Subjunctive with one subject
Can someone help me find the two different subjects in these subjunctive sentences? Is the spanish subjunctive ever used with only one subject?
A Dios le pido que te cuide.
No mires hacia atrás.
Cuando quieras, vamos al cine.
Thank you,
2 Answers
I find the two subject rule not to be helpful, as it is possible to write sentences in subjunctive without a subject change
The "two subject rule" doesn't really apply with "cuando", "en cuanto", "tal vez", "quizás", "ojalá", etc.
But it is very helpful when differentiating between when, and when not to, use the subjunctive with a phrase such as:
esperar que
Espero que puedas comer pronto. I hope that you are able to eat soon. (two subjects)
When I first started learning Spanish, I would want to say:
Espero que pueda comer pronto. I hope that I am able to eat soon.
But that is incorrect and should be:
Espero poder comer pronto. I hope to be able to eat soon. (one subject)
I find the two subject rule not to be helpful, as it is possible to write sentences in subjunctive without a subject change, but in most situations, for economy of language, it is not done, because it is simpler and more natural to use the infinitive.
• A Dios le pido que te cuide.
I ask of God that he care for you. I ask, he care, two subjects.
• No mires hacia atrás.
This is a command- don’t look back/behind. Not subjunctive in the true sense.
• Cuando quieras, vamos al cine.
Whenever you want, let’s go to the cinema. You want, let us go, two subjects. But cuando when referring to the future always requires subjunctive, regardless of subjects.
Cuando regrese a casa, voy a ver la tele. When I return home, I am going to watch tv. No change of subject, but I still needed subjunctive.
I can rewrite that without subjunctive: Al regresar a casa, voy a ver la tele.
