How should "se ayudaran" be understood?

Question

In the sentence that follows I am having a hard time understanding "se ayudaran". Is it subjunctive? "Por eso era muy necesario que se ayudaran con bondad."

Answer 1

¡Hola!, Katrinks:

Here is my longer explantion of it all:

Por eso era muy necesario que se ayudaran con bondad.

Think of your sentence saying this;

“On a continuing basis in the past it was necessary to give them ongoing help."

In this way, because the activity was continuous in the past, the imperfect of ser, which is “era”, was used. If the verb which precedes ayudar is conjugated in the imperfect, then so must ayudar be conjugated in the past and in this case in the imperfect subjunctive which is “ayudaran”. Where the action was ongoing in the past “era” and”ayudaran” which are both past imperfect are used and “ayudaran is expressed in the subjunctive.

I hope this helps.

Moe

• thanks. this is a great explanation! - katrinks Nov 1, 2009

Answer 2

To me it translates as "It was necessary that they helped each other with kindness".

Ayudaran is the third person plural of the imperfect subjunctive. If I am right with my translation I can see no reason why it is used here. After all, isn't it a fact that this has already happened.

Another thought just crossed my mind. My knowledge of Spanish grammar isn't the best, particularly the subjunctive, so some native help would be appreciated, hehe.

Second thought, isn't the subjunctive necessary after "es necesario que".

Eddy

Answer 3

Yes, it's subjuntive...

"...que se ayudaran con bondad." Who? ....Ellos (each other).

For that reason it was very necessary that they were helped with kindness.

• I suspect that the intent was "that they help each other". - samdie Nov 1, 2009

Answer 4

Es necesario que...triggers subjunctive, Eddy!! Dunce corner it is !!

Answer 5

Es necesario que...triggers subjunctive, Eddy!! Dunce corner it is !!

Please miss it was a question without the question mark?

• seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Please remember correct punctuation is mandatory on this site! - Heidita Nov 1, 2009
• jejejejej, ::::rolling on the floor:::: - Heidita Nov 1, 2009

Answer 6

Please miss, so is correct spelling. There are only two E's in see not nineteen. On the floor with you, hehe