A Question about the Subjunctive.

Question

Today in another post entitled "Wild Horses" I used the following sentence:

• ¡Qué lastima que no teníamos una cámara!

And Mariana commented as follows:

• I think you should use the past tense subjunctive after "¡Qué lastima...."

So my question is: Since it is a fact that we did not have a camera why would it be subjunctive. I thought subjunctive was about uncertainties and emotions, not cold hard facts.

Can someone please explain it to me?

Does "¿Qué lastima..." always trigger the subjunctive even when what follows is a fact?

I understand that if I had said I wish I had had a camera that that would require the subjunctive. But this was more like "Too bad we didn't have a camera."

Good question. - katydew, Mar 4, 2012

Answer 1

"¡Qué lástima que no teníamos una cámara!" = The fact that we did not have a camera at that particular moment sucks.

"¡Qué lástima que no tuviésemos una cámara!" = The idea/notion that we did not have a camera at that particular moment sucks. The memory of that moment sucks. The 'abstract reality' of it, if you will.

I like it. The abstract reality. Well my mind doesn't work that way. Being an accountant I deal in facts so I never would have thought about the abstract reality of it. - gringojrf, Mar 4, 2012

I know it sounds really weird and oxymoron-ish, but trust me, the subjunctive is hard for learners to "get," but it's sometimes hard for teachers to teach... - FigueroaGaray33, Mar 4, 2012

What I mean is that even as a native speaker and a teacher, I can totally see the scope and the difficulty that the concept of "subjunctive" entails. It's an unwieldy notion and I totally understand when a Spanish learner claims to hate it. - FigueroaGaray33, Mar 4, 2012

Well I'm glad you are here and I hope you stick around. - gringojrf, Mar 4, 2012

Thanks, gringojrf. :-) I hope I can be of help! I really like this site and the people in it! - FigueroaGaray33, Mar 4, 2012

Nice English Figuero. Most English speakers think an oxymoron is a US president. - Pablo-Peligroso, Mar 4, 2012

Answer 2

Does "¿Qué lastima..." always trigger the subjunctive even when what follows is a fact?

Nope. You could say either, "¡Qué lastima que no teníamos una cámara!" or, "¡Qué lastima que no tuviésemos una cámara!" It's all about the nuance of what you are trying to express/convey.

Again thanks. - gringojrf, Mar 4, 2012

excellent points about nuances...I'm finding them most helpful, when I can find them, LOL - HowardO, Mar 4, 2012

Answer 3

I found this... Perhaps it will help.

One reply said:

The renowned American Spanish professor George DeMello's book, Español Contémporaneo confirms lazarus1907's observations- either the indicative or the subjunctive could be used, with the subjunctive being a bit more emphatic in this particular case....

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Does "¿Qué lastima..." always trigger the subjunctive even when what follows is a fact?

According to what I have found, no, it does not.

Thanks Nikki. I hate subjunctive. I can't get my head around it. - gringojrf, Mar 4, 2012

Uff... Don't we all! =D - NikkiLR, Mar 4, 2012

Answer 4

Hola! First of all, you need a "que" there: "¡Qué lastima que no teníamos una cámara! Secondly, except for that tiny little thing, your sentence is perfect; no subjunctive needed.