I don't know where you were
'I don't know where you were'
I understand that this 'were' requires imperfect, but does the doubt expressed by 'I don't know' make that also require subjunctive?
Is it
A) No sé donde que estabas
or
B) No sé donde que estuvieras
or
C) something completely different ?
Gracias
Edit: Clarification ---
I don't know where you were an hour ago, and I didn't even care. But right now, I am saying that I don't know where you were then. I know where you are now, because I am talking to you. Before I say "Where were you?" I want to say "I don't know where you were."
5 Answers
Hi pesta, forget about the doubt or no doubt rule
No sé: you are expressing an opinion and something you know (or don't know) but a direct thought, always takes indictative, unless there is one of the words that trigger subjunctive in the sentence.
NO sé dónde está Pedro. Sé dónde está Pedro.
No sabía donde estuvieras. I didn't know where you were.
Yes, it takes indicative.
I'm not able to guess, without context, if it should be:
No sé dónde estabas ( while I was calling to you)
or
No sé dónde estuviste ( all this afternoon, yesterday, last year)
Pesta, "Were" seems to be the word confusing you here because sometimes it can be a subjuctive word in English, but not in this case - it´s simply a verb.
Another way to say "No sé donde estabas" is "No sé donde andabas." Hopefully this, along with the other answers, will help clear up the confusion .
I understand that this 'were' requires imperfect, but does the doubt expressed by 'I don't know' make that also require subjunctive?
Sorry if I make you even more confused, but "were" does not require imperfect at all!
A) No sé donde que estabas
That is "I don't know where that you were", which makes no sense in either language.
No sé donde que estuvieras
Same nonsensical thing, but in subjunctive
The basic structure is: "I don't know... something", i.e. "No sé.... algo".
In you sentence is simple, because that "something" (algo) is an independent question, so it does not require subjunctive:
No sé dónde estabas.
No sé dónde estuviste.
Both are perfect, both are used, but they don't mean the same.
Hi pesta, forget about the doubt or no doubt rulewink
Listen to Heidi: there is no "doubt vs no doubt rule". It doesn't work! It is not true! That's why science improves so much: if something doesn't work, throw it to the bin, even if it looks cute!
