Tal vez + indicative

Question

In the book "La ciudad de las bestias" I came across this sentence: "Tal vez el peligro de la enfermedad de Lisa te ofrece una oportunidad extraordinaria." I had been told that words/phrases like "tal vez", "quizá", or "es posible" are followed by the subjunctive when they are used, because they add an element of doubt. However, in this sentence, the indicative is used. Is this because the speaker is pretty sure that it will offer a good opportunity? Or is there another reason?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Brady is right (smiley) Spanish in a nutshell

You've got a nice and simple explanation for about everything! Are you a trained Spanish teacher? I find it very hard to explain the subjunctive. - diagonx, Jul 18, 2012

Thank you diagonx - yes I teach English and Spanish, I'm a trained English teacher and a self-taught Spanish one je je - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2012

and don't worry I don't think there's anyone on the planet who would find it easy to explain the subjunctive, I'm working on an explanation and have been for a while but it's so multifaceted that it's not easy to put it in a nutshell je je - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2012

Answer 2

It seems this operates in pretty much the same way that "si" clauses work. Uncertainty is implied, but using the subjunctive depends on whether the uncertainty is "probable" or "unprobable". Here is a link to a good thread on the subject tal vez subjunctive

I think that using the subjunctive after si is fairly rare, so much so that many grammar books will tell you that it should never be done (that's not quite true however ;) ) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2012

- that is a great thread, thanks for sharing! :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2012

Answer 3

Both can be used, depending on the amount of doubt that you want to express.