Depends / depende / Subjunctive

Question

Is the subjunctive used after 'depende'? Especially in this case:

ex: Depends if he returns tonight. Depende de si él regresa/regrese esta noche.

Answer 1

I know I shouldn't do this, Bill, because I've seen your location says Spain, but I don't agree.

Depende can be followed by "de que" and "de si", and neither of them sounds bad. They just work slightly differently:

You can either say "depende de que regrese", subjuntive, (he's likely to come and it will depend on his arrival) or "depende de si regresa", indicative, (he might come, or not, and it all depends on that possibility).

me disculpa - your English: 'you're' should be 'your' as some may not know you're means 'you are' also typos - margaretbl, Oct 2, 2010

I agree with Bill in this point - cogumela, Oct 2, 2010

Thanks, Margaret, I should learn to write... (-.-" - LoaEtayo, Oct 2, 2010

Answer 2

If you use the "si" conjunction for that, the tense must be indicative: "depende de si él regresa". However the combination of "depende de" and "si" sounds really bad, probably because both have a similar role in that sentence. I'd tweak it like this: "depende de que (él) regrese", minus the pronoun.

Answer 3

Is it wrong to leave out the 'de' altogether?

Depende si regresa. Depends if he returns.

And, whenever 'si' is used, does that mean the indicative will always follow? Is that a rule to stick by?

I've been inclined to use subjunctive after 'si / if' reasoning that the situation is up in the air as to the likelihood of it happening and that would make it subjunctive.

One clear rule of: don't use subjunctive after 'si' will really make my learning easier! haha.

"Depende de si" is questionable to me, but "depende si" is wrong. As for subjunctive/indicative after "si", it depends. If you are expressing a possible condition, then it is indicative. If it is something improbable, or at least unexpected, subjunctive. - bill1111, Oct 4, 2010

Answer 4

I didn't understand Lazarus' answer.

Apart from that, my question is,

Depends if he returns tonight

is correct in English? or sounds, as Billsport rightly pointed:

the combination of "depende de" and "si" sounds really bad, probably because both have a similar role in that sentence

When you say "él" in Spanish, in most cases is because you have the intention to go like "Person A does this; person B does that, and él... does something else." In other words, "él" should not be in that sentence without a reason. - lazarus1907, Oct 2, 2010

I don't see it too clear in this case - cogumela, Oct 2, 2010

"it depends" in standard English but many omit the "it" in extremely colloguial speech. - samdie, Oct 3, 2010

Answer 5

You are saying "él" there, so I'm curious: who are the others?

Are you referring to the inclusion of "él" as unnecessary? - cogumela, Oct 2, 2010