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Skill OneSUBJUNCTIVE VS. INDICATIVE The indicative mood suggests that the action of the verb is seen as a fact; it is the mood of black and white, of assertation, of certainty. The subjunctive on the other hand, is the mood of subjectivity, of emotion, of doubt, of contrary to fact. It suggests that the action of the verb is a supposition, a probability, an improbability, something hoped for, or something viewed emotionally. The subjunctive mood appears most frequently in dependent (subordinate) clauses.1 A dependent clause may function as a noun (subject or object of verb, object of preposition), as an adjective (modifying a noun), or as an adverb (modifying a verb). Usually the subjunctive will appear when the subordinate clause 1. depends on an idea of command or causation in the main clause 2. reflects an emotion in the main clause 3. depends on an idea of unreality (indefiniteness, doubt, contrary-to-fact) in the main clause. 4. Impersonal expressions a. Es necesario que lo haga. b. Es probable que venga. Observe that it is the meaning conveyed by the verb, not the particular verb used, that determines whether a subjunctive will appear in the subordinate clause. Escribir normally is not a verb of causing, but in 1.c. it does cause the action in the subordinate clause, and a subjunctive has to be used. Likewise creer in 3.c. is used with a meaning of doubt and the subjunctive is used. BUT: a. No dudo que vendrá. b. No niego que es buen muchacho. (Verbs may be of doubt, but are here used for idea of certainty) (Clause: A secondary phrase, almost always introduced by que. Adjectival Clauses The subjunctive will be used if the antecedent (the noun which the clause in question modifies) is either non-existent or indefinite. 1. No hay un hombre que pueda ayudarme. 2. No tengo un libro que pueda prestarte. 3. Quiero ver un hombre que hable español. (Any man who happens to speak Spanish will do: no definite antecedent.) BUT: Tengo un hijo que habla español. (Definite person) Existe un hombre que puede ayudarme. (There is a particular man here.) Uncertainty In Spanish, when the verb in the adjective clause describes something that may not exist or that has not happened yet, the verb must be in the subjunctive. When the adjective clause describes a factual situation (something that is true), the indicative is used. In the first two examples, the idea communicated by using the subjunctive is that we do not know if such music or people exist. There are some cases in which, thanks to the conjunctions used, the subjunctive will be used always (and never the indicative). These adverbial clauses also serve to describe something that has not happened yet (because one condition has to be fulfilled first). The most common are: En caso de que... (In the event that, in case that) Sin que... (without) Con tal de que... (provided that, so as long as) A menos de que... (unless) Para que... (so that, in order to) Antes de que... (before) A fin de que... (so that) The following is another set of conjunctions that may or may not use the subjunctive depending on the intended meaning. That is, if in the main clause you are referring to a situation that has not been experienced yet, or if there is an implication that it will happen in the future, you will use the subjunctive; but if you are relating a fact, something that has happened or that usually happens, then you will use the indicative. These are only some of the conjunctions that lend themselves to this: A pesar de que (in spite of) Apenas (as soon as) Aunque (although, even though, even if) Cualquiera (anyone) Cuandoquiera (whenever) Cuando (when) Dondequiera (wherever) Después de que (after) En cuanto (as soon as) Hasta que (until) Mientras (while) Por más... que (howeer much) Tan pronto como (as soon as) How do you know if you need the subjunctive or the indicative with these conjunctions? You will need the subjunctive if the action of the subordinate clause (the one with the conjunction) has not been accomplished at the time indicated in the main clause. If the subordinate clause refers to situations that already occurred, you will use the indicative. PAST SUBJUNCTIVE (IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE) The subjunctive in the conditional clauses (Si + past subjunctive / pluscuamperfecto) also are used to describe something that has not happened yet, some hypothetical situation, or one that is contrary to the facts. We have a condition to fulfill before something happens. When one of these conditions refers to a future event, the Imperfect Subjunctive is used in the subordinate clause (the "si" clause), and the conditional is used in the