The Subjunctive Mood of Sentarse is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about the action of sitting, for example: Espero que te sientes a mi lado. (I hope you sit next to me.)

Sentarse is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes from ‘e’ to ‘ie’ in certain conjugations. This pattern is common among Spanish verbs and must be memorized.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Sentarse (to sit down) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

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

To sit down: For example, Que me siente en la silla (That I sit down on the chair).

To settle or establish oneself: For example, Que se sienten las bases para un acuerdo (That the foundations for an agreement are established).

To suit or fit well: For example, Que le siente bien ese vestido (That that dress suits her well).

To sit (in an exam or test): For example, Que me siente el examen la semana que viene (That I sit the exam next week).

To settle down (in a place): For example, Que se sienten en un pueblo tranquilo (That they settle down in a quiet town).

Colloquial usage (rude): To sit on something/someone: For example, Que te sientes en mi cara (That you sit on my face).

Examples

Examples of Sentarse in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que nos sentemos en silencio durante la ceremonia. (It’s important that we sit in silence during the ceremony.)

Aunque no quieras, te recomiendo que te sientes y descanses un rato. (Even if you don’t want to, I recommend that you sit down and rest for a while.)

El instructor insistió en que todos nos sentemos en posición de loto. (The instructor insisted that we all sit in the lotus position.)

Para la meditación, es esencial que te sientes con la espalda recta. (For meditation, it’s essential that you sit with your back straight.)

Ojalá que el bebé se siente pronto para que pueda empezar a gatear. (Hopefully the baby will sit up soon so they can start crawling.)

Aunque estés cansado, es mejor que te sientes derecho en la silla. (Even if you’re tired, it’s better that you sit up straight in the chair.)

Mamá quiere que todos nos sentemos a la mesa para la cena familiar. (Mom wants us all to sit at the table for the family dinner.)

El juez ordenó que el acusado se siente y escuche el veredicto. (The judge ordered that the accused sit and listen to the verdict.)

Ojalá que el perrito se siente cuando le digo “siéntate” para poder premiarle. (I hope the puppy sits when I say “sit” so I can reward him.)

Aunque estén impacientes, es importante que se sienten y esperen su turno. (Even if they’re impatient, it’s important that they sit and wait their turn.)

Para la foto de grupo, el fotógrafo pidió que todos nos sentemos en el banco. (For the group photo, the photographer asked that we all sit on the bench.)

Mamá dice que os sentéis en la mesa hasta que terminéis la tarea. (Mom says you all should sit at the table until you finish your homework.)

El maestro quiere que te sientes al frente para que puedas ver mejor la pizarra. (The teacher wants you to sit in the front so you can see the board better.)

Ojalá que el equipo se siente y escuche las instrucciones del entrenador. (I hope the team sits down and listens to the coach’s instructions.)

Aunque estén aburridos, es importante que los niños se sienten quietos durante la obra de teatro. (Even if they’re bored, it’s important that the children sit still during the play.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Sentarse (to sit down) 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.