Why 'viniera' the past subjunctive?

Question

"No es sorpresa que Merche viniera aquí para su artículo."

Why 'viniera'? the past subjunctive of 'venir'.

Answer 1

This is the same as saying in English "It´s no surprise that Merche would come ........."

The surprise is about the idea or possibility of the action even though we know that it happened, so we use subjunctive.

Answer 2

This is one of the differences between English and Spanish grammar. Because of the impersonal statement in the first clause Spanish uses the subjunctive instead of the conditional as English does in the second one.

You'll find the subjunctive after impersonal statements such as 'it's good that', 'it's bad that', 'it's no surprise that'.

This is so that the emphasis stays on the emotional reaction rather than on the other part of the information which will likely already have been declared, so will already be known by the hearer making it of secondary importance.

In the example you gave it's the imperfect subjunctive because you're referring to a past condition rather than a present or future one.

I'm still learning too especially when it comes to the subjunctive but I'd suggest that if you said - No es sorpresa que Merche venga aquí ...... you would change the meaning from 'would come' to 'comes' or 'is coming' or 'will come'.

It's no surprise that Merche is coming.

This mini lesson might help, I've added your example there as well.