77 Subjunctive Use

Question 1

The subjunctive has four tenses in everyday use:
Remember that, generally speaking, the subjunctive is used in dependent clauses. Which form of the subjunctive is used depends on two factors:

Answer 1

Present subjunctive (I am) “SEA”

Present perfect subjunctive I have been or was) HAYA SIDO

 Imperfect subjunctive (I was, was being, were)     FUERA
    Past perfect (or pluperfect) subjunctive  (I had been)     "HUBIERA SIDO"

Question 2

Remember that, generally speaking, the subjunctive is used in dependent clauses. Which form of the subjunctive is used depends on two factors:

Answer 2

The tense of the verb in the main clause
AND

The time relationship between the subjunctive verb in the dependent clause and the main verb

Question 3

If the main verb is in the Present, Future, or ((Present Perfect (HAVE TENSE)) tense or the Imperative mood, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that takes place (whether in actuality or not) at the same time or after the main verb, then the dependent verb should be in the PRESENT subjunctive.

Answer 3

Example: Espero que comas. (I hope you eat.)

Question 4

If the main verb is in the Present, Future or Present Perfect (HAVE) tense or Imperative mood, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that has been completed (whether in actuality or not), then the dependent verb should be in the PRESENT PERFECT (“HAVE TENSE”) subjunctive.

Answer 4

Example: Espero que hayas comido bien. (I hope you have eaten well.)

Question 5

If the main verb is in the Preterite PAST; Imperfect (WAS, USED TO); 
Past Perfect (HAD TENSE); 
or Conditional (WOULD ) tense,  and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that takes place (whether in actuality or not) at the same time or after the action of the main verb, then the IMPERFECT subjunctive is used.

Answer 5

Example: Esperé que comieras bien. (I hoped you ate well.)

Esperé (PAST TENSE)

Comieras IMPERFECT TENSE

Question 6

If the main verb is in the Preterite PAST; Imperfect (WAS, USED TO); 
Past Perfect (HAD TENSE); 
or Conditional (WOULD ) tense, and the dependent verb refers to action that has been completed (whether in actuality or not), then the past perfect subjunctive (also called pluperfect subjunctive) is used.

Answer 6

Example: Esperé que hubieras comido. (I hoped you had eaten.)

Question 7

The subjunctive mood is typically used in such a way that the verb’s meaning relates to how the speaker feels about it.

Answer 7

In the sentence “Espero que esté feliz” (I hope that she is happy), the second verb (esté or “is”) may or may not be reality; what is important here is the speaker’s attitude toward the final half of the sentence.

Question 8

Another way of expressing the concept is that the indicative expresses reality or what is believed to be reality. But the subjunctive is used for different purposes:

It expresses facts that are contrary to reality.
It expresses doubt that something is or will be a fact.
It expresses how a person feels about a possible action or state of being.
It expresses a wish, intent or command for a possible action or state of being.

It is usually used in subordinate clauses that begin with QUE or SI, although in some sentences (such as simple sentences expressing doubt), a subjunctive verb can be the main verb in the sentence.

Answer 8

Quiero que no tengas frío. = (I want you to not be cold.)( I don’t want you to be cold! (??? Is this the same ))

It’s irrelevant whether the person is cold or not. The sentence expresses a wish, not reality.

Question 9

Siento que tengas frío. (I’m sorry you’re cold.) PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
The sentence expresses the speaker’s emotions about a perceived reality. What is important in this sentence is the speaker’s feelings, not whether the other person is cold.

Answer 9

Te doy mi chaqueta para que no TENGAS frío. (I’m giving you my coat so you won’t be cold.) PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
The sentence expresses the speaker’s intent, not necessarily reality.

Question 10

Se permite que lleven chaquetas allí. (People are allowed to wear jackets there.) PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

The phrase expresses permission for an action to take place.

Answer 10

Di a ella que lleve una chaqueta.
(Tell her to wear her jacket.) PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

Expresses a command or wish of the speaker.

Question 11

No hay nadie que tenga frío. (Nobody is cold.)

Expression of negation of the action in a subordinate clause.

Answer 11

Tal vez tenga frío. (Perhaps he is cold.)

This is an expression of doubt.

Question 12

Si yo fuera un rico, tocaría el violín. (If I were a rich man, I would play the violin.)

This is an expression of a statement contrary to fact.

Answer 12

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Question 13

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Es cierto que sale tarde. (It is definitely leaving late.)

Answer 13

Subjunctive: Es imposible que salga tarde. Es probable que salga tarde. It is impossible that it is leaving late. It is likely that it will leave late.

Question 14

EXPLANATION:
The indicative is used to express perceived reality, while the subjunctive is used to express doubt, negation or mere probability.

Answer 14

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Question 15

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Busco el carro barato que funciona. (I’m looking for the cheap car that works.)

Answer 15

Subjunctive: Busco un carro barato que funcione. (I’m looking for a cheap car that works.)

