The subjunctive

Question

Hi guys!

Just did the subjunctive WEIRDO lesson, it doesn't seem that difficult, am I in denial or the difficulty hits later?

One of the examples goes like 'Yo quiero que tú limpies el baño'. What If I say ' Te quiero lampiar el baño', what would that mean?

Thanks.

Answer 1

What If I say ' Te quiero limpiar el baño', what would that mean?

That means "I want to clean your bathroom", in perfect Spanish. It would be the same as "Quiero limpiarte el baño".

"Te" = to you

"quiero" = [I] want

"limpiar" = [to] clean

"el baño" = the bathroom

Great explanation, as always! - gintar77, Jun 29, 2011

It is still the monster hiding under the bed, I am getting the idea though but very slowly - pacofinkler, Jun 29, 2011

Answer 2

"Te quiero limpiar el baño" means "I want to clean the bathroom for you." That totally changes the meaning as Jeremias said.

Es lo mismo como decir Quiero limpiar el baño para ti? - Jeremias, Jun 29, 2011

Answer 3

I think It would mean that it is an incorrect phrase.

Look what happens in English when we do something similar by not using the subjunctive.

Sujunctive:

God save the Queen.

Present indicative:

God saves the Queen, (when did God do this? Was she drowning? Did she have a terminal illness and God operated on her, Just what did God do to save her? It wasn't reported in the papers).

Great example - pesta, Jun 29, 2011

Answer 4

It's just incorrect Spanish, and it would sound strange. You want it to mean "I want you to clean the bathroom", but when an infinitive follows quiero it means that the subject of both verbs is the same. So you are saying "I want to clean the bathroom" and the object "te" doesn't really fit in.

I hope that helps a little...

That "te" fits perfectly, actually. - lazarus1907, Jun 29, 2011

One lives and learns... I guess I hadn't ever heard anyone use the I.O. that way, I would have just said "tu bano". Thanks. - Jeremias, Jun 29, 2011