No Pensar: Conditional or Imperfect Subjunctive

Question

I've been studying the conditional and its use in expressing what would happen after another actions took place, like "Pensaba que llovería." However, I've run across a sentence in my online homework that I don't think is right: "No pensaba que el dueño aumentaría el sueldo." My teacher from Spain has always told me that the phrase "no pensar" always triggers the subjunctive, so wouldn't this sentences use the imperfect subjunctive instead, ("No pensaba que el dueño aumentara el sueldo?" If the "no" was in that sentence, would I then be able to use the conditional ("pensaba que el dueño aumentaría el sueldo?" ¡Gracias!

Answer 1

My teacher from Spain has always told me that the phrase "no pensar" always triggers the subjunctive, so wouldn't this sentence use the imperfect subjunctive instead, ("No pensaba que el dueño aumentara el sueldo?"

You and your teacher are correct. However, if any sentence expressing wish/belief in negative were to incorrectly use the indicative like your homework sentence is originally written, it wouldn´t really change the meaning - it would just sound awkward. This is just a matter of sentence structure.

So forget about this trigger nonsense because there many other cases where the speaker is allowed to choose either subjunctive or indicative depending on his implied nuance. In these cases the so-called trigger thing doesn´t work.

If the "no" was not in that sentence, would I then be able to use the conditional ("pensaba que el dueño aumentaría el sueldo?"

Yes, you are right, ie: "pensabe que llovería" or even "pensaba que iba a llover."

Answer 2

I think you can use either.

But the subjucntive feels better here: He probably wouldn't have increased the salary. No pensaba nunca que augmetara su sueldo.

It's only what I think and í'm only another student.

With luck, Cogumela or Julián Chivvy will answer.