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Conjugation Chart

“Picar” (to chop) in the Subjunctive Mood

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Understanding the Subjunctive Mood of “Picar”

The Subjunctive Mood of Picar is used to express desires, doubts, or hypothetical situations, for example: Espero que no me piques con esa aguja. (I hope you don’t prick me with that needle.)

Picar is a spelling-changing verb in the -car conjugation pattern. The c changes to qu before the vowels e and i in certain conjugations.

How to Use Picar in the Subjunctive Mood

Picar generally means to prick, sting, or bite, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To eat a small amount: for example, Que pique algo antes de salir (That he/she eats a little something before leaving).

To take a bite: for example, Que piquen las galletas si tienen hambre (That they take a bite of the cookies if they are hungry).

To season or add spice: for example, Que pique la comida con pimienta (That he/she seasons the food with pepper).

To provoke or instigate (colloquial): for example, Que no me pique con sus comentarios (That he/she doesn’t provoke me with his/her comments).

To inject drugs (slang): for example, Espero que no se pique esa porquería (I hope he/she doesn’t inject that crap).

Real Life Examples of Picar in the Subjunctive Mood

Espero que mi hijo pique la curiosidad por aprender nuevos idiomas. (I hope my son becomes curious to learn new languages.)

Es importante que todos piquemos la comida antes de servirla para asegurarnos de que esté bien sazonada. (It’s important that we all taste the food before serving it to make sure it’s well-seasoned.)

Aunque no te guste el picante, prueba este plato para que piques los diferentes sabores. (Even if you don’t like spicy food, try this dish so you can taste the different flavors.)

Ojalá que piquen la curiosidad de los niños por la lectura desde una edad temprana. (Hopefully they spark children’s curiosity for reading from an early age.)

Para que piquéis la emoción de viajar, les recomiendo visitar lugares fuera de las rutas turísticas típicas. (So you can experience the thrill of travel, I recommend visiting places off the typical tourist routes.)

Es fundamental que los chefs piquen cada platillo antes de servirlo para garantizar un sabor excepcional. (It’s essential that chefs taste each dish before serving it to ensure exceptional flavor.)

Ojalá que el nuevo programa de lectura pique el interés de los estudiantes por los libros clásicos. (Hopefully the new reading program sparks students’ interest in classic books.)

Sugiero que piquemos las diferentes opciones de menú antes de decidir qué ordenar. (I suggest we sample the different menu options before deciding what to order.)

Aunque no te guste la cerveza, prueba esta para que piques los diferentes sabores. (Even if you don’t like beer, try this one so you can taste the different flavors.)

Para que los niños piquen el interés por la cocina, involúcrenlos en la preparación de las comidas. (To get children interested in cooking, involve them in meal preparation.)

Ojalá que el nuevo chef pique la creatividad culinaria del restaurante. (Hopefully the new chef sparks some culinary creativity at the restaurant.)

Sugiero que piquéis diferentes tipos de queso antes de comprar para una fiesta. (I suggest you sample different types of cheese before buying for a party.)

Es importante que los catadores de vino piquen cada variedad para apreciar mejor sus matices. (It’s important that wine tasters sample each variety to better appreciate its nuances.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Picar (to chop) in the Subjunctive Mood (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.