Eso no quiere decir que él sea un santo

Question

I would like to translate this sentence in subjunctive: "eso no quiere decir que él sea un santo" I think there could be three possibilities for "sea": was, were or is. Which is it the correc option?. I think it could be "was" but I am not sure enough. Then the sentence would remain like this: that does not mean that he was a saint. I accepte corrections if there is any mistake.

Answer 1

After reading the numerous Izanoni's answers, I wonder which is the connection between the two subjunctives. In Spanish, we hardly study the subjunctive unless you want to learn more grammar. Simply, we use it and that is all.

And, I know for Lazarus's explanations that it has a lot of rules. And I see that if a foreigner wants to understand the subjunctive in Spanish they have to learn it. But I haven't learned them at school. We have learned by means of practice.

Answer 2

Hi Nila

In Spanish, we hardly study the subjunctive unless you want to learn more grammar. Simply, we use it and that is all.

I think that is much of the problem with the use of the subjunctive in English as well. People use it and they don't even realize that they are using it because it is intuitive to a native speaker to do so. Just like it is not intuitive for me to understand the your intuitive and casual use of the subjunctive in Spanish, it is likely the same for someone trying to learn English. However, just because its use is mostly instinctual does not mean that it does not have rules that are more or less followed. Moreover, it seems that most of these rules are apparently (more or less) followed unbeknownst to the followers.

This is becoming the most interesting. I love that you explain the grammar with examples.

Let me just try to mollify anyone who might take offense to this comment. I do not find it at all odd that anyone would find it difficult to believe that the subjunctive tense is used commonly in everyday English. There are many sites on the internet in which this selfsame position is asserted; moreover, I don't believe that the subjunctive is covered much in school (at least I don't remember learning it in school). It was only later, fueled by my own interest in grammar, that I even remember reading about the subjunctive.

And yet....in everyday speech, the subjunctive is just as common as fleas on a dog.

With so much doubt about the existence (i.e. common usage) of the subjunctive, it seemed like its legend had reached mythical proportion, like a dragon, or a unicorn, or a chupacabra.

Just like any other mythical creatures, people want proof--and with good reason. If I came to you in earnest and tell you that I had seen a unicorn, you would look at me as if I were crazy (and probably rightly so).

But if I came to you with pictures of me with a unicorn, or if I brought you the unicorn so that you could see it for yourself, or if I showed you the unicorn hiding in your own backyard then you might believe me (or possibly think yourself crazy).

People want proof. In my examples, I have done my best to provide that proof so that they can take the evidence and judge it as they see fit.

The unexamined life is not worth living - Plato from the trial of Socrates