main clause (i.e. Si tuvieras dinero, podrías ir con nosotros al cine). Keep in mind that if the dependent clause is neither hypothetical nor contrary to fact, or if it is likely to take place, you will have to use the indicative. (i.e. Si mi mamá me presta el auto, yo paso por ti). WARNING: Si + present subjunctive / present perfect subjunctive cannot happen!!!! Remember that to talk about an IDEAL/HYPOTHETICAL situation in the present, you use the past subjunctive: "Si hoy tuviera dinero, compraría un libro". In order to talk about a REAL situation in the present, you use the present indicative: "Si tengo dinero, voy a comprar el libro" ¡En esta fiesta sólo vamos a invitar a gente que sea simpática! ¡Busco música que tenga mucho ritmo! Para que la fiesta sea un éxito, necesitamos tener buena música. Cuando vayas a su fiesta, llévale este regalo. Tan pronto como termine mi tarea, iremos a la fiesta. Podemos reunirnos dondequiera que tú elijas Con tal de que tengan música en español no me importa si es rock o rap. ¡En las fiestas de Luisa el tiempo pasa sin que te des cuenta! Si tuviera mi propio automóvil, yo pasaría por ti para ir a la fiesta. Generalizations Also called "impersonal expressions", are those statements that do not have a person as the subject of the main clause: ACASO/ TAL VEZ / QUIZÁ(S) (maybe) BASTA + QUE (to be enough) CONVIENE + QUE (to be suitable) HACE FALTA + QUE (to be necessary) IMPORTA + QUE (to matter) MÁS VALE + QUE (to be better) OJALÁ + (QUE) (hopefully) POSIBLEMENTE (possibly) PUEDE SER + QUE (it may be) ES + (almost any adjective) + QUE Es (absurdo, inevitable, impresionante, bueno, malo, interesante, sorprendente, emocionante, increíble, lógico, raro, conveniente, inútil, terrible, mejor, posible, lamentable, vergonzoso, natural, extraño, estupendo, curioso, agradable, preferible, aconsejable, recomendable, conveniente, relevante, fantástico, deseable, esencial, imperativo, preciso, urgente...) que.... ES + (almost any noun) + QUE Es (una lástima, un triunfo, una casualidad, un error, un misterio, una exageración, una buena/mala idea, una bendición, un reto, una pena...) que... WARNING: The following expressions do not use the subjunctive! You will need to use the indicative with these adjectives because they convey certainty! For this same reason, "No es dudoso", will not use the subjunctive. Es cierto es evidente es indiscutible es seguro es verdad es indudable es obvio es/está claro es un hecho Basta que tú me lo pidas. Conviene que preparemos mucha comida. Importa que haya suficientes sillas para todos. Más vale que nadie traiga bebidas alcohólicas. Tal vez/Quizás venga Raquel a la fiesta.* Ojalá (que) Joel traiga a Ruth. Posiblemente nos divirtamos más que en tu fiesta.* Puede ser que yo invite a mi primo. Es importante que todos lleguen a tiempo. Es una verdadera casualidad que tú también conozcas a Luisa. *(notice how these expressions do not use 'que') Note: In all of the above examples the main clause --the one in the indicative-- is taking place in the present ("es importante" (now/always); "Tom sugiere" (now/always); " Deja" (command - now); "Me parece raro" (now/always); etc) , and the dependent clause --the one in the subjunctive--, refers to a simultaneous or subsequent action. Dudo que llueva mañana ---- I doubt (TODAY/NOW) that it will rain tomorrow (FUTURE ACTION). Dudo que tú estés enfermo ---- I doubt (AT THIS MOMENT) that you are ill (AT THIS MOMENT) Quick Lesson Indicative talks about facts while subjunctive talks about wants, beliefs, needs, feelings, emotions, etc.. |
Skill ThreeNoun Clauses
In general, subjunctive is used only where the subject of the main clause and the subject of the subordinate clause are DIFFERENT, in the following situations: 1. Verb of main clause causes or leads to action in the subordinate clause (idea of wishing, asking, desiring, requesting) a. Quiero que los visites. b. Mando que lo hagas. c. Escribo que vengas a verme. 2. Verb of main clause conveys feeling or emotion. a. Espero que venga. b. Temo que no llegue a tiempo. c. Siento que no haya venido. 3. Verb of main clause signifies doubt or denial. a. Dudo que lo haya visto. b. Niego que venga. c. No creo que venga. 4. Impersonal expressions a. Es necesario que lo haga. b. Es probable que venga. Observe that it is the meaning conveyed by the verb, not the particular verb used, that determines whether a subjunctive will appear in the subordinate clause. Escribir normally is not a verb of causing, but in 1.c. it does cause the action in the subordinate clause, and a subjunctive has to be used. Likewise creer in 3.c. is used with a meaning of doubt and the subjunctive is used. BUT: a. No dudo que vendrá. b. No niego que es buen muchacho. (Verbs may be of doubt, but are here used for idea of certainty) (Clause: A secondary phrase, almost always introduced by que. Adjectival Clauses The subjunctive will be used if the antecedent (the noun which the clause in question modifies) is either non-existent or indefinite. 