use of subject pronoun

Question

Leí una oración que tiene la siguiente frase: "esta vez pago yo las entradas.“ ¿Hay una razón para poner “yo” después de “pago”? ¿Hay una razón para usar “yo” en absoluto?

Gracias por su ayuda, Jim por favor, corrija mi español.

Answer 1

The subject pronoun can used as a matter of emphasis. It can even be required in some cases when you are discussing several people in a row, and essentially have to use it for the contrast.

I think the placement after the verb, rather than before emphasizes it even more, it shows you are not using it as a subject, rather to emphasize- I, not anyone else.

esta vez pago yo las entradas.

This time I am paying for the tickets- I alone, no one else- or I am this time in contrast to whatever might have happened in the past.

Without the yo- it is just- this time I am paying for the tickets- no emphasis or contrast to other options.

We do the same in English by audibly emphasizing I.

God explanation - 000a35ff, Sep 11, 2015

Well, I don't think "God" explained it but bosque is pretty close! :-D - Jubilado, Sep 11, 2015

gracias jubilado. oh my God!. lol - 000a35ff, Sep 11, 2015

Answer 2

I agree with bosquederoble about emphasis.

As I think of your sentence I think that another way to express the same thing would be

"Esta vez será yo que pago las entradas."

I don't know if a native would say that but if so it seems to me that your sentence is a shorter way to say it.

I'd say "Esta vez seré yo quien pague las entradas", but I prefer the shorter one. - de12wey, Sep 11, 2015