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Conjugation Chart

“Matar” (to kill) in the Subjunctive Mood

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Understanding the Subjunctive Mood of “Matar”

The present subjunctive mood of matar is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about killing or causing death, for example: Espero que no mates a nadie. (I hope you don’t kill anyone.)

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

How to Use Matar in the Subjunctive Mood

Matar generally means to kill or slay, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To kill or slay: for example, Aunque mates a la araña, no resolverás el problema (Even if you kill the spider, you won’t solve the problem).

To extinguish or turn off: for example, Aunque mates la luz, seguirá habiendo claridad (Even if you turn off the light, there will still be light).

To exhaust or tire out: for example, Aunque me mates con tus quejas, no voy a cambiar de opinión (Even if you exhaust me with your complaints, I won’t change my mind).

To overwhelm or overload: for example, Aunque me mates con tantos detalles, no entenderé mejor (Even if you overwhelm me with so many details, I won’t understand better).

To destroy or ruin: for example, Aunque mates la oportunidad, siempre habrá otra (Even if you ruin the opportunity, there will always be another one).

To cancel or nullify: for example, Aunque mates el contrato, tendrás que pagar una multa (Even if you cancel the contract, you’ll have to pay a fine).

To exaggerate or overdo: for example, Aunque la mates con tus halagos, no te creerá (Even if you overdo it with your compliments, she won’t believe you).

To beat or defeat (colloquial): for example, Aunque me mates en el videojuego, seguiré intentándolo (Even if you beat me at the video game, I’ll keep trying).

Real Life Examples of Matar in the Subjunctive Mood

Espero que nadie mate a ese pobre animal. (I hope no one kills that poor animal.)

Es importante que tú no mates a nadie. (It’s important that you don’t kill anyone.)

Ojalá que ellos no maten a los manifestantes. (I hope they don’t kill the protesters.)

El juez ordenó que nadie mate al acusado antes del juicio. (The judge ordered that no one kill the accused before the trial.)

Quiero que matemos dos pájaros de un tiro y vayamos de compras y a comer después. (I want us to kill two birds with one stone and go shopping and eat afterwards.)

Mamá no quiere que matéis cucarachas en la casa. (Mom doesn’t want you to kill cockroaches in the house.)

Tal vez sea mejor que no maten a la araña y la saquen de la casa. (Maybe it’s better if they don’t kill the spider and take it out of the house instead.)

Aunque tengas hambre, no mates la gallina de los vecinos. (Even if you’re hungry, don’t kill the neighbors’ chicken.)

Dudo que los cazadores maten un oso esta temporada. (I doubt the hunters will kill a bear this season.)

Mis padres insisten en que no mate tanto tiempo jugando videojuegos. (My parents insist that I don’t kill so much time playing video games.)

Lamentablemente, parece que van a matar el proyecto debido a falta de fondos. (Unfortunately, it seems they’re going to kill the project due to lack of funds.)

Dicen que si matas a una cucaracha, aparecerán más. (They say if you kill a cockroach, more will appear.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Matar (to kill) 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.