Don't you have any sugar?

Question

I'm thinking this would be ¿No tengas azúcar? and not "no tienes azúcar". ¿Que piensas tú?

Answer 1

A note about the subjunctive and "que" - you are correct that in the "let's" constructions there is no "que" expressed before the subjunctive. "Let's eat" - "comamos". Let's look (for something" - "busquemos", etc.

However, the subjunctive is commonly preceded by a "que" because it is in a subordinate clause. You cannot use subjunctive in a main clause unless it is some sort of command, and "Don't you have any sugar?" is not a command.

If you wanted to say "I cannot believe that you don't have any sugar!" you have the two clauses, change of subject, and disbelief in the main clause - you have satisfied the conditions for subjunctive in the subordinate cluase: "No creo que no tengas azúcar!" Or if you say "I am hoping that you have sugar" - you have the two clauses, change of subject plus emotion (hope) in the main clause - you have satisfied the conditions for the subjunctive in the subordinate clause: "espero que tengas azúcar."

Send me a PM if you want more detail...I love explaining this stuff!

Espero que esto te ayude.

Cuando explicas éstas cosas me ayudas mucho!! El tiempo subjuntivo todavía me da problemas... - Aaron_w, Mar 23, 2010

Answer 2

NO tienes....

Answer 3

If you are in Mexico, and you are in a restaurant, for example, you would say "¿no hay azúcar?" It was explained to me many years ago that in Mexico this is a good way to ask for any sort of food, since there can be double meanings for a lot of things. This was you keep the question totally impersonal and there can be no accidental double meanings. While in someone's house, it probably wouldn't be such a big deal to say "¿No tienes _____?"

Lol. Puedo ver un error grave con "huevos." - Kerri, Mar 23, 2010

Oops! - CalvoViejo, Mar 23, 2010

Answer 4

"Que no tengas azúcar en casa es algo increíble"

or

"Es algo increíble que no tengas azúcar en casa"

But

"¿No tienes azúcar?" is the correct structure No subjenctive here

Subjunctive... - Benz, Mar 23, 2010

It seems like the very same construction though.....there must be some rule about when subjunctive can be used that invalidates the shorter entries like "No me puedas ayudar" vs "No me puedes ayudar". I need to know more about this, please. - jeezzle, Mar 23, 2010

Always place "Que" before subjuntive "Que no me puedas ayudar es terrible" but "Si no me puedes ayudar voy a llorar" - Benz, Mar 23, 2010

Answer 5

Delete please

Answer 6

Always place "Que" before subjuntive "Que no me puedas ayudar es terrible" but "Si no me puedes ayudar voy a llorar"

.

You can also say ¿Que no me puedes ayudar? as in "What? you can't help me? but just in questions

How do explain "Hablemos de fútbol" or "Comamos" - jeezzle, Mar 23, 2010

nosotros commands (let's talk about soccer) ( Let's eat.) - 0074b507, Mar 23, 2010

They can also be expressed with "que" [indirect commands] - 0074b507, Mar 23, 2010

Answer 7

Why wouldn't it be subjunctive if you aren't sure whether or not the person has any sugar.....

Dudo que tengas... No creo que tengas... No subject change in your sentences. [Es lástima que] no me puedas ayudar. (verb change). - 0074b507, Mar 23, 2010

Answer 8

Yo lo traducuria como ¿No tiene algo de azucar?, es asu de sencillo es una pregunta en negación.

Saludos