Home
Q&A
Today's (Special - rules) "Subjunctive - Pedir - to ask for, to request"

Today's (Special - rules) "Subjunctive - Pedir - to ask for, to request"

6
votes

Bienvenido al foro abierto en SpanishDict.com. Welcome to the open forum at SpanishDict.com


1A. First concept of Subjunctive --- Direct or Indirect commands.


1B. When one person expresses his will that someone else do something.

1 I suggest that she come at once. (Sugiero que venga en seguida.)

2 They demanded that we be there on time. ( Ellos exigieron que estemos allí a tiempo.)

3 I beg you not to tell it to me. (Te ruego que no me lo digas).

4 We want you to teach us the dance. (Queremos que nos enseñes el baile.)

5 It’s important that yo do it right away. (Es importante que lo hagas en seguida.)

6 They insist that we return tomorrow (Insisten en que volvamos mañana)

7 We are going to write him to send it to them. (Vamos a escribirle que se lo mande.)


2A. Second concept of Subjunctive---Emotion


2B. Main clause expresses emotion about the action that follows.

  1. I hope she comes. (Espero que venga.)

2 It surprises me that you (should/are) doing that.( Me sorprende que lo hagas).

3 The teacher doesn’t like that he falls asleep in class.( No le gusta al maestro que se duerma en la clase.)

4 I’m sorry that he is sick. (Siento que esté malo.)

5 They are afraid that Ray will leave today. (Temen que Ray se vaya hoy.)

6 I’m happy that she is better. (Me alegro de que esté mejor)

7 He hopes that we recognize him. (Espera que lo reconozcamos.)


3A. Third concept of Subjunctive--- Unreality


3B.. When the main clause expresses uncertainty, denial, doubt.

1 Is it possible that he eats so much? (¿Es posible que coma tanto?)

2 I don’t believe that he will anger me.. (No creo que me enfade.)

3C. Conjunctions that introduce the “subordinate clause” make the action uncertain, indefinite, doubtful

1 In case you see him, tell him that I want to talk to them. (En caso de que lo veas, dile que quiero hablarles.)

2 We won’t share it unless you pay us. (No lo compartiremos a menos que nos pague.)

3D.. Conjunction of time intoduces action that has not yet been completed

1 Before you get fat, stop eating. (Antes de que te pongas gorda, deje de comer.)

2 When the phone rings, answer it. (Cuando suene el teléfono, contéstalo.)

3E. “Subordinate clause” refers back to something non-existent, indefinite, or imagined, (In an adjectival clause (if) the antecedente is something or someone that is indefinite, negative, vague, or non-exsitent.

1 Busco un libro que tenga todas las respuestas. ( “Que”-is the relative pronoun) refers (to “un libro”-which is the antecedent) “un libro” is indefinite. Thus, “Subordinate clause” must be “subjunctive”.

2 ¿Hay alguien que entienda todo? “alguien-somewhat vague antecedent” “que- relative pronoun = “Subjunctive” in “Subordinate Clause”.

3 No hay “nadie” (indefinit,vague antecedent) que baile como ella.

4.¿Hay un lápiz que escriba en tres colores?


4A. Uses of Imperfect subjunctive.


4B. When the main clause is in the past and a subjunctive is required.

1 I wanted you to go. ( Quería que fueras) ,

2 I told them to call me. (Les dije que me llamaren)

4C. When subjunctive subordinate clause refers to a past action

1 I can’t believe that he did it. (No creo que lo hiciera),

2 It’s a pitty that they were sick. (Es lástima que estuvieran malos).

3 I can’t believe that you killed it. (No creo que Ud. lo matara)

4D. When conjunction of time introduces action that (had) not yet been completed.

1 She told us that she would wait until we returned. )Nos dijo que esperaría hasta que volviéramos.)

2 He promise to call me as soon as he could. (Prometió llamarme así que pudiera)


5A. Review of ( si ) ( if )


5B. When (si ) introduces present tense, a subjunctive is never used. If he eats…, Spanish regards it as meaning “suppose”, or “assuming” which is the indicative.

