Using Decir
Why is the sentence: They want me to tell them the truth, translated using 'diga' and not digo? Isn't it 'they want that I tell to them the truth?' Les digo?
3 Answers
When someone wants you to do something, the subjunctive is required which is why you see diga instead of digo.
Rodneyp is correct. You can want it all day long but that doesn't mean that you are going to tell the truth. Thus there is some uncertainty, which is the realm of the subjunctive.
My attempt:
The subjunctive mood is used to express desires, doubts, the unknown, the abstract, and emotions, which is the opposite of the indicative mood.
The indicative mood is used to express actions, events, and states that are believed to be true and concrete.
From Kiwi: When one person's will over another person is expressed in Spanish, the focus is given to the will or desire of the first person and is taken off the second person and the desired action by using the subjunctive.
Las correcciones son apreciadas!
