Idiomatic expressions with subjunctive

Question 1

How do you express the idea of “no matter how + adjective or adverb + …”?

Answer 1

Por + adjective/adverb + que
- use the subjunctive in the second verb unless it refers to a customary or past action

Subjunctive
ex: No matter how clean it may be, this place will always give a bad impression

Por limpio que esté, este lugar siempre causará una mala impresón (future- indicative)

Customary action
ex: No matter how much you hurry, you never finish on time.

Por mucho que te apresuras, nunca terminas a tiempo.

Question 2

What are three common idiomatic expressions in the subjunctive?

Answer 2

1. Que yo sepa (que sepamos)
2. Que digamos
3. Que diga

Question 3

Que yo sepa (que sepamos)

Answer 3

As far as I (we) know- (sepa is subjunctive)

ex: Que sepamos, la profesora no ha enviado a nadie.
As far as we know, the professor hasn’t emailed anyone

Question 4

Que digamos

Answer 4

I should say

used to stress a preceding negative statement and is difficult to translate since its meaning will vary with the context

ex: No coopera usted much que digamos
You are not exactly cooperating, I should say

Question 5

Que diga

Answer 5

I mean

in the sense of “I meant to say” or “that is”

Question 6

As far as I know

Answer 6

que yo sepa

Question 7

“I should say”

Answer 7

que digamos

Question 8

I mean

Answer 8

que diga

Question 9

no matter how much it may cost

Answer 9

cueste lo que custe

(only used in third-person singular or plural)

Question 10

Whatever happens

Answer 10

pase lo que pase

only used in third person singular

Question 11

whether you can or not

Answer 11

puedas o no (puedas)

used in any person
ex: puede o no puede- whether she can or not

Question 12

whether you be willing to or not

Answer 12

querias o no querias

(could do queria o no queria) for he/she