I hope that I'll be home

Question

How would you translate the fallowing sentence I hope that I'll be home for Christmas. Would you use the subjunctive or just an infinitive? Like this "Espero que estaré a casa para navidad.

Answer 1

Would you use the subjunctive or just an infinitive? Like this "Espero que estaré a casa para navidad.

As qfreed pointed, with same subject in both sentences you just use an infinitive. The alternative is to use a clause with subjunctive (Espero que yo esté en casa...), but it sounds horrible. Use Mediterrunio's sentence.

Ok but if we used 'que' like Kyle said, would this be ok? Espero que esté en casa para navidad.???

Since the sentence where "yo" is implied is out of the question, that sentence will be fine for "I hope that HE/SHE will be...". In present subjunctive, the "yo" and "él/ella" forms are identical, which is why pronouns are often used for clarification. In this case, however, a third person would become the most likely interpretation.

aha, so it doesn't work for 'me' then... I get it thank you - margaretbl, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 2

Espero estar en casa para navidad

(which is because there is no subject change between the main and subordinate clause) - 0074b507, Dec 16, 2010

Answer 3

because there is no subject change between the main and subordinate clause

Actually, with "Espero estar en casa para navidad" there is no subordinate clause "estar en casa para navidad" is just a noun phrase.

As Lazarus said, "with same subject in both sentences you just use an infinitive". However it may be worth emphasizing that this is a usage rule not a grammatical rule (i.e. using the subjunctive in a subordinate clause [with no change in subject] does not violate the tenets of grammar but, in practice, there is an overwhelming preference for the alternative construction [noun phrase with the infinitive being the noun] because, one supposes, it's simpler).

If, for some reason, you insist on using a subordinate clause (despite the lack of a change in subject), you won't violate any rules of grammar but you will be venturing into the realm of weirdness and confusion (as Lazarus also pointed out). You will (because of the unusual nature of the construction, need to make explicit what could normally be assumed (e.g. the subject of the verb])

As learners of a second language, our usual goal is to say things the way a reasonably well educated native speaker would, not to push the boundaries of of what the language permits (independent of common practice).

Answer 4

Ok but if we used 'que' like Kyle said, would this be ok? Espero que esté en casa para navidad.???