no es posible que – indicativo o subjuntivo?

Question

Hello everyone! Could someone explain me which mood should be used with the expression “no es posible que”? In the grammar section I have found information that this phrase expresses certainty similarly to expressions such as “es claro que”, “es cierto que”. That’s why when I came across the sentence “No es posible que Miguel (ganar) a Paco” in the quiz I have selected a verb in an indicative mood. However, it appeared a red box signalling that I was wrong and that subjunctive should be chosen. Their explanation went as follows: [Lo siento. Incorrect. From the speaker's perspective, "Miguel gane a Paco" is not in the realm of possibility. Therefore, the subjunctive is required to express this "contrary-to-fact" statement.]

I’m confused now. I will appreciate help of Spanish advanced speakers or natives. Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

You use the indicative to declare facts or to declare things that you perceive or completely believe to be facts, but for every other situation you must use the subjunctive.

For your example you can't declare that Miguel is beating Paco with the indicative because you've already said that it's not possible, so you must use the subjunctive.

Great, clear and concise explanation - FELIZ77, Jun 17, 2014

Thanks Feliz :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 17, 2014

Thank you very much for your explanation! - Agat_ka, Jun 18, 2014

El placer es mío :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jun 19, 2014

Answer 2

I'm not a native Spanish speaker, but we use the subjunctive when we are expressing doubt, for example 'It is possible that....' 'maybe....' 'I would like... (for something to happen etc)'. 'I doubt that...'

Even if we know that Miguel beat Paco, by using the phrase 'It's not possible that...' We need to use the subjunctive.

Hope this helps. By the way, I did see a year or more ago that one of the regular contributors put up a link to a whole list of phrases/words that are followed by the subjunctive. Maybe somebody still knows that link. ;-) - pml222, Jun 17, 2014

:) - FELIZ77, Jun 17, 2014

Thanks a lot for your answer! - Agat_ka, Jun 18, 2014

You're very welcome ;-) - pml222, Jun 18, 2014

Answer 3

alectejas I too have problems understanding this question. Doesn't it depend on your interpretation of the facts? It's not possible that Miguel is winning (you know he's already been disqualified for example), or you could be expressing your surprisese (I can't belieive it!). The first would be indicative and the second subjunctive. Thanks

It's not as simple as whether it's a fact or not, it's whether the purpose of the statement is to declare a fact. Is that the purpose of your sentence? Then and only then do you use the indicative.

Let's say that Miguel was winning if you said 'no es possible que ...' the purpose of your sentence would not be to declare that Miguel was winning (if it's a fact and u can see it so can every one else, no point in telling (declaring to them) them what they already know) instead the reason/purpose of your sentence is to express your disbelief of that fact so you use the indicative to declare your disbelief and the subjunctive to take the fact out of declaration mode.

Tricky, I know and I hope I haven't confused u more.

Actually you have. So what you are saying is; that it is not possible that Miguel is beating Paco, but, it is still possible that he just might beat him, and it really does not matter if he beats him or not because there is doubt about who is going to win - belfastboymg, Sep 12, 2016

So the subjunctive is used to show this doubt? - belfastboymg, Sep 12, 2016

The same as saying that it is possible that Miguel will beat Paco because there is still doubt who will win. - belfastboymg, Sep 12, 2016

I've posted an answer to your questions below, I hope it helps :) - Kiwi-Girl, Sep 12, 2016

Kiwi, Surely if you can;t believe that Miguel is beating Paco you would say No creo que + subjunctive because No creo que (unlike creo que ) etc.takes the subjunctive Dudo que + subjunctive would be another another option to express incredulity :).. - FELIZ77, Sep 12, 2016

Dudo que sea posible i= I doubt that it is possible is clearly subjuctive but It is not possible sound more like the person is stating a fact and yet you say that we should use subjunctive i n this case/situation? You may well be right and I am not ... - FELIZ77, Sep 12, 2016

doubting your Spanish ability, it just sounds too much like a stateement of fact: It is not possible. :) - FELIZ77, Sep 12, 2016

Answer 4

So what you are saying is; that it is not possible that Miguel is beating Paco, but, it is still possible that he just might beat him, and it really does not matter if he beats him or not because there is doubt about who is going to win - belfastboymg 32 mins ago flag So the subjunctive is used to show this doubt? - belfastboymg 30 mins ago flag The same as saying that it is possible that Miguel will beat Paco because there is still doubt who will win. - belfastboymg 27 mins ago

Wow this post is from a while ago lol - ok so I think it's easier (rather than worrying what the subjunctive is or isn't doing) is to take the part of the sentence that's in question and just ask yourself - do I want to declare this information as a fact? If you do then use the indicative, if you don't then use the subjunctive.

Do you want to declare that ....'Miguel is beating Paco'? No you don't, in fact you've just said that it's impossible so it's an easy choice - say that bit of the sentence using the subjunctive.

It would be the same scenario if you just said 'It's important that Miguel beat Paco' - the second half of the sentence is not a declaration that Miguel is beating Paco so you can't use the indicative once again you need to use the subjunctive for that second part of the sentence.

Just as a side point - Can you hear that we do a similar thing in English?

We don't say ..... 'it's important that Miguel is beating Paco' instead we say 'it's important that Miguel beats Paco.

Remember however you use the indicative 'es' imposible and 'es' importante for the first part of those sentences because in your opinion at least those things are facts.

Not easy to get your head around but stick with it and I'm sure you'll get there

Answer 5