After impersonal expressions that indicate a willing, wish, command,
preference, desire, necessity, opinion, etc. on the part of the speaker
that another person do (or not do) something, the subjunctive
is used in the dependent clause, after the word que:
Es importante que usted hable con la directora. | It’s important that you speak with the director. |
Es necesario que Elena tome un taxi. | It’s necessary that Elena take a taxi. |
¡Es terrible que no sepas hablar español! | It’s terrible that you don’t know how to speak Spanish! |
Es posible que sea el efecto de la comida. | It’s possible that it is the effect of the food. |
No es preciso que usted tome medicina especial. | It’s not necessary for you to take special medicine. |
However, if the expression does not reflect the desire to influence
a specific person to do something, but instead is a statement that people
in general should do something, then the infinitive (-ar, -er,
-ir forms), and not the subjunctive, is used.
Es necesario evitar el alcohol. | It’s necessary to avoid alchohol. |
Es preferible ir en autobús. | It’s preferable to go by bus. |
Es posible comprar comida aquí. | It’s possible to buy food here. |