Imperfect vs Subjuncitive

Question

I was wondering what form you should use when speaking about something that you ONCE THOUGHT but NOW know is INCORECT: sunjunctive or indicative?

For example: "You thought I could speak French but I actually speak Spanish."

Would that translate to: "Pensabas que pudiera/podia hablar frances pero hablo español" (pudiera or podia)

Gracias compas

Answer 1

Pensabas que podía hablar frances pero en realidad hablo español. Si pudiera hablar frances me habría ido a Francia.

Yes, nice answer aribel. - annierats, Nov 9, 2015

Wow it's so cool getting responses on my first question. So it doesn't matter of I did speak it or not. As long as s/he thought I did, it was a reality to them? Otra vez, gracias compa. - Elafromexicano, Nov 9, 2015

And nice follow up example. - Elafromexicano, Nov 10, 2015

Answer 2

The thought you had was a true thought for you, even though you were mistaken, so indicative is used just as Aileribel has done. For me, it sounds more natural to not use poder at all in this case: "Pensabas que hablaba frances pero en realidad hablo español."

Thanks for the explination. And you're right I don't think I needed "poder" lol - Elafromexicano, Nov 10, 2015

Great answer, I also tried to avoid 'poder', it is so common in Englsish, but much less so in Spanish. h - annierats, Nov 10, 2015

Answer 3

You thought I could speak French but I actually only speak Spanish.

Pensaste que yo supiera francés pero en realidad solo hablo castellano.

Pensaste /pensaba, depends a bit, I'm assuming the person has now realized his mistake as you didn't respond well to his conversational opening in French.

Here we are, stuck my head out, waiting for the axe to fall.. - annierats, Nov 9, 2015

I would leave it at "Pensaba" because the act of you thinking about my knowledge of the language is not a specified action with a specified end. The imperfect in this case is similar to the English:"I was thinking" - Natesmith1016, Nov 9, 2015

Pensabas* You were thinking* - Natesmith1016, Nov 9, 2015

The question was between pudiera and podia not pensaba(s). I already have that part down. - Elafromexicano, Nov 10, 2015

Ela fro, as we don't do homework, I didn't like to answer the qwuestions so directly. From supiera you could deduct pudiera, but, go with txtaboy, he is a native! - annierats, Nov 10, 2015

Answer 4

I almost agree with the first answer but i would say:

Pensabas que podía hablar frances pero en realidad hablo español. Si pudiera hablar frances me hubiera ido a Francia.

PD: After talking with some job partners my conclusion is that habría is not correct in this sentence. It should be hubiera or hubiese.

Interesting. The grammar taught to English speakers learning Spanish is if plus past subjunctive, then plus conditional, but that with haber the -ra subjunctive can replace the conditional. - bosquederoble, Nov 10, 2015

So based on what I have learned I would have said that habría or hubiera were acceptable, but that hubiese was not. - bosquederoble, Nov 10, 2015

I did agree with Julian on poder- I had wondered if saber (sabía) would have been better. - bosquederoble, Nov 10, 2015

Thanks, as always, txta, does mine work, at all? I tried to avoid giving poder, in case it is home-work. - annierats, Nov 10, 2015

@ Bosque, that's why I tried supiera...One can but try. - annierats, Nov 10, 2015