When do you use the subjunctive?
First off, don't worry if you can't get your head wrapped around the subjunctive straight away! It's a verb form that expresses actions that are ambiguous or that have not yet happened, and is usually triggered by que. It gets easier to understand over time, but here are its five main uses:
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To express doubt e.g. No pienso que (él) venga con nosotros (I don't think he's coming with us)
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To express desire e.g. Mi madre quiere que (yo) vuelva a casa pronto (My mum wants me to come home soon)
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To express sentiment e.g. Es loco que (ella) sepa hablar más de tres idiomas (It's crazy that she can speak more than three languages)
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After set expressions e.g. Ojalá no llueva mañana (I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow), A menos que hagas tus deberes, no te permito ir de compras (Unless you do your homework, I won't let you go shopping)
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After relative pronouns - like que, el/la/los/las cual(es), donde, cuando - in unsure situations e.g. Busco alguien que hable francés (I'm looking for someone who speaks French), Quiero visitar un país donde no haya carteristas (I want to visit a country where there are no pickpockets) - using the subjunctive here implies that the person speaking isn't sure whether he'll find someone who can speak French or whether a country without pickpockets exists; there is a level of uncertainty.
