The Subjunctive Mood of Servir is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about an action, for example: Espero que me sirvas la cena pronto. (I hope you serve me dinner soon.)

Servir is an e to i stem-changing verb, meaning the e in the verb stem changes to i in certain conjugations of the present subjunctive.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Servir (to serve) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

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

To be useful or helpful: for example, Que me sirva de lección para no volver a cometer el mismo error. (May it serve as a lesson for me not to make the same mistake again.)

To be suitable or appropriate: for example, Que te sirva el vestido para la boda. (May the dress be suitable for you for the wedding.)

To work or function (for a purpose): for example, Que le sirva el ordenador para sus estudios. (May the computer work for his/her studies.)

To attend or wait on (someone): for example, Que me sirvan la cena, por favor. (May they serve me dinner, please.)

To provide or supply (something): for example, Que les sirvan más vino a los invitados. (May they serve more wine to the guests.)

To be good enough (informal): for example, ¿Que me sirva esta camisa para la fiesta? (Will this shirt do for the party?)

Examples

Examples of Servir in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que el mesero sirva la comida caliente. (It’s important that the waiter serves the food hot.)

Ojalá que el equipo sirva bien en el próximo partido. (I hope the team plays well in the next game.)

Aunque no lo creas, prefiero que sirvas la cena esta noche. (Even if you don’t believe it, I prefer that you serve dinner tonight.)

Para que la reunión sea un éxito, es necesario que todos sirvamos de manera profesional. (For the meeting to be a success, it’s necessary that we all serve in a professional manner.)

El chef insistió en que sus ayudantes sirvieran los platos con esmero. (The chef insisted that his assistants serve the dishes with care.)

Mamá quiere que sirvamos la cena en la terraza para disfrutar del atardecer. (Mom wants us to serve dinner on the patio to enjoy the sunset.)

Tal vez sirváis vino tinto con la carne, ¿no? (Maybe you all could serve red wine with the meat, right?)

Es una lástima que los camareros sirvan tan lento en este restaurante. (It’s a shame that the waiters serve so slowly in this restaurant.)

Aunque cueste trabajo, es mejor que sirvan porciones más pequeñas para evitar el desperdicio. (Even though it’s an effort, it’s better that they serve smaller portions to avoid waste.)

Quiero que sirvas el postre frío y con una cereza encima. (I want you to serve the dessert chilled and with a cherry on top.)

¿Crees que sirvan comida vegetariana en ese restaurante? (Do you think they serve vegetarian food at that restaurant?)

Antes de que sirvamos la cena, recojamos los platos de la mesa. (Before we serve dinner, let’s clear the plates from the table.)

Tal vez sirvan tragos fuertes en la barra, ¿no crees? (Maybe they serve hard drinks at the bar, don’t you think?)

Dudo que sirvan tacos de lengua en esa taquería fina. (I doubt they serve tongue tacos at that fancy taco place.)

Ojalá que sirvan pronto la comida porque me muero de hambre. (I hope they serve the food soon because I’m starving.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Servir (to serve) 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.