Question about a word of the day post today

Question

Can someone please explain why gustar is in the subjunctive here?

Normalmente es difícil para mi familia escoger regalos que me gusten realmente, porque no me importan las posesiones materiales, pero la Navidad pasada una de mis hijastras lo hizo muy bien, y me regaló un libro de texto de biología en español.

Gracias.

Answer 1

"que me gusten realmente" is hypothetical. We don't know the presents will please you. Your meaning expresses that uncertainty. The subjunctive mood is all about the hypothetical, while the indicative mood is about reality.

But as Yeser007 said, keep in mind I am still learning, too.

That's a good explication. - Jeremias, Jan 11, 2012

Since I wrote the sentence, and recognized the error as soon as it was pointed out to me- we are talking about my emotional feelings to hypothetical gifts, as pesta notes clearly subjunctive (but not the dumbest mistake I made in that sentence). :-) - Stadt, Jan 11, 2012

Thanks. I understand better now. Sorry for not giving you credit for writing the sentence. It was very educational. - crabbycat, Jan 11, 2012

Oh, I don't need any credit, I am just glad you didn't post the uncorrected version. This is not an easy one, at least for me, as I noted I have screwed it up several times recently. :- - Stadt, Jan 11, 2012

Answer 2

"Escoger" is the verb that needs to be in subjunctive. "Gustar" can remain in indicative since you are writing the sentence and you obviously know your likes and dislikes. I would do it this way:

Normalmente es difícil para que mi familia escoge regalos que me gustan realmente, porque no me importan las posesiones materiales, pero la Navidad pasada una de mis hijastras me lo hizo muy bien, y me regaló un libro de texto de biología en español. (If lo refers to the process of gifting, it's fine. If it refers to La Navidad, it needs to be la).

Another great answer! Thanks :) - billygoat, Jan 13, 2012

Answer 3

I am going to take a guess at this and say it is because of what she might like rather than what she likes. But keep in mind I know absolutely nothing about the subjunctive.

Gary, I wrote that sentence. He. ;-) - Stadt, Jan 11, 2012

Answer 4

Since I wrote the sentence in question, I decided to find an official source of discussion on this: link text

I will copy and past the beginning of the discussion here:

The Subjunctive in Adjectival Clauses

Adjectives are words that modify a noun, describing or limiting it. Examples of adjectives are: the new hat, the pretty dress, many intelligent students. An entire clause may serve an adjectival purpose, describing a noun or pronoun —the antecedent— in a sentence, for example:

Do you have a dress **which will go with these shoes**?

Yes, I have a dress **which will be perfect**.

I don't see any dress **(that) I like**. 

Note that in all three examples above, there is an adjectival clause (the part in bold-faced type) that modifies or refers back to the word dress. That is, the antecedent in all three cases is dress, but in each case the situation is different: in number one, the antecedent is indefinite, that is, we don't know if such a dress exists; in number two, the antecedent is definite, that is, it definitely is portrayed as existing; in number three, the antecedent is negated, that is, its existence is denied or at least doubtful.

The rule: In Spanish, the subjunctive is used in an adjectival clause when the antecedent is indefinite or unknown or is nonexistent or negated; in contrast, the indicative is used when the antecedent is a definite or existing one.

So in my sentence, the gifts (the antecedent) are hypothetical and hence the adjectival clause describing them needs to be in the subjunctive.

There are examples in Spanish at the link.

Fantastic answer Sean. I've just bought myself a new book - The Spanish Subjunctive up close (PMP series). I don't think I'll bother reading it now lol, I will just read your posts jeje. Seriously, that makes perfect sense. Cheers! - billygoat, Jan 13, 2012

Answer 5

Normalmente es difícil que mi familia escoja regalos que me gusten realmente, porque no me importan las posesiones materiales, pero la Navidad pasada una de mis hijastras lo hizo muy bien, y me regaló un libro de texto de biología en español.

This would be the ideal thing....but nobody is perfect, jeje, ni siquiera mi muy estimado Julian

We would also say: no me importa lo material...

Please read PM on a very bad mistake in the sentence Which thread was it?

Ww, I am sorry, jeje, you did not make that mistake, omg, well, just don't even LOOK at the PM, jeje.

Normalmente es difícil para mi familia escoger regalos que me gusten realmente, porque no me importan las posesiones materiales, pero la Navidad pasada una de mis hijastras lo hizo muy bien, y me regaló un libro de texto de biología en español.

This sentence was perfect , my option was a correction of my good friend's Julian's sentence.

¿Qué pasó, mi estimada? ¿Ya no me quieres? - 005faa61, Jan 13, 2012