is "no obstante" followed by the subjunctive?

Question

"No obstante" (nevertheless) - is this phrase followed by the subjunctive or indicative mood in the spanish language?

Answer 1

I don't think so.

No obstante como se ve - nevertheless as you can see

No obstante la evidencia mantuvo su inocencia - In spite of the evidence he maintained his innocence

Answer 2

Either way.

There is a subjective mood only if it follows the three rules for the subjunctive. The subjunctive sentence must express an emotion, a wish, or a desire; it must contain a relative pronoun (que, como, or quien); it must contain an independent and a dependent clause; and it must contain two subjects and two verbs (in the subjective and indicative moods).

So you could say (in Spanish), "No obstante, quiero un hombre quien sea rico," ("nevertheless, I want a man who is rich"), which follows all the rules for a subjunctive sentence. Or you could follow "no obstante" with an indicative expression, such as "No obstante, me niego a hacer mi tarea" ("nevertheless, I refuse to do my homework").

• Isn't the subjunctive caused in your case because of the change in subject after quiero? - Eddy Nov 5, 2009
• No, it is caused by the subject being part of a dependent clause. - Malenor Nov 8, 2009

Answer 3

Give me a slightly longer sentence and I might be able to help you more, but in general the subjunctive indicates uncertainty. With "no obstante" I would most likely use the indicative because to my way of the thinking "no obstante" does not introduce any element of doubt, uncertainty, or even emotion. Person X does this regardless of situation Y.

Answer 4

Eddy, as far as I know in this case the subjunctive is used because "a man" is an unknown subject (not "a particular" man but "any" man - who/quien). The change in subject rule would apply if you wanted someone else to do something, eg "I want you to do your homework" = "quiero que hagas tus deberes", wheras "I want to do my homework" (same subjects) uses the indicative "quiero que hago mis deberes" or just the infinitive "quiero hacer mis deberes". Thanks everyone for the help on the "no obstante" question - I just wasn't sure.

• It is possible to create a subjunctive statement completely free of those three rules - except for the presence of emotion or doubt. But it would still impliy those rules, as in "tenga mi cheque?" - Malenor Nov 5, 2009

Answer 5

I think the confusion here is in the belief that the word "nevertheless" changes the mood of a statement.