Subjunctive of Ser

Question

I am wondering why the sentence, "I am not going to work when I am old" needs to be subjunctive as in, "Yo no voy a trabajar cuando sea viejo." Could you translate it as, "Yo no voy a trabajar cuando soy viejo" work just as well?

Cuando in the future implies a high risk of the subjunctive, I'm afraid. - annierats, Jun 25, 2015

Gracias. - RolloMartins, Jun 25, 2015

Answer 1

There is no guarantee that you will reach old age. It is only a possibility. And even if you do manage to reach old age it is not a certainty that you will not have to work.

Thus this is a statement of a desire not a fact.

But don't trust me on the subjunctive, because I do not understand it most of the time.

Nor do I, but I have the same confident lack of faith in reaching old age.. - annierats, Jun 25, 2015

Answer 2

Sadly no. Cuando in the future.. Plus, you might never reach old age.. You may work yourself to death whilst young..

Did you get out of the cheerful side of the bed this morning, Annie? - padrin, Jun 26, 2015

Answer 3

Hello Rollo,

I am wondering why the sentence, "I am not going to work when I am old" needs to be subjunctive as in, "Yo no voy a trabajar cuando sea viejo." Could you translate it as, "Yo no voy a trabajar cuando soy viejo" work just as well?

The subjunctive is used to express doubt and uncertainty about anything in the future and is used after the word cuando when there is a future meaning or implicaction, so there really is rno way (that I know of) to avoid using it for this purpose! Good try lol

You need the subjunctive: sea: No voy a trabajar cuando sea grande.

Gringo is absolutely right and Annie too in what they have told you. The indicative is used to express statements of fact whereas you would use tehe subjunctive to express desires and hypothetical situations.

Present subjunctive:

ex 1. Quiero que me entregues tus deberes, mañana dijo la profesora. = I want you to hand in your homework to me, tomorrow said the teacher.

Imperfect subjunctive:

ex 2 If I had more money I would buy a brand new car and a bigger house.

= Si tuviera (imperfect subjunctive) más dinero, compraría un flamante coche y una casa más grande..

There is no getting around it, but if it is of any comfort, many of us intermediate level students of Spanish struggle with using it from time to time! Practice makes perfect , well, better and more confident anyhow! lol

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español, si es necesario, por favor )

Gracias, Feliz! - RolloMartins, Jun 25, 2015

De nada, Rollo :) - FELIZ77, Jun 25, 2015

Answer 4

I am a native speaker and I don't understand the use of the subjunctive most of the time either, although I can use it.

I found this explanation:

(Se usa el subjuntivo) para hacer referencias temporales, cuando la oración subordinada alude al futuro en relación con el presente o el pasado del hablante, la acción se sitúa en un momento futuro, anterior a otro futuro, pero con relación al pasado, o cuando se hace constar ruego, consejo o mandato.

No voy a trabajar (oración principal) cuando sea mayor (oración subordinada; la acción se sitúa en un futuro anterior a otro futuro).

Cuando sea grande (oración subordinada, futuro) quiero ser bombero (oración principal).

Cuando sea rico (oración subordinada, futuro) iré a Hawai (oración principal).

:) - FELIZ77, Jun 25, 2015

Thanks, Luis. :) - rac1, Jun 25, 2015

De nada! - LuisCache, Jun 26, 2015