Sea? What in the heck is this?

Question

What is the translation of the word sea in english? I'm using que pasa a local newspaper to learn spanish so to put into context: El grupo quiere que el proceso de debate del sistema migratorio sea transparente.

I understand that they're trying to say "to be transparent" but why not say ser transparente. or tener transparente?

For more on the Subjunctive see the rest of your life! - Jubilado, May 4, 2013

lol Jubilado - but soooo true jeje - Kiwi-Girl, May 4, 2013

Under the subjunctive, look at "verbs of desire or influence". You'll see a lot on this. - rogspax, May 5, 2013

Answer 1

Actually, in this context, "sea" is the third person present subjunctive.

If you were to say "ser transparente" it would not mean exactly the same thing. The group wants the process to be transparent, but, the group has no control over whether the process is transparent or not, so, the subjunctive is used. "sea transparente" is about something in the future that the group has no control over, but if you were to somehow use "ser transparente" you would be trying to say that it's a certainty that it's going to be the way you want it to be. The problem is, that doesn't make good sense in Spanish, because how can you be certain of something that "you desire it to be" yet you have no control over it? It has to be sea.

Answer 2

El grupo quiere que el proceso de debate del sistema migratorio sea transparente.

Maybe this will help. In English there is a subjunctive tense just like there is in Spanish, although for many fewer intances. The difference is that many English speakers don´t know of its existence and Spanish speakers use it regularly.

Most English speakers would translate the above phrase to something like The group wants the process of the debate over the immigration system to be transparent.

Translated using subjunctive in English it would be The group wants that the process of the debate over the immigration system be transparent. (in this particular case, the translation is word for word, which is rare).

sea ..... be

Now that makes sense at last. - ray76, May 4, 2013

You have to be a teacher, Julian. If not, you "missed your calling", hehe. - Pablo-Peligroso, May 4, 2013

Answer 3

This might help you

Ej:

Quiero que tú seas muy feliz.
Quiero que ustedes sean muy felices.
Quiero que él/ella sea muy feliz.

Typo first one "quiero". - ray76, May 4, 2013

Yes, in this instance it's a simple follow on of '' querer que''. I agree. - annierats, May 4, 2013

Answer 4

Welcome to the subjunctive tenses. ;o)

They will make things crazy until one day, poof, they make sense. I'm still waiting for the day.

Answer 5

It is the yo subjunctive present tense form of 'ser'.

It is 3rd person actually, but, in this case, the 1st and 3rd person singular conjugations are the same, so it doesn't end up mattering. - rogspax, May 5, 2013