Imagine...

Question

Hi guys,

How would one transalte the following into spanish? A paragraph starting with "Imagine..." and then following with a hypothetical scenario?

So, for instance..."Imagine that you were me. You went to a foreign country, but you didn't speak the language, so you spent the whole time in your hotel room because you were afraid of getting lost."

Basically what I'm wondering if if you would use the imperfect subjunctive throughout, since kind of the whole situation is a hypothetical in the past, or if you would you use it in the first sentence and then switch to the past tense. So here's my try:

"Imáginate que fueras yo. Fueras a un pais extranjero, pero no hablaras la idioma, así que pasaras todo el tiempo en tu hotel por que tuvieras miedo de te perdieras.

thanks!

Answer 1

Hi, luke!

Two versions:

"Imagínate que tú eres yo. Que vas a un país extranjero pero no hablas el idioma, así que te pasas todo el tiempo en el hotel porque tienes miedo de perderte"

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"Imagínate que fueras yo. Que fueras a un país extranjero y no hablases el idioma, y que te pasaras todo el tiempo en el hotel porque tienes miedo de perderte"

I wouldn't add the subjunctive after porque in any case.

Here's a question: Why two versions? :) - jeezzle, Apr 13, 2011

Because there is the serious possibility of using the subjunctive for "what you are imagining". - samdie, Apr 14, 2011

Answer 2

Thanks for the responses. The obvious follow up is why not use the imp subjunctive for the last tener? You are still speaking in the past: you "had" fear of getting lost in that situation, you aren't speaking in a general sense.

Answer 3

This isn't the grammar explanation that you are seeking, but just a hint for English speakers learning when to use the subjuncitve:

conditional, if clauses

There are frequent tip-offs in English sentences that the conditional/past subjunctive combination is required in the corresponding Spanish sentence. (Compare with the examples above):

1. Use of the past tense (“spoke”) in the “if” clause to indicate a present/future situation. (“If you spoke [right now]...”).

1. Use of the word “would” in the main clause to indicate conjecture for present/future time. (“...they would believe you [now or in the future]”).

2. Use of “would have” to in either clause to indicate conjecture/hypothesis in past time. (“...they would have believed you”).

So in Cogumela's 2nd example:

Imagine that you were (fuera) me....past tense to speak about present or future time (subjunctive); rather than Imagine that you are (eres) me...present tense referring to present or future time.(indicative)

Notice in the subjunctive sentence that "tienes" is in present tense showing that you are using the imperfect subjunctive when discussing the present time.