Please respond if you can . . . does this sentence use the subjunctive?

Question

Juana piensa que la higuera parezca ser triste porque tenga los “gajos torcidos”. (Jane thinks the fig tree seems to be sad because it has twisted branches.)

or is this correct: Juana piensa que la higuera parece ser triste porque tiene los "gajos torcidos".

Thank you very much for your input. Gracias por su ayuda.

¡Muchas gracias! - NancyGrace, Jan 21, 2011

Answer 1

I would use indicative (parece) instead of subjunctive (parezca) because you're stating a fact. Jane thinks the fig tree looks sad. That's a fact, whether the tree is actually sad or not.

Answer 2

And you have to write "estar" triste.

Afaik, ser triste is fine. It just means something stronger than sad, like depressed or melancholy. - hyrumt, Jan 21, 2011