G A M E - New subjunctive game (even beginners can play)
It's not always easy to play a game using a part of grammar that you're still learning so I thought I'd try to come up with a game that even beginners can play utilising the subjunctive mood.
All you need to be able to do is to recognise the subjunctive, even if you don't fully understand how to use it yet.
How to form the present subjunctive
How to play
A) Click on newest
B). Copy and paste the last given sentence and either do your best to translate it and/or post a comment as to why you think the subjunctive was used, what difference it made etc.
Important! C). Provide an example written by a native speaker, this can be an example from your grammar book, you can online or in a novel, magazine etc for a sentence that includes the subjunctive. Cut and paste the sentence into your post. (This way everyone will be learning from correct examples rather than being confused as to whether an attempt is correct or not.)
D). State which word(s) appear/s in the subjunctive mood and say which tense and verb it comes from.
Post all of the above for the next player.
In the meantime we can all use the comment boxes to add extra thoughts, suggestions etc.
New Sentence:
I'll start us off:
Given Sentence
Sin duda, es preciso que haya una válvula de seguridad.
Word that appears in the Subjunctive:. Haya the present subjunctive of haber
Translation:
Reason for the subjunctive:
23 Answers
Given Sentence: Y con insistencia le suplicaba a Jesús que no los expulsara de aquella región.
Word that appears in the Subjunctive: expulsara - imperfect subjunctive of expulsar
Translation: They insistently begged Jesus that he didn't drive them out of that region.
Reason for the subjunctive: La frase "le suplicaba a alguien que"... they were begging not to be driven out, whether they were or not is yet to be known.
Great job Tosh - spot on, when someone wants someone to do something it's still a future action and can't be declared with the indicative - KG
Given sentence: No es que sea difícil, es que no tengo suficiente tiempo para hacerlo.
Subjunctive: sea - present subjunctive of 'ser'
Translation:
Reason for subjunctive:
Given sentence: No es que sea difícil, es que no tengo suficiente tiempo para hacerlo.
Subjunctive: sea - present subjunctive of 'ser'
Translation: It's not that it's difficult, it's that I don't have enough time to do it.
Reason for subjunctive: Denial - no es que + subjunctive
New Sentence: Estaba tan aliviada de que eso hubiera terminado.
Given sentence: Estaba tan aliviada de que eso hubiera terminado
Subjunctive: hubiera- present past subjunctive of 'haber'
Translation:I was so relieved that that had finished
Well done on the translation Rog, do you think a slightly more natural translation could be ... I was so happy that it was over. - But yours is good, sigue así! - KG
Yes, Kiwi, I like that better, as it avoids say ¨that that¨ but only by the thinnest of margins. But that is my English ear speaking. What would seem better to a Spanish one, I don´t really know.
Reason for subjunctive: Emotion - relieved
New Sentence: Estoy contento de que te guste este concierto.
Given sentence: En caso de que queráis comer algo, hay comida en la nevera.
Subjunctive: queráis - present subjunctive of querer
Translation: In case you want to eat something, there is food in the fridge.
Reason for subjunctive: 'en caso de que' is always followed by a possibility rather than a declaration so it needs the subjunctive
New Sentence: Un día, ella me trajo la comida a la cama y me rogó que comiera.
My goodness Annie you certainly didn't make it easy did you!
So these are the kind of sentences I'm talking about, I can see what they say and why but if I was expressing the same thought I'm sure I'd never think of putting it this way.
Given: Quizá llegara un (I'd prefer 'el') momento en que tuviese que decirle la verdad, pero ahora era mejor callar (I'd prefer callar se).
Translation: Perhaps there might come a time when I/he/she would have to tell the truth, but for now it was better to be silent.
Subjuntive: Llegara (imp subj of llegar), tuviese (imp subj of tener)
Reason: the imperfect subjunctive is used here along with era to show that all this, including the 'now' refers to the past. But at that time back in the past it was a future possibility that the time would come when the person might have to tell the truth. Whew ... lol
New: No es verdad que funcione.
I'll do both (two chances to be wrong):
1:
Given sentence: Un día, ella me trajo la comida a la cama y me rogó que comiera.
Subjunctive: comiera - imperfect subjunctive of comer.
Translation: One day, she brought the food to me in bed and requested that I ate.
Reason for subjunctive: rogar que = to request that something be done, and calls for the subjunctive.
2:
Given sentence: Si me hubieras dicho que ibas a llegar temprano, yo habría preparado la cena antes.
Subjunctive: hubiera - imperfect subjunctive of haber.
