Phrases containing a change in subject

Question

So with subjunctive, the first thing we're taught is when you use it like querer que, necesitar que, esperar que, and that's for when the subject changes (I want you to leave). Then I saw this article http://spanish.about.com/cs/verbs/a/infin_chang_sub.htm which says you just use the infinitive, just like in English. That doesn't seem to include querer or necesitar or the ones associated with the subjunctive, so I thought the rest would all be infinitive. But I'm still confused. This article says with dejar and decir it's infinitive, but in class I'm pretty sure my professor has said something along the lines of "dejar que sea" or "me dijo que lo hiciera".

So I'm pretty confused...is one of these correct? Is there a specific set of rules, or can you use both? Thanks in advance.

activated your link - 0074b507, Oct 1, 2011

Answer 1

I think you're talking about sentences like these:

"Es necesario estudiar" but the sentence doesn't refer to any particular person.

However, if you were referring to a particular person, you would use the subjunctive:

"Es necesario que Juan estudie."

That's where I've seen the difference between using the infinitive and the subjunctive.

Answer 2

can you use both?

Apparently so.

I didnt read anything in that article pointing out dejar or decir. It speaks of verbs of influence in general. Dejar does not always mean to allow and decir does not always mean to tell to so I would not paint with too broad a brush.

Also I read nothing refuting the uses that you said that you were already familiar with: the subjunctive in a subordinate clause with a subject change.

The article was informing you of an alternative use. It does not say that the other situation is incorrect. What it said was that either of these is correct:

Te prohibo fumar

Te prohibo que fumes

depending on whether a subordinate clause was employed. It also does not say that the "rule" about using the infinitive when there is no subject change is incorrect.

So far I fail to see a conflict that needs resolved. I think that you are assuming an implication that does not exist. Just because there is a "rule" concerning when there is no subject change that you use the infinitive, does not imply that when there is a subject change that you must not use the infinitive.

Answer 3

I don't know whether it will answer your question but there is an article on the subjunctive in the resource section .