Identify the subjunctive 1

Recognising subjunctive endings — The present subjunctive uses "opposite vowel" endings: -ar verbs take -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en; -er/-ir verbs take -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an. So hable is the subjunctive of hablar; coma of comer; viva of vivir. Compare with indicative: habla vs hable, come vs coma.

Context clues that signal the subjunctive — Certain expressions almost always trigger the subjunctive in the clause that follows: querer que, esperar que, dudar que, es posible que, ojalá, para que, antes de que, aunque (in concessive sense). If you spot one of these before a verb, that verb is likely in the subjunctive.

Subjunctive in relative clauses — The subjunctive also appears in relative clauses when the antecedent is indefinite or hypothetical: Busco un empleado que hable francés (I'm looking for someone who speaks French — whoever that may be). Compare with: Conozco a un empleado que habla francés (I know a specific person — indicative).