Que + subjunctive: orders for third parties

Explanation

A clause beginning with a bare que + subjunctive issues a command, wish, or instruction aimed at someone who isn't the person you're addressing — an understood 'let / have / may': que pase ('let him come in'), que lo haga él ('let him do it'), que decida ella.

The structure drops an implied main verb (quiero/digo que…): que entre el siguiente, que esperen un momento. It's how Spanish relays an order to a third party through the listener.

It also powers a whole set of everyday wish formulas: que te vaya bien, que descanses, que aproveche ('enjoy your meal'), que cumplas muchos más ('happy birthday'), que en paz descanse. Reported commands use the same shape: dice que vengas ('he says you should come').

Examples

Related rules

• Will and requests: quiero que, pido que
• Usted and ustedes commands: hable, hablen