Subjunctive with Impersonal Expressions

Impersonal expressions are phrases that begin with "es + adjective + que" and do not have a specific personal subject. Many of these expressions trigger the subjunctive. This is the "I" in the WEIRDO acronym.

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What Are Impersonal Expressions?

An impersonal expression is a statement that applies generally, without a specific person as the grammatical subject. In Spanish, they typically follow the pattern:

Es + adjective/noun + que + [clause]

For example:

• Es importante que estudies. — It's important that you study.
• Es necesario que vengas. — It's necessary that you come.

The "it" in English ("It's important...") does not refer to any specific thing — it's impersonal. These expressions often convey judgements, opinions, evaluations, or recommendations, which is why they trigger the subjunctive.

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Impersonal Expressions That Trigger Subjunctive

Necessity and Importance