Two Quick Subjunctive Questions
I was just wondering if in the case of:
Voy a volverme loco si cantes.
If the subjunctive would be used because it is conditional. Also I would like to know if quisiera was used in the first clause, would you use the subjunctive in the second too? like: Quisiera que ganen. is that how it is?
4 Answers
I was just wondering if in the case of:
Voy a volverme loco si cantes.
If the subjunctive would be used because it is conditional.
Either option is possible, but there would be a slightly different meaning:
?Voy a volverme loco si cantes ? I am going to go crazy if you sing
?Me volvería loco si cantaras ? I would go crazy if you were to sing.
Also I would like to know if quisiera was used in the first clause, would you use the subjunctive in the second too? like:
Quisiera que ganen.
is that how it is?
This would be a slightly different construction, but yes you could use such a construction. However, I believe that when the verb querer is used in such a fashion, it is often done to form so-called "polite requests" where the verb "quisiera que..." can often be interpreted to mean something along the lines of "I would like that...."
?Quisiera que estuvieras aquí ? I would like you to be here (I wish you were here)
?Quisiera que me recuerden ? I would like you to remember me
?Quisiera que supieras cuánto te quiero ? I would like you to know how much I love you (I wish you knew how much I love you)
?Quisiera que ganen ? I would like you/them to win
Vas (or va) a volverme loco si cantas.
Cantar should be in the indicative. This is not a contrary to fact condition. If you sing, you (or it) will drive me crazy.
Regarding the second situation, quisiera, even though it is the imperfect subjunctive form, is actually referring to a present tense activity ("I would like), so I believe the present subjunctive (which is what you used in your example) is correct.
But perhaps I stand to be corrected on that.
Forget about the verb forms for a moment. Whether the subjunctive or indicative mood is used within the If clause depends on the reality of the condition or situation.
If the If clause is possible or likely then you use the indicative mood. If the if clause is contrary-to-fact or abstract (theoretical) then you use the subjunctive mood.
Si cantes...if you view it as possibe or probable it takes the indicative mood. This is what is referred to as 1st conditional.
If or when this real conditions arises then this is what does or will happen.
Si cantas, me lo disfrutaré mucho.
Now If you sing is unlikely, contrary-to-fact or a theoretical condition:
Si tú cantaras, entonces me desmayaría. (if you sang then I would faint.) This is 2nd conditional. If you sang, but you did not. (contrary-to-fact, but you could do so)
Si hubieras cantado, me habría desmayado. (if you had sung, I would have fainted) This is the 3rd conditional. (theoretical) (You did not in fact sing in the past, so the then clause is only theoretical)
Hey guys. I don't have much to add, but I always learned that the present subjunctive cannot exist after "Si". So your sentence would have to be "voy a volverme loco si cantas". However I'm not a native speaker so it would be great if someone could confirm if I am right or not!
