Que + subjunctive = Same as "i wish that.."?

Question

Hi. I was wondering if saying "que no te caigas" means "I hope you don't fall" or "Let's hope you don't fall"? Because we say "que duermas bien", and I know that's just an expression, but can we do that with any verb? If so, does "Espero que él llegue hoy" and "que él llegue hoy" mean the same? I would love for some input on this.

Thank you.

See my post about this topic posted 06 January in Q&A - Jubilado, Jan 6, 2015

Answer 1

Well, context as always rules.

Just like in English.

Don't fall!

What (did you say)?

I said (that) don't (you) fall

I hope (that) you don't fall.

Right?

Answer 2

Thank you for your reply!

I see. Does this work with the past subjunctive as well? Like "Que ellos se disfrutaran" (I hope they enjoyed themselves) and "Que durmieras bien!" "I hope you slept well".

Answer 3

I offer this as a point of clarification. Although in your first post your examples could be understood to mean "I hope... the meaning is slightly different. You will note that bosquederoble's answer the Spanish says "Que statements that espress command or desire." In English we can use the words "may" or "let" before a desire or command:

Let's do our best - Que nos esforzemos

May you have a happy birthday - Que pases un feliz cumpleaños.

I think in modern English these kinds of expressions often begin with "I hope that" or just "I hope."

As for the past subjunctive, I don't know if that is used in the way you suggested. We will have to wait until a Native speaker answers it, or if you want you can post it as a separate question.

Answer 4

I think your analysis is good, I have seen it used that way in all types of espressions of desires and polite requests:

Que te mejores

Que tengan un buen fin de semana (this for ustedes)

Here is a discussion (I do not know your reading level):

http://pendientedemigracion.ucm.es/info/circulo/no3/porroche.htm

Que en enunciados que expresan mandato o deseo.

En la expresión del mandato, la construcción objeto de nuestro estudio se emplea cuando los mandatos o exhortaciones van dirigidos a terceras personas:

Que se vayan. Que pasen.

y cuando los mandatos dirigidos al interlocutor se reiteran:

Que te calles. (Después de haberle ordenado que se callara dos o tres veces) Que me mandes dinero. (Como recordatorio después de haber dicho mándame dinero)

El que del que nos ocupamos aparece también en construcciones optativas o desiderativas:

Que os divirtáis. Que todo vaya bien. Que no sufra.

Se trata de construcciones en las que que es obligatorio, salvo que aparezca una marca de modalidad (p. ej., ojalá) o salvo en el caso de algunas fórmulas o frases desiderativas más o menos estereotipadas (p. ej., Dios te lo pague).