why subjunctive?

Question

Hi I have a question about what I think is the subjunctive. The expressions "¡que te mejores!" (get well soon) and "¡Que te diviertas!" (have fun) are both in the subjunctive (I think.) Why is that? Normally with expressions or commands you use the indicative form without the "r" like in "déjame in paz". Any help woud be great. Thanks.

Good question. - --Mariana--, Jun 22, 2012

Answer 1

Yes you are right, both your phrases are in the subjunctive but that's because the phrases ¡que te mejores!" and "¡que te diviertas! are not informal commands. The introduction of "que" brings in an element of hope.

Que te mejores - That you may get better.

Que te diviertas - That you may enjoy yourself.

The informal commands would be thus and not in the subjunctive form,

Mejórate - Get better

Diviértete - Enjoy yourself

Answer 2

It's really a short cut of "(Espero) que te mejores" and "(Espero) que te diviertas."

The "Espero que...." tells you that it's something that belongs in the subjunctive mood.

Answer 3

thanks alot!

Answer 4

I frequently forget to use it myself where needed, but the subjunctive also expresses wishes. Moreover, you don't use the indicative for orders and commands, but the imperative. For the informal imperative you use the same form as the 3rd person singular of the indicative when affirmative, as in 'déjame en paz' but for the formal command and the negative commands you use the same form as the subjunctive. ( f.i. preocuparse => no te preocupes) . There is one exception : the vosotros imperative has a form of its own : hablad, sed (ser), id (ir). You can check this with any verb in the conjugation part of SpanishDict by looking up the imperative. A very useful part of this learning site . When in doubt, there's always the conjugation engine.