Subjuntive examples

Question

Hi guys, I have some confusion of the use of indicative- subjunctive for below sentences.

1. Debes tomar el jarabe, por muy desagradable que te (resultar)
2. No me cmpraré esos zapatos si no (rebajan)

Correct ans for the 1st is resulte, 2nd is rebajan, but I don´t know why To my understanding, 1st one is in present tense, so should be indicative. And 2nd is in future tense, so should be subjunctive, no?

Thanks!!!

Please fill out your profile so that we may better help you . Bienvenido al foro , buena suerte amigo. - ray76, Jan 24, 2015

Answer 1

Subjunctive is not used in present tense (any person) following si, ie: Si tengo tiempo, te ayudo hoy en la tarde. This is the only rule about subjunctive that has to do with tense.

Choosing between subjunctive and indicative in all other cases is a matter of mood and not tense. If a word indicates a mood of future action, we use subjunctive to indicate this mood, ie: Cuando tenga (yo) tiempo, te ayudo / ayudaré.

Debes tomar el jarabe, por muy desagradable que te resulte.

Here the resulting experience may be nasty or maybe not, so there is possibility rather than established fact - subjunctive.

No me compraré esos zapatos si no se rebajan.

Indicative - clause in present tense following si.

Also keep in mind that there are times the speaker has the option of either subjunctive or indicative, depending on the desired nuance.

Hola Julian, ¿Qué tal estás, amigo? - FELIZ77, Jan 23, 2015

Muy bien, cuatacho ¿y tú, qué onda? - 005faa61, Jan 23, 2015

Answer 2

Thanks for your reply! I did read the books and know the general rules of using subjunctive. But these two examples are a bit contradictory than what I have learnt, that´s why I put my questions up there.

I was taught that even with certain temporales o concesiras, for example in this case, the use of ¨Por muy desagradable que¨ doesn´t mean it must take subjunctive, it depends on the tense.

For past and present tense, use indicticative. For future tense, imperative and conditional, use subjunctive.

I really would like to know if anything I should correct here.

Thanks!!

Answer 3

Sorry but you'll need to study the subjective a little more to understand that. Do some reading cause it would take a very long time for me to type a good answer !

Video

First Grammar Article on the Subjunctive

There's also another 10 or more other articles of how to use subjunctive.

Answer 4

Clear now ! Thanks so much!!