Does subjunctive always have to....?

Question

Sometimes I feel the grammar rules are for the students to follow but for the masters to break...

I read in SD grammar section that in a subjunctive sentence, the subjects of the main sentence and the clause must be different. However, I have read these sentences from an article about subjective usage written by a native española who teaches Spanish for living:

• PRESENTE DE SUBJUNTIVO Cuando hable mejor español, viajaré a Cuba.

• PRETÉRITO IMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO Si fuera de Alemania, conocería Berlín mejor.

In the same article, she also points out that subjective mode can only be used in the "clause":

Además es importante señalar que el subjuntivo se utiliza para subordinar.

However, I have often read in novels where subjunctive is used in a simple sentence.

So are these two criteria always have to be true for subjunctive usage: 1) used in a clause, 2) two subjects must be different.

Gracias

Excellent question. I want to see the responses. Do you have an example of usage in a simple sentence? - gringojrf, Feb 22, 2012

I just read this one, with "quisiera": No quisiera parecer impertinente, pero, ¿eres tú lo que llaman una Hija de Eva? - JazSpanish, Feb 22, 2012

Interesting. Imperfect subjunctive, yet the sentence appears to be in the present. I would use conditional here. - gringojrf, Feb 22, 2012

Just find another one: Mi viejo padre jamás hubiera hecho una cosa semejante. - JazSpanish, Feb 22, 2012

Answer 1

Here's my two cents, but be aware that I'm still learning too

While it's true that the subjunctive is rarely used in main clauses it does happen.

Eg. Quisiera pedirte un favor. I'd like to ask you a favor.

In this case it's a courtesy thing.

Quizas vayamos a Chile. Perhaps we'll go to Chile.

In this case you're putting the whole going thing into doubt.

Baja las escaleras. Go down the stairs.

The command form uses the subjunctive.

Those are the main ones that I can think of - I hope it helps

Oh and I'm still trying to totally verify it but I have a feeling that 'cuando' doesn't need a change of subject to use the subjunctive if you're talking about a future or anticipated event. But if anyone can confirm or deny that I'd be grateful!

The way I view the courtesy ''Quisiera'' is that there is an implied subordinate clause. I would like to ask you a favor, (if you had time.) No idea if that is the reasoning or not. - michellech, Feb 22, 2012

@M, Even if with implied clause, as you suggested above, the clause "if you had time" should be the one use subjunctive, not the main clause per SD grammar. However, you raised another good question, will your sentence needs two subjunctives? - JazSpanish, Feb 22, 2012

Yeah.... you're right ''me gustaría pedirte un favor, si tuvieras tiempo.'' OK... so we're back to the drawing board. hehe... - michellech, Feb 22, 2012

Quisiera pedirte un favor, si tendrías tiempo. Does that work? - michellech, Feb 22, 2012

Answer 2

Kiwi_Girl is right about "cuando." An adverbial clause (one that describes how, when, where, or under what conditions something will take place) requires subjunctive in spanish if the action in the main clause hasn't occured yet. Because the speaker plans to travel to Cuba in the future, but hasn't yet, the subjunctive "hable" is used in the adverbial clause. Some sample conjunctions that introduce adverb clauses include the following:

• a pesar de que (despite)
• aunque (although/even if)
• cuando (when)
• después [de] que (after)
• en cuanto (as soon as)
• hasta que (until)
• luego que (as soon as)
• mientras que (while)
• siempre que (as long as)
• tan pronto como (as soon as)

As for the second example, "si" clauses have their own rules for when to use subjunctive mood. In a hypothetic statement about the future ("If I go to Germany [e.g. tomorrow], I will be more familiar with Berlin"), present indicative is used in a "si" clause. But in hypothetic statements about the present ("If I went to Gernamy [e.g. this afternoon], I would be more familiar with Berlin") or past ("If I had gone to Germany [e.g. a month ago], I would have been more familiar with Berline") require the subjunctive in the "si" clause.The three basic mood/tense sequences for "si" clauses are as follows:

• ("si" clause) present indicative; (main clause) future
• ("si" clause) imperfect subjunctive; (main clause) conditional
• ("si" clause) past perfect subjunctive; (main clause) conditional perfect

If you would like any sample sentences, I can provide some from my book.

References: Blanco, José A. and C. Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch. Imagina: Español Sin Barreras. Massachusetts: Vista Higher Learning. 2007. Print.

nice, thanx :) - Kiwi-Girl, Feb 22, 2012

fantastic explanation. Thank you. - JazSpanish, Feb 22, 2012

Answer 3

I find this explanation today, and I think it helps answer my own questions. Just in case you might be interested, too.

I 'found' ... :) - Kiwi-Girl, Feb 23, 2012