Future vs Subjunctive.

Question

Hi all,

We are writing compositions using the future tense for class this weekend. This right after we were doing subjunctive. Now I have a dilemma how to say something.

I want to say some nonsense like. It is probable that in the future we will have flying cars.

So, if I didn't know that things like "es probable" are followed by the subjunctive, I would blindly write

Es probable que en el futuro habrá coches volandos..

But the probable requires subjunctive, and we´ve only done subjunctive in the present (a lot) and in the past (a little). How does Spanish handle it when it wants to talk about the future, but in an expression which would require the subjunctive?

I´m quite lost?

Thanks Roger

Xcellent question! - annierats, Nov 10, 2013

Answer 1

If we still used the future subjunctive, it would be:

Es probable que en el futuro hubiere coches voladores.

But, since that tense isn't used anymore, I think it is just put in the future tense:

Es probable que en el futuro habrá coches voladores. ...in the future there will be flying cars.

Tosh, hubiere - chileno, Nov 10, 2013

Of course! Thanks :) - Tosh, Nov 10, 2013

(I was still thinking "we" from the "we will have") - Tosh, Nov 10, 2013

:) - chileno, Nov 11, 2013

Thanks Tosh. So, it would appear that in summary, and according to context, Spanish speakers don´t worry about not having a future subjunctive anymore, and just use either the future indicative or the present subjunctive, whichever makes more sense. Thx - rogspax, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 2

Well, pay attention to what you want to say with how it really comes out. Check again below and tell me if I am correct and it does answer your own question. ;-D

It is probable that in the future we will have flying cars = Es probable que tengamos autos voladores en el futuro.

Es probable que en el futuro habrá coches volandos. - it is probable that in the future there will be flying cars.

The first one could also be ....tendremos autos voladores... but as you say, "probable" requires the subjunctive and that would make me and a lot of other natives totally wrong. Not thta most wouldn't use the subjunctive, but we would also use the future with the same value of probability.

It is insane to thinh the of the future anymore probable than the subjunctive. i don't even know if i will be alive in 5 more minutes!

:-D

Typing at the same time.... :) - Tosh, Nov 10, 2013

I was typing with you Tosh. - gringojrf, Nov 10, 2013

I normally type pretty fast... but chileno beat me this time! :) - Tosh, Nov 10, 2013

I niether type or think fast. Or clearly for that matter. - gringojrf, Nov 10, 2013

Nor me, Gringo, clear thought, that was years ago, light-years, even. - annierats, Nov 10, 2013

I am a lousy at typing... - chileno, Nov 10, 2013

Thanks very much Chileno. And yes, I made a mistake by using ¨we will have¨ in place of ¨there will be¨ in my example, since they´re not as directly comparable, but I think you and Tosh for setting me straight. Thanks! - rogspax, Nov 11, 2013

You are welcome. I like to point to those "mistakes" because it will make you a better translator, if you will. - chileno, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 3

Although it's true that colloquially grammar rules are broken all the time in any language so 'es possible que' plus the indicative can't be ruled out, the grammar rule is that 'es possible que' should always be followed by the subjunctive. And to express something as possible in the future I would follow it by the present subjunctive.

But another option could be to use 'probablemente', strangely enough you can follow 'probablemente' with the indicative so you could use that plus the future tense.

Thanks Kiwi. - rogspax, Nov 11, 2013

:) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 4

Quizás nunca lleguemos a ver coches voladores, pero me encantaría si fuera posible conducir a España en mi coche volador en tres horas, o menos..

Rog, this means I will, at last, drive faster than you do! - annierats, Nov 10, 2013

;) - rogspax, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 5

See Tosh's answer. I was typing at the same time and he arrived first.

Tosh tiene un ordenador volador. - annierats, Nov 10, 2013

Answer 6

Here is an old post that I think might be significant here for curiosity sake:

an obscure future subjunctive tense

Thanks Katy. Very interesting. - rogspax, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 7

If we still used the future subjunctive, it would be:

Es probable que en el futuro hubiere coches voladores.

But, since that tense isn't used anymore, I think it is just put in the future tense:

Es probable que en el futuro habrá coches voladores. ...in the future there will be flying cars.

Interesting Tosh. Thanks for the insight. Seems Spanish speakers are losing at least part of their subjunctive too, even if not as quickly and nearly completely as English (and I think Dutch too, from an article I recently read)

So, between the time I wrote the question, and got back to a computer and could see this answer, I attended our weekly Sunday English-Español exchange and two well-educated native speakers offered another possibility. They said when the time was obvious (such as when someone has just explicitly stated ¨in the future¨ then they might follow up ¨Es probable que...¨ with the present subjunctive.

For instance. En el futuro es probable que ganes de nuevo.

What´s interesting, is that in either way of looking at it, one of the two options that was causing my dilemma (either the subjunctiveness or the futureness) is simply tossed aside.

Chileno, your input helps clarify there too. Thanks. Makes sense. One could view it as not needing to explicitly evoke the subjunctive mood for the future, because it inherently in question, and possessed of some doubt or uncertainty. Thanks.

You are very welcome. - chileno, Nov 11, 2013