Ojalá que lloviera / llueva...

Question

I was just reading the reference section and doing the exercises and found this:

"Ojalá que (llover) mañana."

Now, my first reaction is to answer with "llueva"...

"Ojalá que llueva mañana."

But the listed answer is "lloviera". Why is that?

The lesson was for the imperfect subjunctive, but it just seems odd to me. >.<

Can anyone give me some more examples of this? I would greatly appreciate it!

Do you mean imperfect subjunctive? - jeezzle, Oct 20, 2011

oops, yes =) - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

excellent question! I've learnt something else today :) - billygoat, Oct 28, 2011

Answer 1

Ojalá que llueva mañana = I hope it rains tomorrow. And it might.

Ojalá que lloviera mañana = I wish it would rain tomorrow. But it's not likely to happen.

Used with imperfect it's more "dreamy" - wish like.

Ojalá que pudiera olvidarla. It's not likely.

Ojalá que pueda olvidarla. Maybe if I drink enough alcohol tonight, I will.

Ahh.... great explanation ... I got it now =) - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

excelente:) - 00494d19, Oct 20, 2011

I know... I love that last example... jaja =D - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

great answer! - billygoat, Oct 28, 2011

great answer Jeezzle :) - Izanoni1, Oct 28, 2011

Answer 2

Ojalá que llueva café en el campo. If it would only rain coffee in the country
This is a the first line of the lyrics to a popular song from the Dominican Republic, titled , Ojalá Que Llueva Café

It's a fun song you can easily find on youtube. Here's a link to the lyric translation http://zcomposer.blogspot.com/2009/10/ojala-que-llueva-cafe-part-ii-lyrics.html - RickyRick, Oct 28, 2011

There is another song with the same title by Café Tacuba =) Perhaps they just redid it... - NikkiLR, Oct 28, 2011

Answer 3

This lesson explains this pretty well, if that's possible. Ojalá is virtually always followed by the subjunctive. It's just the way it is.

I know it is followed by a subjunctive... I thought it would be "llueva" the present subjunctive of "llover", - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

Nikki is pretty advanced. - jeezzle, Oct 20, 2011

Thanks, guys! I really appreciate the help. =) And yes, Sonrisa, llueva is also the subj. =) - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

Sorry, I thought you meant why subjunctive in general. - KevinB, Oct 20, 2011

Nope, but thank you! =) - NikkiLR, Oct 20, 2011

Answer 4

Okay, as Jeezzle said, we use the imperfect for ""dreamy" - wish like" situations.

Now, what I am wondering is why it is "Ojalá que llueva café" and not "Ojalá que lloviera café"

=D Seems like a dreamy situation to me!

And thanks for the song, RickyRick =) Here is the one that I know.