Translation: If you had told me you were going to arrive early, I would have prepared dinner beforehand.
Reason for subjunctive: If/then statement ("if" in subjunctive, "then" in conditional)
Good job Tosh, this second one is a good example of si being followed by something hypothetical, hence the subjunctive because you can't declare something that is hypothetical - KG
New Sentence: Una vez que hayas trabajado aquí durante diez años, recibirás un reloj de oro.
Given Sentence: Una vez que hayas trabajado aquí durante diez años, recibirás un reloj de oro.
Subjunctive: hayas, present subjunctive of "haber".
Translation: Once that you have worked here for ten years, you will recieve a gold watch.
Reason: The phrase "una vez que" expresses a possible future situation.
New sentence: El rey insiste en que usted se case con su hija.
Given Sentence: Sin duda, es preciso que haya una válvula de seguridad.
Word that appears in the Subjunctive:. Haya the present subjunctive of haber
Translation: Undoubtedly, it's precious necessary that there's a safety valve.
Reason for the subjunctive: La frase sin duda.
Well done Katy being the first brave one to jump into the game - actually sin duda would likely be followed by the indicative because there is no doubt or subjectivity to what follows.
The reason the subjunctive is used here is that 'es .... que' phrases or 'impersonal expresions' that introduce an element of subjectivity - (that is, how you feel about a situation etc) are followed by the subjunctive. You might find this list helpful for some of the occasions when the subjunctive is used.
As Noetol mentioned it's 'es preciso que' rather than precioso. This phrase means that something is necessary.
I would translate the phrase then as. There is definitely a need for a safety valve.
Great first attempt though, keep up the good work! Sigue así. - KG
Given sentence: Y con insistencia le suplicaba a Jesús que no los expulsara de aquella región.
Subjunctive: expulsara - imperfect of expulsar
Translation:
Reasons for subjunctive:
Given sentence: Estoy contento de que te guste este concierto.
Subjunctive: guste - present subjunctive of 'gustar'
Translation: I am happy that you like this concert.
Reason for subjunctive: Emotion - happiness
New Sentence: En caso de que queráis comer algo, hay comida en la nevera.
Given Sentence: Mi padre no se enfadaría conmigo, solo me diría que dejara de hacer tonterías.
Subjunctive: dejara, imperfect subjunctive of "dejar".
Translation: My father would not get angry with me, he would only tell me to stop fooling around.
Reason: Decir que + subjunctive: The subjunctive is used after "decir que" when you are giving an order.
New sentence: El médico me había recomendado que bebiese cuatro vasos de agua al día.
Given: El médico me había recomendado que bebiese cuatro vasos de agua al día.
Translation: The doctor had recommended that I should drink four glasses of water every day.( daily)
Subjunctive: Bebiese, imperfect subjunctive of 'beber''.
Reason: Classic subjunctive, one person recommends another do something, separated by ' que'.
New: Quizá llegara un momento en que tuviese que decirle la verdad, pero ahora era mejor callar.
Given sentence: En caso de que queráis comer algo, hay comida en la nevera.
Subjunctive: queráis - present subjunctive of "querer", vosotros form
Translation: in case you want to eat something, there's food in the fridge.
Reason : expressing desires (?)
New given sentence: Si me hubieras dicho que ibas a llegar temprano, yo habría preparado la cena antes.
Given Sentence: El rey insiste en que usted se case con su hija.
Subjunctive: se case, present subjunctive of "casarse".
Translation: The king insists that you marry his daughter.
Reason: insiste en que + subjunctive, to insist in something doesn't mean it will happen.
New sentence: Después de un rato, hablábamos como si nos conociéramos desde siempre.
Given: Después de un rato, hablábamos como si nos conociéramos desde siempre.
Translation: After a while we were talking as though we had always known each other.
Subjunctive, conociéramos , past subjunctive of conocer.
Reason for subjunctive: como si followed by hypothetical situation ( we had not, in fact known each other for a long time)
New: Mi padre no se enfadaría conmigo, solo me diría que dejara de hacer tonterías.
Given: Cuando la gente pregunte por Felipe Calderón luego de que deje el poder, van a decir que fue el presidente de los muertos. Muchos muertos.
Subjunctive: pregunte, present subjunctive of preguntar.
Reason: describes a future action.
Translation: when the people ask of Felipe Calderón after he leaves power, they will say that he was president of the dead. Many dead.
New sentence: No se lo digas a nadie. No queremos que la cosa llegue a oídos de los soviéticos. (Copied from "el invierno del mundo", por Ken Follet)