Question 16

EXPLANATION:
In the first example, the speaker knows that there is a car that matches the description, so the indicative is used as an expression of reality. In the second example, there is doubt that such a car exists, so the subjunctive is used.

Answer 16

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Question 17

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Creo que es ella. (I believe it is she.)

Answer 17

Subjunctive: No creo que sea ella. (I don’t believe it’s she.)

Question 18

EXPLANATION:
The subjunctive is used in the second example because the subordinate clause is negated by the main clause. Generally, the indicative is used with creer que or pensar que, while the subjunctive is used with no creer que or no pensar que.

Answer 18

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Question 19

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Es obvio que tienes dinero. (It is obvious you have money.)

Answer 19

Subjunctive: Es bueno que tengas dinero. (It is good you have money.

Question 20

EXPLANATION:
The indicative is used in the first example because it expresses reality (or apparent reality). The subjunctive is used in the other example because the sentence is a reaction to the statement in the subordinate clause.

Answer 20

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Question 21

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Habla bien porque es experto. (He speaks well because he’s an expert.)

Answer 21

Subjunctive: Habla como si fuera experto. (He speaks as if he were expert.)

Question 22

EXPLANATION:

The subjunctive is used in the second example because it’s irrelevant to the sentence whether he’s an expert.

Answer 22

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Question 23

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Quizás lo pueden hacer. (Perhaps they can do it (and I’m sure of it.))

Answer 23

Subjunctive: Quizás lo puedan hacer. (Perhaps they can do it (but I doubt it.))

Question 24

EXPLANATION:
In a sentence such as this, the subjunctive is used to emphasize uncertainty or doubt, the indicative to emphasize certainly. Note how the Spanish verb form is used to indicate an attitude that might need further explanation in English.

Answer 24

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Question 25

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Hay políticos que tienen coraje. (There are politicians who have courage.)

Answer 25

Subjunctive: ¿Hay políticos que tengan coraje? (Are there politicians with courage?)

Question 26

EXPLANATION:

The subjunctive is used in the second example to express doubt.

Answer 26

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Question 27

EXAMPLE:
Indicative: Llegaré aunque mi carro no funciona. (I will arrive even though my car isn’t running.)

Answer 27

Subjunctive: Llegaré aunque mi carro no funcione. (I will arrive even if my car isn’t running.)

Question 28

EXPLANATION:
The indicative is used in the first sentence because the speaker knows his car isn’t working. In the second sentence, the speaker doesn’t know whether it is running, so the subjunctive is used.

Answer 28

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Question 29

A note about English use of the subjunctive

Answer 29

The subjunctive was once used in English more than it is today, and today it is used more frequently in formal speech than in everyday use. Cases where it is still used in English might help you remember some of the instances where it is used in Spanish.

Question 30

Contrary-to-fact condition:

If I were the president, I’d keep us out of war.

Answer 30

Expression of a desire:

I would like it if he were my father.

Question 31

Expressions of request or advice:

I insist that he go. We recommended that he fill out the form.

Answer 31

In all the above cases, a straightforward translation to Spanish would likely use the subjunctive mood. But remember that there are numerous instances where the subjunctive is used in Spanish where we make no distinction in English.

Question 32

One common purpose of the subjunctive mood is to indicate uncertainty. In some cases, such a use of the subjunctive in Spanish removes the ambiguity sometimes found in English.

Answer 32

For example, take an English sentence such as “I didn’t know she studied Spanish.” This could be translated into Spanish in at least two different ways, but the meaning differs:

Question 33

EXAMPLE 1:
Yo no sabía que María estudiaba español. The dependent clause here (que estudiaba …) is in the indicative mood. As such, it indicates certainty on the speaker’s part that María actually studied Spanish. In effect, the speaker is saying, I didn’t know that María studied Spanish, but now I do.

Answer 33

EXAMPLE 2:
Yo no sabía que María estudiara español. The dependent clause here (que estudiara …) is in the subjunctive mood. This indicates some uncertainty on the speaker’s part as to whether María studied Spanish. In effect, the speaker is saying, I didn’t know that María studied Spanish, and I’m still not sure.

Question 34

In the same way, the use of the subjunctive can indicate some hesitation or doubt on the part of the speaker:

Answer 34

Parece que es un error de computadora.

The speaker is indicating that the problem appears to be a computer error. As in this example, forms of parecer are typically followed by a verb in the indicative mood.

Question 35

Parece que sea un error de computadora.

This sentence could be translated the same as the above one: “It seems to be a computer error.” But by using the subjunctive, the speaker is expressing hesitancy about her conclusion, possibly saying something like “It seems to be a computer error, but it could be something else.” You also could translate this sentence less literally with “It could be a computer error,” which indicates some doubt about the conclusion.

Answer 35

In most cases, the use of the subjunctive is mandated by the structure of the sentence. But in some cases, such as these above, the choice of the indicative or subjunctive mood can express a nuance of meaning that may not be evident in the English translation.