The presente de subjuntivo of masticar is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about the action of chewing, for example: Espero que mastiques bien la comida. (I hope you chew your food well.)

This verb follows the -car spelling-changing conjugation pattern, where the ‘c’ changes to ‘qu’ before the vowel endings.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Masticar (to chew) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish):

The present subjunctive of masticar is used to express wishes, desires, demands, or uncertainty about the action of chewing or masticating.

To chew or masticate: Es importante que mastiques bien la comida (It’s important that you chew your food well). This is the most common meaning, referring to the physical act of chewing or grinding food with the teeth to aid digestion.

To ponder or mull over (figurative): Necesito que mastiques bien esa idea antes de tomar una decisión (I need you to mull over that idea before making a decision). In this figurative sense, it means to carefully consider or contemplate something before acting.

To speak unclearly or mumble (colloquial): ¿Qué estás masticando? ¡Habla claro! (What are you mumbling? Speak clearly!). In informal contexts, it can refer to speaking in an unclear or mumbling manner.

To chew gum or tobacco (slang): No puedes masticar chicle en clase (You can’t chew gum in class). This slang usage refers to chewing gum or tobacco products.

Examples

Examples of Masticar in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que mastiques bien la comida para una buena digestión. (It’s important that you chew your food well for good digestion.)

Aunque no tengas hambre, el médico recomienda que mastiques algo ligero. (Even if you’re not hungry, the doctor recommends that you chew something light.)

Mamá insiste en que mastiquemos cada bocado 20 veces antes de tragarlo. (Mom insists that we chew each bite 20 times before swallowing it.)

Ojalá que ustedes mastiquen con la boca cerrada en la cena de gala. (I hope you all chew with your mouths closed at the gala dinner.)

Es fundamental que mastiques lentamente para apreciar los sabores de la comida gourmet. (It’s essential that you chew slowly to appreciate the flavors of gourmet food.)

Aunque la pizza esté deliciosa, no te olvides de masticar bien. (Even if the pizza is delicious, don’t forget to chew it well.)

El instructor de yoga nos pidió que mastiquemos un poco de jengibre antes de la clase. (The yoga instructor asked us to chew some ginger before class.)

Para el postre, sugiero que mastiquen estos dulces de chocolate lentamente. (For dessert, I suggest you chew these chocolate candies slowly.)

Tal vez deberías masticar un poco de chicle sin azúcar después de comer. (Maybe you should chew some sugar-free gum after eating.)

Quiero que todos mastiquen bien la comida en la mesa, ¿entendido? (I want everyone to chew their food well at the table, understood?)

El chef recomienda que mastiquemos este plato de hierbas aromáticas con mucho cuidado. (The chef recommends that we chew this herb dish very carefully.)

Voy a pedir que mastiquen un poco de pan antes de servir el plato principal. (I’m going to ask that you chew some bread before serving the main course.)

Aunque no te guste la textura, es importante que mastiques las verduras cocidas. (Even if you don’t like the texture, it’s important that you chew the cooked vegetables.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Masticar (to chew) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian 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.