.)

Es una lástima que ellos no canten en el evento benéfico. (It’s a pity that they don’t sing at the charity event.)

Aunque no cantes muy bien, lo importante es divertirte. (Even if you don’t sing very well, the important thing is to have fun.)

Tal vez sea mejor que canten una canción más alegre. (Maybe it’s better that they sing a more cheerful song.)

Sería genial que cantemos juntos en la boda de nuestros amigos. (It would be great if we sang together at our friends’ wedding.)

Dudo que ellos canten tan bien como dicen. (I doubt they sing as well as they say.)

A menos que canten con más energía, no ganarán el concurso. (Unless they sing with more energy, they won’t win the contest.)

Siempre que cantes, me alegras el día. (Whenever you sing, you brighten my day.)

Es raro que canten canciones tan viejas en la radio. (It’s strange that they sing such old songs on the radio.)

Voy a sugerir que cantemos villancicos navideños este año. (I’m going to suggest that we sing Christmas carols this year.)

Me temo que si cantan demasiado fuerte, molestarán a los vecinos. (I’m afraid that if they sing too loudly, they’ll bother the neighbors.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Cantar (to sing) 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.