How to Use “Permitir que” in Spanish with the Subjunctive

Introduction

One of the most challenging aspects of learning Spanish is mastering the subjunctive mood. Students often struggle with when to use the subjunctive versus the indicative, and one of the most common structures where the subjunctive appears is with permitir que. This phrase, which translates to allow that or permit that in English, requires the subjunctive in the dependent clause that follows it. Understanding how to use permitir que correctly will significantly improve your Spanish grammar skills and help you express desires, permissions, and conditions more naturally. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the rules, examples, and practical applications of permitir que with the subjunctive mood, making this grammar concept accessible and easy to understand.

What Does Permitir Que Mean in Spanish?

Permitir que literally means to allow that or to permit that in English. It is a construction that expresses the idea of giving permission or enabling something to happen. The key characteristic of permitir que is that it always requires the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause that follows it. This is because permitir que introduces a situation that is uncertain, hypothetical, or not yet realized at the time of speaking.

For example, when you say Mi madre me permite que salga con mis amigos, you are allowing something that may or may not happen. The action of going out with friends has not yet been completed; it is a possibility that you are being given permission to pursue. This uncertainty is why the subjunctive mood is necessary.

The Subjunctive Mood: A Quick Review

Before diving deeper into permitir que, let’s briefly review what the subjunctive mood is. The subjunctive is used to express desires, doubts, hypothetical situations, and events that are uncertain or not yet realized. In Spanish, there are three subjunctive tenses: present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, and present perfect subjunctive. The choice of tense depends on the tense of the main verb and the relationship between the two clauses.

The present subjunctive is the most commonly used in everyday Spanish and is what we will focus on with permitir que. Regular verbs in the present subjunctive are formed by taking the first-person singular present indicative form, removing the -o, and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings (-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en for -ar verbs; -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an for -er and -ir verbs).

The Grammar Rule: When to Use Permitir Que with the Subjunctive

Permitir que requires the subjunctive in the dependent clause because it expresses permission or allowance of an action that is not yet realized or is conditional in nature. The structure is straightforward: the main clause contains permitir conjugated in any tense, followed by que, and then the subjunctive verb in the dependent clause.

The basic structure is:

[Subject 1] + permitir (conjugated) + que + [Subject 2] + [verb in subjunctive]

For instance, in the sentence El profesor permite que los estudiantes usen diccionarios, the teacher allows that the students use dictionaries. Here, the teacher is granting permission for an action that the students may perform. The verb usar in the dependent clause must be in the subjunctive form usen because the action is not certain; it depends on the students choosing to use the dictionaries.

Conjugating Permitir in the Main Clause

The verb permitir in the main clause can be conjugated in any tense or mood, depending on the context and the time frame being discussed. The most common conjugations are in the present indicative, preterite, and imperfect indicative. Let’s look at some examples:

Present Indicative:
Yo permito que vengas a mi casa. I allow that you come to my house. (I allow you to come to my house.)
Ella permite que su hijo juegue en el parque. She allows that her son plays in the park.

Preterite:
El director permitió que los estudiantes salieran temprano. The director allowed that the students left early.
Mis padres me permitieron que asistiera a la fiesta. My parents allowed that I attended the party.

Imperfect Indicative:
Antes, mi jefe permitía que trabajáramos desde casa. Before, my boss allowed that we worked from home.
Los entrenadores permitían que los atletas descansaran los domingos. The coaches allowed that the athletes rested on Sundays.

Conjugating the Subjunctive Verb in the Dependent Clause

Once you have permitir que in your main clause, the verb that follows must be in the subjunctive. The subjunctive verb should agree with the subject of the dependent clause and match the appropriate subjunctive tense. In most everyday contexts, the present subjunctive is used. However, if the main verb is in the past tense (preterite or imperfect), the imperfect subjunctive may be used instead, depending on the context and preference.

Present Subjunctive (used with present or future main verbs):
Permito que hagas lo que quieras. I allow that you do what you want.
Permitiremos que ellos decidan. We will allow that they decide.

Imperfect Subjunctive (often used with past main verbs):
Permitía que ella viniera cuando quisiera. I allowed that she came whenever she wanted.
El jefe permitió que nosotros fuéramos a la reunión. The boss allowed that we went to the meeting.

Practical Examples and Common Scenarios

Let’s explore some practical examples of permitir que in real-life contexts to better understand how this construction is used in everyday Spanish:

In Educational Settings:
La maestra permite que sus estudiantes trabajen en grupos. The teacher allows that her students work in groups.
Los profesores no permitirán que entren con teléfonos móviles. The professors will not allow that [students] enter with cell phones.

In Family Situations:
Mis abuelos me permiten que pase las vacaciones en su casa. My grandparents allow me to spend the vacations at their house.
No permitimos que nuestros hijos vayan solos a la escuela. We do not allow that our children go alone to school.

In Professional Contexts:
La empresa permite que sus empleados trabajen desde cualquier lugar. The company allows that its employees work from any place.
El gerente no permitió que llegáramos tarde. The manager did not allow that we arrived late.

The Difference Between Permitir Que and Other Permission Verbs

In Spanish, there are other ways to express permission, such as dejar que and permitir a alguien que. While these phrases are similar to permitir que, there are subtle differences in usage and connotation. Dejar que also requires the subjunctive and is very similar to permitir que, though dejar que can sometimes imply a more passive allowance, whereas permitir que suggests more active permission.

For example: Mi madre me permite que salga versus Mi madre me deja que salga. Both mean My mother allows me to go out, but permitir sounds slightly more formal, while dejar sounds more casual.

Additionally, you can use the construction permitir a alguien que, which is equivalent to permitir que but with an indirect object pronoun or noun. For example: Permito a Juan que entre is the same as Permito que Juan entre, both meaning I allow John to enter.

Common Mistakes When Using Permitir Que

One of the most frequent errors learners make is using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive after permitir que. For instance, saying Permito que comes instead of the correct Permito que comas is a common mistake. Always remember that permitir que demands the subjunctive because it expresses the idea of allowing something that is not yet certain or realized.

Another mistake is forgetting to include the word que after permitir. While you can say Permito a mi hijo jugar outside of the permitir que construction, whenever you use permitir que, the que is essential.

Additionally, learners sometimes confuse which subject goes with which verb. Remember that the subject of permitir is the person giving permission, while the subject of the subjunctive verb is the person receiving permission or the person whose action is being allowed.

Advanced Usage: Negative Permitting and Conditional Contexts

You can use permitir que in negative contexts to express denial of permission. For example: No permitimos que fumes en la casa means We do not allow that you smoke in the house. The subjunctive is still required even in negative sentences because the action being denied is still uncertain or hypothetical.

Additionally, permitir que can be used in conditional statements. For instance: Si me lo permites, haré lo que quiera translates to If you allow me to, I will do what I want. In this case, the subjunctive in the dependent clause reflects the conditional and uncertain nature of the permission.

Conclusion

Mastering permitir que with the subjunctive is an essential step in advancing your Spanish grammar skills. This construction, which expresses permission or allowance of uncertain or hypothetical actions, requires the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause. By understanding the basic structure, practicing conjugations, and avoiding common mistakes, you can use permitir que with confidence in your everyday conversations and written Spanish. Remember that the subjunctive is used because the action being permitted is not yet realized, and with consistent practice, this grammar concept will become second nature. Whether you are learning Spanish for personal enrichment, professional development, or travel, mastering permitir que will help you communicate your intentions and express permission more naturally and accurately in Spanish.