5C. But, when (si) refers to something “contrary to fact”, then Spanish uses the imperfect subjunctive.

Compare the four below----

1 Present indicative – If I have time (assuming I do), I will do. (Si tengo tiempo, iré)

2 Imperfect subjunctive – If I had time (but I don’t) I would go. (Si tuviera tiempo, iría.)

3 Present Indicative – If he is rich (assuming he is), he will buy it. (Si es rico lo comprará)

4 Imperfect subjunctive – If he were rich (but he's not), he would buy it. (Si fuera rico, lo compraría)

6A. Some “Personal” expressions 100% always imply doubt, uncertainty, or denial

Es possible que…

Es imposible que…

No es verdad que….,

No es cierto que….

Es probable que…

Es improbable que…

Es fácil (likely) que…

Es dfícil (unlikely) que…

6B. Indirect or Impied commands…such as, but not limited to….introduce subjunctives

Es importante que…..(It’s important that….)

Insisten en que…..(They insist that……)

7A. Some “conjunctions” 100% always uncertainty, or indefinite.

(In case)-En caso de que…,,

(unless)-A menos que…,

(provided that)- Con tal que…

(Before) Antes de que…

8A. “conjunctions “50-50% may or may not… “depending on what the speaker says”

(although,even though, even if) – aunque,

(granted that) Dado que,

9A “Conjunctions of time” 50-50% “depending if uncompleted, pending, unfulfilled.

(when) cuando,

(after) después de que,

(as soon as) así que,

(until )hasta que


10A. “creer” used in subjunctive


It is the speaker’s expression of “Certainty vs Doubt” not he word "CREER" itself which calls for indicative or subjunctive. The speaker is in the drivers seat.

1 ¿Cree ud. que vengan? Do you think they’ll come? (I doubt it)

2 ¿Cree ud. que vendrán? Do you think that they’ll come? (i assume they will)

3 ¿Crees que lloverá? Do you think that it will rain? ( I don’t know, but it looks that way to me)

4 ¿Çrees que llueva mañana? Do think that it will rain tomorrow? ( I don’t know…I have my doubt)

5 No creo que lo hizo. I don’t believe that he did it (I’m sure he didn’t)

6 No creo que lo hiciera. I don’t believe that he did it. (But, I’m not sure)


Some comparisions of Present-Imperfect subjunctives


1 Quiero que ud. le hable. I want you to call him

2 Quería que ud. le llamara. I wanted you to call him

3 Salgamos antes de que vuelvan. Let’s leave before they return.

4 Salimos antes de que volvieran. We left before they returned.

5 No creía que fuera ella. I didn’t believe that it was her.

6 No creo que fuera ella. I don’t believe (presently) that it was her.


11 A If the subject doesn’t change, then we have only one clause, and there is no room for the subjunctive mood at all.


Espera venir – (He hopes to come)

Sentimos estar tan lejos – (We are sorry we’re so far away.)

No puedo creer que lo comí todo – (I can’t believe I ate the whole thing)

This is just an overview and does not include “haber” or compound tenses.

I give you the “verb” . You use it in a subjunctive sentence.


The verb for today is : “ Pedir – to ask for, to request “



1.(Special - Rules...) Write sentences with “ Pedir " in the Subjunctive mood.



2.(Special - Rules Continued...) You can either use the verb"Pedir" as the subjunctive,...-or- You can use "Pedir" to create the subjunctive mood for a verb of your selection). But, be sure to use "Pedir" in your sentences.


Escríbamela en inglés y español...por favor. Write it for me in English and Spanish please. ¡Incluyan caudros/dibujos…cuando los prefieran! Include pictures/drawings…when you prefer them!