1. No hay un hombre que pueda ayudarme. 2. No tengo un libro que pueda prestarte. 3. Quiero ver un hombre que hable español. (Any man who happens to speak Spanish will do: no definite antecedent.) BUT: Tengo un hijo que habla español. (Definite person) Existe un hombre que puede ayudarme. (There is a particular man here.) Adverbial Clauses 1. If the adverbial clause is part of the ESCAPA acronym (en caso de que, sin que, con tal que, a menos de que, para que, and antes de que), the sentence will always require the subjunctive. a. The next step is to check the tense of your verb. If the verb is in the present or in the future, the adverbial clause will require the present subjunctive. e.g. Voy con tal que tú vayas. Iré con tal que tú vayas. b. If the verb is in the preterite, the imperfect, or the conditional, the adverbial clause will require the imperfect subjunctive. Fui para que tú fueras. Iba para que tú fueras. Iría para que tú fueras. 2. When the action in the subordinate clause is not an accomplished fact (usually indicated by the use of the future tense or a hypothetical situation), the sentence will always require the present or the present perfect subjunctive. Me iré cuando ellos lleguen. Aunque vayas, no iré. Aunque hayas ido, no iré. However, if the action is completed, the preterite is used. No me fui hasta que llegaron. Aunque fuiste, yo no fui. In repeated or habitual (therefore, completed) actions, either the present or the imperfect is used. Me voy (habitual) cuando ellos llegan. vs Me voy (planning to leave) cuando ellos lleguen. Me iba cuando ellos llegaban. The sentences below will illustrate this difference. Yo tengo que estudiar las palabras. I have to study the words. El profesor quiere que yo estudie las palabras. The teacher wants me to study the words. Tú tienes que estudiar las palabras. You have to study the words. El profesor quiere que tú estudies las palabras. The teacher wants you to study the words. María tiene que estudiar las palabras. Mary has to study the words. El profesor quiere que María estudie las palabras. The teacher wants Mary to study the words. Nosotros tenemos que estudiar las palabras. We have to study the words. El profesor quiere que nosotros estudiemos las palabras. The teacher wants us to study the words. Los muchachos tienen que estudiar las palabras. The boys have to study the words. El profesor quiere que los muchachos estudien las palabras. The teacher wants the boys to study the words. Yo tengo que aprender las palabras. I have to learn the words. El profesor quiere que yo aprenda las palabras. The teacher wants me to learn the words. Tú tienes que aprender las palabras. You have to learn the words. El profesor quiere que tú aprendas las palabras. The teacher wants you to learn the words. Juan tiene que aprender las palabras. John has to learn the words. El profesor quiere que Juan aprenda las palabras. The teacher wants John to learn the words. Tenemos que aprender las palabras. We have to learn the words. El profesor quiere que nosotros aprendamos las palabras. The teacher wants us to learn the words. Las muchachas tienen que aprender las palabras. The girls have to learn the words. El profesor quiere que las muchachas aprendan las palabras. The teacher wants the girls to learn the words. Yo tengo que ir a la biblioteca. I have to go to the library. Gramática For ordinary verbs, we just switch the "a" to "e" or vice versa. There are some irregular verbs. Here is the chart for the verb ir which means to go. Fact ----------------- Feeling voy vamos ----------- vaya vayamos vas van ---------------- vayas vayan va --------------------- vaya El profesor quiere que yo vaya a la biblioteca. The teacher wants me to go to the library. Tú tienes que ir a la biblioteca. You have to go to the library. El profesor quiere que tú vayas a la biblioteca. The teacher wants you to go to the library. María tiene que ir a la biblioteca. Mary has to go to the library. El profesor quiere que María vaya a la biblioteca. The teacher wants Mary to go to the library. Nosotros tenemos que ir a la biblioteca. We have to go to the library. El profesor quiere que nosotros vayamos a la biblioteca. The teacher wants us to go to the library. Los muchachos tienen que ir a la biblioteca. The boys have to go to the library. El profesor quiere que los muchachos vayan a la biblioteca. The teacher wants the boys to go to the library. |