Subjunctive following first person singular?

Question

I'm confused, despite researching this matter here and elsewhere.

Does the subjunctive follow the first person singular, eg: "Espero que pueda....", or is it: "Espero que puedo..." I think I remember learning at a course in Mexico, that you don't use the subjunctive if there isn't a different subject in the sentence, eg: "Espero que puedas... is correct, but if you're talking about yourself, then you don't use the subjunctive? Many thanks, and I hope I am making myself clear.

Answer 1

Use infinitive if the one doing the esperar-ing will also be doing the poder-ing...

Ex: Espero poder (I hope I can) / esperas poder (You hope you can)...

.

Use que + subjunctive if the person doing the esperar-ing is not the person who will be doing the poder-ing...

Ex: Espero que puedas (I hope you can) / Esperas que [yo] pueda (you hope I can)...

esperar-ing, poder-ing Is that what they call Spanglish? - 0074b507, Jun 9, 2011

lol - nice one, made total sense to me, is that scary? - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 10, 2011

Answer 2

Infinitive is compulsory with many verbs when it is absolutely clear from the context who this infinitive refers to, since this form gives no clues about person or number. A verb like "esperar" is one of those:

[Él] Espera poder... ("poder" is about him)

[Yo] espero ir... ("ir" is about me)

If this relationship is not clear, then you need "que" plus a fully finite verb.

Answer 3

Many thanks for the responses. So, if I want to say, eg: I hope to be able to/ I hope I can...go to Chile next year, I would thus say: "Espero poder ir a Chile el año que viene"? Thanks again, and if I said, I hope that you can go to Chile next year, it would be "Espero que puedas ir a Chile....?

This matter has always perplexed me.

I think you have it. - webdunce, Jun 9, 2011

Both examples are correct! - lazarus1907, Jun 9, 2011

Answer 4

It's just 'Espero poder'