Why is the Subjunctive Used in This Sentence?

Question

"Alguien que hable español te podrá ayudar". What part of "WEIRDO" governs using hable instead of habla? This translation of "Somebody who speaks Spanish can help you." was found in some phone instructions for BlueCross users. Gracias por anticipado

Don't worry too much about the weirdos, the whole thing is very flexible. - annierats, Apr 1, 2013

But you give me an idea! The "s" at the end of weirdos stands for "somebody unknown". - rhrisch, Apr 1, 2013

Yes, that could be it, also the hypotyhetical, thenot clear, the philosophical.. - annierats, Apr 1, 2013

what does weirdos stand for? - Rey_Mysterio, Apr 3, 2013

Answer 1

The subjunctive is employed in Relative Clauses when the relative pronoun refers to an antecedent that is vague or not yet identified. For example:

"Busco un abogado que hable inglés" "I'm looking for a lawyer who speaks English"

This means that I'm searching for a lawyer (currently unknown to me) who speaks English.

"Busco el abogado que habla English" "I'm looking for the lawyer who speaks English" ( a known person)

"Busco un apartamento que no esté muy lejos del centro" (unknown to me)

"Tengo un apartamento que no está muy lejos del centro" (I have it)

In your example, "alguien" refers to an unknown person (someone).

Great! - --Mariana--, Apr 1, 2013

Thanks, that makes sense. So maybe the "I" in WEIRDO stands for indefinite antecedent as well as impersonl expression. - rhrisch, Apr 1, 2013

Good answer. - annierats, Apr 1, 2013

Answer 2

"Alguien que hable español te podrá ayudar"

The use of subjunctive isn´t always yes or no; it depends on the nuance you want. In this case the nuance is "someone who might speak Spanish", which is a matter possibility. You can use the indicative if you want, but it will sound very factual and less involved such as someone responding in an irratated manner.

Bien hecho Julian. - Pablo-Peligroso, Mar 31, 2013

Great explanation. I saw a similar one yesterday about someone having the ability to do something being able to help,and they used the subjunctive there too (where I surely would have used indicative) I have much to learn on these more nuanced ones. - rogspax, Apr 1, 2013

¡Gracias, Julian! Great explanation, as usual. - --Mariana--, Apr 1, 2013

Answer 3

Subjunctive is used to espress opinion about another actions. That applies here

Hope this helps

Not quite the case here, amigo. It's used because it's an unknown person that we are looking for. He/she may or may not exist. - --Mariana--, Apr 1, 2013

Gracias - gohern, Apr 1, 2013

Answer 4

I corrected my posting. The original English had can help you instead of will help you. It still sounds to me like the subjunctive means that BlueCross is saying the customer might get help rather than surely will get help by calling the number. One would think most organizations would claim the positive rather than the doubtful.

Answer 5

I think today's Word of the Day has another example,

El jugador de baloncesto se declarará agente libre independientemente de donde sea traspasado.

Is the reason you have sea rather than es here is that no particular jugador de baloncesto is in mind and it is just a general statement about all of them? Then I wonder why El jugador rather than Un jugador was used.

No, it's simpler: donde is a word, if the location is not known, or vague, donde is followed by the subjunctive. - annierats, Apr 3, 2013

Wherever he might go, a classic subjunctive frase. - annierats, Apr 3, 2013

Is this an example of what is called "Uncompleted or prospective actions" at http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/75 ? It looks something like the examples there. - rhrisch, Apr 3, 2013

Answer 6

Uno de nuestros asistentes hispanohablantes le ayudará ( ayudaría).

Just a suggestion.

In England the Blue Cross rescues animals, so I don't really think Spanish will be the language of choice: doggy, catsy..budgeriargese??

Look at Julián's answer. - annierats, Apr 1, 2013

Thisis, if you want a more positive construction, the original version is perfectly correct. - annierats, Apr 1, 2013

Answer 7

Rhrisch said:

One would think most organizations would claim the positive rather than the doubtful.

So true!

I think that I would have written it as, "One of our Spanish-speaking staff can/will help you."