The Present Subjunctive of Servir is used to express wishes, desires, or uncertainty about an action of serving. For example, Es importante que tú sirvas la cena a tiempo. (It’s important that you serve dinner on time.)

Servir is an e to i stem-changing verb, meaning the e in the verb stem changes to i in certain conjugations. This applies to the yo, tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms.

Conjugations

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

The present subjunctive of servir is used to express wishes, desires, demands, or uncertainty about an action or state.

To serve or provide: For example, Es importante que el mesero sirva la comida caliente. (It’s important that the waiter serves the food hot.) This is the most common meaning, referring to providing a service or fulfilling a need.

To be useful or helpful: For example, Ojalá que este curso me sirva para aprender español. (I hope this course serves me to learn Spanish.) It expresses the desire for something to be beneficial or advantageous.

To be good for (informal): For example, ¿Para qué sirva tomar tanto? (What good does it do to drink so much?) This colloquial usage questions the purpose or usefulness of an action.

To suffice or be enough (informal): For example, Con este dinero no me sirva ni para pagar la renta. (With this money, it’s not even enough for me to pay the rent.) It expresses that something is inadequate or insufficient.

To work or function (colloquial): For example, Esta computadora ya no sirve. (This computer doesn’t work anymore.) It’s used informally to say that something is no longer functioning properly.

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 tú sirvas de buen ejemplo para tus hermanos. (I hope that you serve as a good example for your siblings.)

El juez ordenó que el acusado sirva una sentencia de cinco años. (The judge ordered that the accused serve a five-year sentence.)

Aunque no es obligatorio, sería bueno que todos sirvamos en el ejército por un tiempo. (Although it’s not mandatory, it would be good if we all serve in the military for a while.)

Para la fiesta, es necesario que ustedes sirvan las bebidas. (For the party, it’s necessary that you all serve the drinks.)

Es una lástima que los políticos no sirvan al pueblo como deberían. (It’s a shame that politicians don’t serve the people as they should.)

Mamá insiste en que sirvamos la cena a las 8 en punto. (Mom insists that we serve dinner at 8 o’clock sharp.)

El entrenador recomienda que los jugadores sirvan de modelo para los niños. (The coach recommends that the players serve as role models for children.)

Aunque no es obligatorio, el jefe sugiere que todos sirvamos en el comité de caridad este año. (Although it’s not mandatory, the boss suggests that we all serve on the charity committee this year.)

Mis padres quieren que yo sirva en una misión humanitaria el próximo verano. (My parents want me to serve on a humanitarian mission next summer.)

Tal vez sería bueno que tú sirvas como voluntario en el refugio de animales. (Maybe it would be good for you to serve as a volunteer at the animal shelter.)

Aunque no es obligatorio, sería bueno que ustedes sirvan como mentores para los estudiantes de primer año. (Although it’s not mandatory, it would be good if you all serve as mentors for the first-year students.)

Es una tradición que los recién casados sirvan el pastel en su boda. (It’s a tradition that the newlyweds serve the cake at their wedding.)

El alcalde propuso que los ciudadanos sirvamos en la junta de vecinos por lo menos un año. (The mayor proposed that citizens serve on the neighborhood board for at least one year.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Servir (to serve) 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.