A query in the subjunctive
If I wish to say "My friend recommended that" or "I hope the wedding went well" - both refer to a past action. Would they both be subjunctive?
I´ve read the subjunctive explanation in Reference but I´m still not sure. Forgive my ignorance.
Valenciaval
4 Answers
Yes, both require the subjunctive, but only the first one requires the past subjunctive. "Recomendar" introduces an aspect of desire into the sentence...
Mi amigo me recomendó que depositara el efectivo en mi cuenta en vez de guardarlo debajo de mi colchón.
In the second case:
If the main verb is in the present, future or present perfect tense or imperative mood, and the dependent (subjunctive) verb refers to action that has been completed (whether in actuality or not), then the dependent verb should be in the present perfect subjunctive.
Espero que haya salido bien la boda.
Well, if you are telling someone what someone else recommended, wouldn't the desire still be there? Estaba hablando con un familiar y le dije que mi amigo me recomendo que saliera mas temprano para evitar el tráfico en la autopista.
Does recomendar introduce an aspect of desire or reported speech, since you are declaring what someone else recommended?
"My friend recommended that..." wouldn't necessarily be in the subjunctive; it depends on what comes next. Your other example, "I hope the wedding went well." would be in the subjunctive, but the present subjunctive. It sounds like you are asking about the imperfect subjunctive (past tense). That would be more like, "I had hoped the wedding would go well." In cases like that, you use the imperfect subjunctive (deseara).
