Subjunctive question: huyeran from palabra del día post

Question

Why should I use the subjunctive here on my sentence (huyeran)?

Here are my sentences for the palabra del día:

The volcano erupted suddenly causing many to flee as the red-hot lava illuminated the bay.

De repente el volcán entró en erupción, haciendo que muchos a huyeran mientras la lava candente iluminaba la bahía.

Thanks for any input to my limited understanding of the subjunctive, SD amigos.

no "a" before huyeran - chileno, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 1

Katy, you don´t have use subjunctive.

Annie is right about que in the second clause, but there is also the a there that is out of place, so to make it less awkward I would say it just a little differently: De repente el volcán entró en erupción, haciéndoles huir a muchos mientras la lava candente iluminaba la bahía.

For those insisting on using subjunctive: De repente el volcán entró en erupción, haciéndoles a muchos que huyeran mientras la lava candente iluminaba la bahía.

yes, I always think it better to avoid the subjuncitve, gets my double vote. - annierats, Nov 15, 2013

Thanks Julian. I appreciate the explanation. - katydew, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 2

It appears that ' de repente' can mean ' perhaps' in Latin America.... and there is a ' que' and change of subject.

However, this is something I just looked up, I have never thought about it before. One of those many mysteries that keep stumping us all.

Interesting question, Katy. And a very hesitant answer!

Thanks for the input, Annie. - katydew, Nov 15, 2013

You know, Katy, I only really like questions I can't answer, they make you think. - annierats, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 3

Doesn't make sense.

Can you help me understand what part doesn't make sense? - katydew, Nov 16, 2013

I'm afraid not. It would take more than a couple of words for such an extended explanation. :) - Naya_Dask, Nov 16, 2013

jejeje That is the truth, Naya. - katydew, Nov 18, 2013

Answer 4

I'm just a beginner and I'm still trying to figure out the tricks of the subjunctive, but if this can be of any help I've found it in Wordreference dictionary:

hacer que [+ subjuntivo] = make someone [+ infinitive]

haciendo que muchos [+ huyeran] = causing many [+ to flee]

no "a" in front of "huyeran" - chileno, Nov 15, 2013

Yes, you're absolutely right chileno there isn't a preposition in the corrected phrase. :) - Naya_Dask, Nov 15, 2013

Thanks for that Naya. - katydew, Nov 16, 2013

Your're most welcome Katy. :) - Naya_Dask, Nov 16, 2013