Why do we need "sean" (the subjunctive mood) in this sentence?

Question

In today's examples in "word of tha day" section there is the following sentence given: Armando sólo compra toallas que sean el cien por ciento de algodón (Armando only buys towels that are one hundred percent cotton). I do not understand why they use "sean", that is the subjunctive instead of the indicative. Could someone expand a bit on that? Thank you so much!

Because the buying of the towels are 'subject' to their being 100% cotton , welcome to the forum .Buena suerte amigo. - ray76, Jun 27, 2014

Answer 1

That is, according to how understand my language, incorrect. "son" should have been used.

Edit:

If you want a sentence using the subjunctive, that would be...

Si subj. comprara solo toallas que fueran 100% algodón, su negocio mejoraría.

See the diff?

Do you mean that there is no need to use the subjunctive and the sentence should be "Armando sólo compra toallas que son el cien por ciento de algodón"? - Agat_ka, Jun 27, 2014

Correct..... using the subjunctive sounds weird in that sentence. - chileno, Jun 27, 2014

Answer 2

Read my edit, please.

Thanks a lot! I went through your comments again and I think I can see your point. Thank you again for all the effort made to explain this issue to me. - Agat_ka, Jun 28, 2014

No problem....please read my blog, and that's an advice I give to anyone who's learning a new language. When you do then I like to expound more by having a talk on Skype. Please do. - chileno, Jun 28, 2014

Answer 3

I am not a native speaker so I'm just speculating like you are, but I think that in this case the difference is quite subtle. If the speaker used the indicative ( son) it would suggest that the speaker is referring to specific cotton towels, leaving no doubt as to which cotton towels he is talking about.If the speaker uses the subjunctive (sean) there is the suggestion that there are no specific cotton towels in mind; it's just that when he does buy towels ( as of yet not identified) he only buys those that are cotton.

Thank you Ron, but I still don't feel it :( - Agat_ka, Jun 27, 2014

The subjunctive is wrong there. - chileno, Jun 27, 2014

Answer 4

There are other uses for the subjunctive besides WEIRD, one of them being what ron said (at least from what I've learned too, I'm not a native speaker). I still have many problems with the subjunctive, sometimes it appears in expressions and i can't grammatically explain why it's used in that particular situation. I highly recommend this website for review: http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/PERSUAD1.HTM It's helped me a lot and I hope it helps you too (:

edit; chileno says that the subjunctive in this situation is incorrect so let's go with that xD and you're welcome for the link, that entire website is really great and concise for grammar so definitely check out the rest of it ^^

Thank you for the link to the grammar website. For now I will try memorizing this sentence and using the subjunctive in analogical situations. I hope the rational explanation will come in the future and I'll understand more contexts for the subjunctive ;) - Agat_ka, Jun 27, 2014

The subjunctive is wrong.... - chileno, Jun 27, 2014

Thanks for the link. :) - rac1, Jun 27, 2014

Answer 5

Thanks a lot for your answer. However, I still do not understand what the reasoning is behind using the subjunctive form of the verb “ser”. This sentence sounds to me as a factual statement and thus I am wondering why we cannot use simply the indicative. The introducing clause – Armando sólo compra – does not fit the WEIRDO logic for the subjunctive mood (Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt/Denial, and Ojalá). I hope now I made my concern clear enough