1719 views
updated Oct 22, 2012
posted by viejito

7 Answers

3
votes

Me han pedido que no grite en voz alta por la noche.

I've been asked not to shout so loudly during the night.

updated Oct 22, 2012
edited by annierats
posted by annierats
Hola, Annierat. Tu avatar es interesante y espero que tengas un buen domingo. Es claro que muchas personas no pueden gritar tan alto por la noche - Fidalgo, Oct 20, 2012
Thanks, Worth the vote. ☺ - viejito, Oct 20, 2012
Gracas, por la noche? - annierats, Oct 22, 2012
2
votes

¿El profesor pidió que tu trabajes? ¡Qué injusticia!

The professor asked you to work? What injustice!

updated Oct 21, 2012
posted by Maxwell_R
Thanks, one could also say, “¿El profesor te pidió que trabajes? ¡Qué injusticia!” But, this is just an idea for you. Worth a vote. ☺ - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
Thanks, I actually thought about writing it that way, but I couldn't figure out if it would still require the subjunctive or if it would be ¿El profesor te pidió trabajar? - Maxwell_R, Oct 21, 2012
Is he asking her to do something that she hasn’t done yet? The speaker is in the drivers seat. 19 Spanish countries might argue that they have 19 better ways of saying it….good luck. Hope that I helped you…Viejito - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
2
votes

¡No pude creer que me pidieras ayudarte!

I couldn't believe that you would ask me to help you!

Unfamiliar territory, is it correct?

updated Oct 21, 2012
posted by Jubilado
:) - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
2
votes

.

La estoy esperando a pedirme que le compre algunas rosas rojas. (idea de Viejito)

Estoy esperando que me pida que le compre unas rosas rojas. (idea de Francobollo)

.

I wait for her to ask me to buy her some red roses.

.

updated Oct 21, 2012
edited by Fidalgo
posted by Fidalgo
I might have said, “La estoy esperando a pedirme que le compre algunas rosas rojas.” Just an idea, Worth a vote,. Thanks ☺ - viejito, Oct 20, 2012
Muchas gracias, Viejito - Fidalgo, Oct 20, 2012
Pardon the intrusion: I think this would read better like this: Estoy esperando que me pida que le compre unas rosas rojas. - francobollo, Oct 21, 2012
Muchas gracias, Francobollo - Fidalgo, Oct 21, 2012
1
vote

Yo no quería saber que él pidió un aumento de sueldo. No creo que él trabaja muy duro.

I didn't want to know that he requested a raise. I don't think he works very hard.

updated Oct 22, 2012
edited by GraceM
posted by GraceM
You can asolutely not believe that someone did/didn’t do something…to the point that your absolute disbelief is considered a belief. So, “Yo no quería saber que él pidió un aumento de sueldo. No creo que él trabaja muy duro.” Thanks. ☺ - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
Thank you, viejito. I was confused about that. - GraceM, Oct 22, 2012
1
vote

No estoy cierto que Juan ya le pidiera a María en matrimonia.

I am not certain that John already asked Mary to marry him.

updated Oct 21, 2012
posted by LaBurra
I might have said, “No estoy seguro de que Jaun ya ha pedido a María que se casara con él.” “….has already asked…” Just an idea, worth the vote. Thanks. ☺ - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
1
vote

Temo que el jefe me pida trabajar el domingo y entonces le perderé la fiesta.

I am afraid the boss might ask me to work on Sunday and I will miss the party.

updated Oct 21, 2012
edited by Declan_Ireland
posted by Declan_Ireland
English expression…and I will miss the party ( as in…”going to the party) - viejito, Oct 21, 2012
“Temo que el jefe pueda pedirme trabajar el domingo, y luego yo no podré ir a la fiesta.”I am afraid that the chief could/might ask me to work on Sunday, and then I will not be able to go to the holiday. Just a suggestion/idea. Worth the vote ☺ - viejito, Oct 21, 2012