"I hope you'll still be able to stay in touch."

Question

Here's my best attempt...

Espero que todavía fueres capaz de mantenerse en contacto.

One of the translators here also came up with :

Espero que usted todavía podrá permanecer en contacto.

I'm thinking because of "espero" this requires use of the future subjective, so if the translator's vocabulary in general is better, in place of "podrá" would be "pudiere." (actually I'd nix the "usted" too and make it "pudieres" since she's a close friend.)

Let me know if it should be a separate question, but I would be particularly interested to hear discussion about which, if either, is more appropriate here re "mantenerse" versus " permanecer"...and if "seguir" might also work in some way.

Thanks.

• Arnold, I changed your category so it will be more helpful. - Nicole-B Nov 9, 2009
• Thanks, although I wasn't looking for just proof-reading, but rather a discussion on vocabular and grammar, so the other seems more appropriate. - arnold3 Nov 9, 2009
• OK, I'll switch you back. Sorry. - Nicole-B Nov 9, 2009
• jejeje, thanks...no problem though, the experts will hopefully be weighing in soon. :) - arnold3 Nov 9, 2009

Answer 1

I hope you'll still be able to stay in touch.

Espero que aún puedas mantenerte en contacto/comunicación

Another common forms:

Espero que continúes manteniéndote en contacto

Espero que puedas continuar en contacto

Answer 2

Hi Arnold,

I'm sorry that I can't answer your whole question, but I can tell you that you should not use the future subjunctive. I've heard this from teachers, books, and Heidita (the ultimate source jejej).

The future subjunctive is becoming obsolete. You are unlikely to ever hear it, as in spoken Spanish it tends to be replaced by the present subjunctive.

• Fascinating! Thanks for the "update". So.."puedas" or "seas" instead of "pudieres" or "fueres". - arnold3 Nov 9, 2009

Answer 3

HI Arnold, I have been looking for the thread and I finally found it:

Future subjunctive

Here is another more recent one

and Marianne's memory can be trusted: forget about the future subjunctive, only note that it exists for reading matters. It is not used and I doubt that everybody knows it actually exists.

Arnold, please open a new thread on the other questions, this will help further searches

Answer 4

I think all of Mokay's suggestions are good. Additionally, if your intent is to express the general idea/sentiment (as opposed to translating a specific English construction/sentence), you could say "Espero que podemos mantenernos en contacto."

• "(nosotros) podamos", ;-) - Mokay Nov 14, 2009