Será mejor que subas

Question

It would be better if you came up here (more like you better come up here). Does mejor que activate subjunctive, or is it because he might not come up there, what about Seriá mejor que subes?

I think mejor, mejor que, más vale que, es bueno que, all activate subjunctive. Right on?

Gracias.

Answer 1

Let me use my worn-out argument: you use indicative if you think, believe, imagine, suspect... that something is true, and you expect others to learn something about what you think.

After you say "It would be better if...", what follows is said just to inform others about something you think or suspect to be have happened? No? Then, indicative makes no sense whatsoever, and subjunctive is compulsory.

In the sentence "Seriá mejor que subes" (your sentence), you are saying "subes", which means that you are informing others that you think that someone is going up or has gone up. But is this what you want to say? Obviously not. So forget indicative.

There is only one rule for subjunctive, believe it or not. I challenge you to prove me wrong.

Answer 2

"Será mejor que subas."

"Será mejor si subes."

"Sería mejor si subieras."

"Sería mejor que subieras."

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Yes, they kind of activate Subjunctive.

Answer 3

Hi Jeez, You may remember me. I'm the one who is not very good at Spanish. I think it is the dependent clause with a different subject that is the trigger.