Why the subjunctive here?

Question

Hi, I was wondering why the imperfect subjunctive is used in the following sentence:

"Supón que has sido invitado a una entrevista de empleo para uno de los puestos que hace unos diás se anunciaran en un periódico local de la siguiente manera"

Why is "se anunciaran" used as this is the imperfect subjunctive? In my the original text it is written "anuciaran" but I assume this is a typo.

Thanks.

is it not supongo? - I suppose - dewclaw, Dec 6, 2012

well i assume because it's the imperative, becuase it's like an order/ instruction and its "supón" in the second person imperative - ralphmat, Dec 6, 2012

Answer 1

It sounds like a hypothetical question thus not reality. For this reason, I think the subjunctive was used.

I thought that too, but if that were the case, surely it would be "hayas sido invitado" at the beginning as it is all a hypothetical situation? - ralphmat, Dec 6, 2012

Answer 2

I'm certainly not the big expert on the subjunctive, but it seems to me you are right. I think maybe there was a double typo, and the correct word is "se anunciaron", just using the imperfect.

Answer 3

This could be written in either indicative or subjunctive depending on the amount of emphasis the writer wishes to place on the situation being hypothetical, but there should be agreement between verbs, "has sido / anunciaron" or "hayas sido / anunciaran."

And you´re right, "Supón" is imperative (tú).