Which verb uses subjunctive conjugation
I understand that the WEIRDO verbs indicates the subjunctive mood but which verb takes the subjunctive spelling; the WEIRDO verb or the action verb? Even though Paralee insists "subjunctive" is not difficult; it still seems confusing. Are there any parallels in English to the subjunctive mood?
R-von
3 Answers
Just to add a bit to what Nancy has already said:
Ella está triste que su novio sienta mal.
She is sad (independent clause)
that her boyfriend feels bad (dependent clause)
and I am sorry to say there are no parallels in English. But we have our own english craziness.
I'm not sure that it is completely accurate to say that there are no parallels in English. Certainly, there are few examples that come to mind where a sentence falling into the Emotion category of the W.E.I.R.D.O paradigm would employ one of the designated subjunctive tenses in English; however, that's not to say that English does not employ other alternatives. Often, instead of using a designated subjunctive verb tense, a subjunctive "mood" is approximated by the use of modal auxiliaries or by the use of an infinitive verb preceded by a disjunctive pronoun (and often preceded by the preposition "for").
For example, here is a sentence in English where a modal auxiliary (bolded) is used to indicate a subjunctive meaning:
?It angers me that you could be so crass
?It hurts my feelings that you could be so cruel.
Here are a couple of examples where any of the three might be used
?It hurts that he would/should act this way [modal auxiliary]
?It hurts that he act this way [designated subjunctive verb form]
?It hurts for him to act this way [disj. pronoun + infinitive]
?It embarrasses me that he would/should act this way [modal auxiliary]
?It embarrasses me that he act this way [designated subjunctive verb form]
?It embarrasses me for him to act this way [disj. pronoun + infinitive]
?I would be embarrassed that he might see me this way [modal auxiliary]
?I would be embarrassed that he see me this way [designated subjunctive verb form]
?I would be embarrassed for him to see me this way [disj. pronoun + infinitive]
One thing worth mentioning, is that in each of these sentences, what gives the dependent clause its subjunctive feel is that it is structured in such a way that it avoids making a concrete declaration, but instead is left in the realm of the hypothetical. For example, compare the declaration with its non-declarative counterparts:
He sees me this way ? The verb "see" is used to make a declaration
He see me this way ? The verb "see" is makes no declaration.
He might see me this way ? No declaration is made instead the modal auxiliary "might" implies a hypothetical situation.
for him to see me this way ? Again, no declaration is being made but instead there is an
Just as an aside, you might be able to better note what is meant by declarative vs hypothetical by examining the meaning of this type of phrase when we substitute an appropriate "if clause:"
I would be embarrassed if he were to see me this way ? future subjunctive
We use the subjunctive in English all the time. "If I were the president . . ." "Were is subjunctive. "If I were to die tomorrow, you'd inherit everything." "If I had only known then what I know now."
As to your question re: spanish, the WIERDO verb is not the one that is subjunctive. The verb in the subordinate clause is the one that is subjunctive.
My sympathies -- it can be confusing. I am not quite clear when you say "WEIRDO verb or action verb". All verbs are active by their nature. I think you are thinking of the two clauses, dependent and independent that are the classic format for subjunctive. If you don't want to worry about which is which, you usually use the subjunctive verb form after the word "que". There is a lot more to it, but this is a start. I'm sure others on the forum have more expert opinions.
Ella está triste que su novio sienta mal.
She is sad (independent clause)
that her boyfriend feels bad (dependent clause)
and I am sorry to say there are no parallels in English. But we have our own english craziness.
