why subjunctive here?

Question

I was watching a programme about food in Spain and the woman says "¿Entonces nunca hicieras el pealla en el gas?" and the translation is "do you ever cook paella on a gas hob?" Why is it "hicieras" here, which is the past subjunctive? Thanks in advance.

Bienvenido al foro. - annierats, Jun 18, 2012

¿Hicieras? It should be "¿Nunca harías (la) paella...?" (future) o "¿Nunca hiciste (la) paella...?" (past). "Hicieras" is incorrect. - Cordobesa, Jun 18, 2012

Thanks Cordobesa..Good solution to that one! - annierats, Jun 19, 2012

Answer 1

I was watching a programme about food in Spain and the woman says "¿Entonces nunca hicieras el pealla en el gas?" and the translation is "do you ever cook paella on a gas hob?" Why is it "hicieras" here, which is the past subjunctive? Thanks in advance.

To me the translation looks like it should be: So never make paella on the gas (cooker).

I have no idea why they have used the imperfect subjunctive because if it's a negative command it should be 'nunca haga'.

As far as I know the only time it could be the imperfect subjunctive would be if there were two clauses separated by que with the second clause requiring the subjunctive.

eg - Nunca creí que mi amiga lo hiciera. I never believed my friend would do it.

Answer 2

I think it is a sort of 'would you 'question: Would you never consider cooking paella on a gas hob..

Just Spanish, don't ask me why. Somebody better at grammar may be able to explain why.