Trying to use the subjunctive

Question

In my speech, I'm required to use a verb tense other than preterit, imperfect, present, and future, so I decided I would use the subjunctive. I want to say this:

"I hope that I never break a window again"

But I was told that this doesn't read correctly when I translated it to spanish. The suggestions I received were:

"espero no volver a romper una ventana nunca"

"ojalá nunca hubiera roto la ventana"

"espero no romper una ventana nunca más"

The only problem is that these use the present tense or the imperfect subjunctive (We haven't learned the imperfect subjunctive, so I can't use it).

I also received this suggestion:

"Espero que nunca rompa una ventana otra vez"

Is that acceptable to use the present subjunctive while still referencing the future? Also, don't you have to have two different subjects in order to conjugate the second verb in the subjunctive? So would this be correct:

"Espero que nosotros nunca rompamos una ventana otra vez"

Answer 1

Hi, welcome to the forum.

Yes, you can use subjunctive when you are referencing the future. But the sentence should be better like:

Espero que nunca más rompa una ventana.

Espero que no vuelva a romper una ventana.

Espero no romper una ventana otra vez. (is also possible as the person telling it is the same one who is (not) supposed to do the action metioned.)

Thank you, I appreciate the help! - Weibs24, Oct 17, 2010

Answer 2

The first three suggestions you received are the most appropriate ones, in my opinion. "Espero que nunca más rompa una ventana" and "Espero que no vuelva a romper una ventana", although are correct, they sound a bit strange.

Is that acceptable to use the present subjunctive while still referencing the future?

Not acceptable, but necessary.

Also, don't you have to have two different subjects in order to conjugate the second verb in the subjunctive? So would this be correct:

"Espero que nosotros nunca rompamos una ventana otra vez"

That "nosotros" sounds very weird; the rest is fine.

i just can't get enough of your answers. - cogumela, Oct 17, 2010

Answer 3

The "otra vez" is a little confusing because it suggests that there will be another time being in this situation which if true, should be "la proxima vez."

If there is no expected "anther time" in this situation, I would say "Espero jamás romper una ventana," or in subjunctive "Espero que no rompa una ventana jamás." Or as culé has suggested "Espero que no vuelva a romper una ventana."

"Jamás" can be used on its own to negate some sentences (like in "jamás volveré a romper una ventanar"), but in this case you need another negation: "Espero no romper jamás una (otra) ventana" - bill1111, Oct 17, 2010

Answer 4

Maybe you were a bit puzzled with this case because I think you should keep in mind that subjunctive is not a verb tense, but a verb mood.

The subjunctive mood is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express a wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred.

So, you will find you have present, perfect present, imperfect, past perfect and even future subjunctive.

Another thing is that sometimes you can express grammatically perfect sentences that are not use in common speech.

For your example, its far more common to hear something like:

Espero no volver a romper una ventana, instead of Espero que nunca vuelva a romper una ventana, mainly because the subjunctive version it´s ambiguous (vuelva works for both 1st and 3rd person). But both are grammatically correct.

In Spanish, the subjunctive is used in conjunction with impersonal expressions and expressions of emotion, opinion, or viewpoint. It is also used to describe situations that are considered unlikely or are in doubt, as well as for expressing disagreement, volition, or denial. (Source: Wikipedia)