Confused--Do I Use Subjunctive??

Question

Hi!

In this sentence, do I use the subjunctive?

Emilio do dirá nada cuando si padre (entrar)

I know that present subjunctive is used when this sentence is in the present tense--what about future tense though?

Thank you!!

Answer 1

Emilio do dirá nada cuando su padre (entrar)

If this is really:

Emilio no dirá nada cuando su padre (entrar).

Emilio will say nothing when his father enters.

Cuando is referring to a future event- his father has not entered, so it is subjunctive, but to refer to the future present, subjunctive is always used nowadays (with rare exception).

So I would conjugate it as “entre”:

Emilio no dirá nada cuando su padre entre.

Cuando does not require subjunctive when it is referring to habitual or recurrent events, even if they will occur again in the future, and does not use subjunctive when referring to a past event. Only an event that has not yet happened gets subjunctive.

So for instance: Emilio nunca dice nada cuando su padre entra.

Emilio never says anything when his father enters.

Do note, even in English we use present tense for enters. Even though we are talking about the future. - bosquederoble, Sep 29, 2014

Answer 2

I would say this is a classic subjunctive sentence. Cuando in the future+ change of subject, this will therefore be expressed in the present subjunctive.