donde tu estés

Question

He visto esto en una canción: "Donde tu estés, yo quiero estar"

¿Se permite usar el subjuntivo en esta manera, sin "que"?

tú - 0074b507, Feb 8, 2011

Answer 1

The relative "donde" is as capable of introducing a clause with a verb as much as "que" can, but both at the same time doesn't make sense, like in English! You can say "...where you are" or "...that you are", but not "where that you are".

Answer 2

Hello Someone, welcome to the Forum.

Hey, we just dealt with a similar question very recently! Have a look here.

What do you mean "que"? It makes sense the way it's written, I don't know where you expect the "que" tu go. This is not subjunctive...

Yes, my little green friend; I agree! - 005faa61, Feb 8, 2011

Gekko, "estés" is subjunctive. In this case because the singer is being _unspecific_ about her whereabouts, as in "wherever you are". :) - Vikingo, Feb 8, 2011

I dunno... Seems like a clear case of "wherever you go, there you are!" Spot on! All right, all right, I stand corrected. Anyway it just never occurred to me to put "que tu estés" together. I see this as one of the big problems with studying languages... - Gekkosan, Feb 8, 2011

..by grammar. Poor Someone was all confused *beacause* he was told that the subjunctive follows a given formula, which clearly does not work here. - Gekkosan, Feb 8, 2011

Having to learn _bad_ grammar rules is the pits, we sure agree on that one :) - Vikingo, Feb 8, 2011

Answer 3

"Donde que tu estés, yo quiero estar" suena horrible.

"Donde tu estés, yo quiero estar" es absolutamente correcto.

Answer 4

I was confused because I've only used que and such to introduce subjunctive clauses - I didn't know donde could do so as well.

Yep, I hear you. It's one among many "bovine dropping" rules we have to wade through as students. In this case, and in most relative clauses - not to be confused with other kinds of clauses, mind you -, the subjunctive is about being specific (indicative) or unspecific (subjunctive). In addition to "que" and "donde", other alternatives include quien(es), el, la, los, las.., cual(es), cuanto(/a/os/as..), como, cuando, cuanto..

But the important thing is developing an ability to figure out that we're dealing with a relative clause.

Suerte

Vi-rey, you are a veritable "fuente del conocimiento!" ;o) - cristalino, Feb 8, 2011

Answer 5

the "que" is understood (i.e., not written). Perhaps it is best understood by flipping it to be understood "Yo quiero estar donde estés". Hence the "Wherever you may be, I want to be" or "wherever you may be, I want to be".

I'd be interested to read more comments.

Answer 6

"wherever you may be, I want to be"

That might satisfy our inner poets or lyricists

Answer 7

Where you are... I wish to be is the more lyrical and poetic way of saying it in English and definitely more romantic.

The grammatical way would be to reverse the sentence construction:

I wish to be where you are (factual but not as exciting in my view lol)

However, you certainly would not say as Lazarus and others have already rightly commented :

I wish to be that where you are or Where you are that I wish to be

It would make no more sense in Spanish than in English! The sentence already makes sense just as it is: "Donde tu estés, yo quiero estar"

The subjunctive is not necessary the relative pronoun que would not be used here in any position in the sentence

I hope that helps

Answer 8

I was confused because I've only used que and such to introduce subjunctive clauses - I didn't know donde could do so as well.