Should I use subjunctive with the word "helpful"?

Question

I'm trying to say: "It's very helpful that I can..." and I'm not sure if I should use the subjunctive with the verb "can".

Es muy útil que puedo? Es muy útil que pueda?

Gracias por cualquier cosa!

Answer 1

Creo que sí.

Answer 2

If the subjunctive is correct here, it would be because you are stating a subjective evaulation of the subordinate clause rather than declaring it.

It would be similar to the It is necessary that, it is important that, it is probable that, etc. expressions. They do not declare/inform about the subordinate clause, but rather state your subjective opinion about it.

The subjunctive and impersonal expressions

It doesn't matter if something is important, probable, critical, necessary, good etc. because these are value judgements and not statements of objective fact. It is your opinion of the statement rather than the statement itself which is the focus.

So here the emphasis is not on informing the person that you can do something (he may already be aware that you can), but rather stating your evaluation of the fact as being helpful.