"Mejor + indicative verb"

Question

Hello,

I came across a thread here that dealt with the following sentences:

"Mejor que me vaya" and "Mejor que me voy"

"Mejor me voy"

I understand that "Mejor QUE my voy" is wrong, but then why is "Mejor me voy" okay? They mean the same thing, right?

Basically, if someone can give me more information about: "Mejor (indicative verb)" I'd appreciate it.

Another example I ran across is: "Entonces mejor hacemos lo siguiente..."

Answer 1

Yes you're right - you would follow 'mejor que' - with the subjunctive rather than the indicative because if it's is an impersonal expression and you are expressing desire or advice rather than making a declaration.

Whereas a lo mejor is I believe nearly if not always followed by the indicative because you are actually making a declaration.

Answer 2

As you say, mejor+que+indicative is wrong.

You can think it this way, as a rule:

With infinitive:

[es] mejor +infinitive ---> [Es[ mejor salir cuando no llueve

With indicative:

mejor + verb -----> Mejor salgamos cuando no llueva

With subjunctive: you use que because of the mood, not of mejor.

mejor que +subjunctive [sería] mejor que salga cuando no llueve.

Now, you will find examples where que is dropped but the verb is still used in subjunctive mood: Mejor, hagamos lo siguiente ---> [es] mejor [que] hagamos lo siguiente.

Where is the indicative in? ...mejor + verb -----> Mejor salgamos cuando no llueva - 0074b507, Oct 28, 2010