I'm confused on how to translate the subjunctive.

Question

I've been told many times that the subjunctive could translate from Spanish to English as follows:

• Deseo que él me mande texto. • I wish he would text me.

• Si salgo con mi novio, es posible que mis padres se pongan enojados. • If I go out with my boyfriend, it's possible that my parents might get mad.

• ¿Y quieres que te lo haga yo? • So do you want me to do it for you?

What I'm basically asking is: are these translations correct, and can the subjunctive translate with these words:

• might
• may
• would
• were to
• unconjugated verb form (I go, she go, he eat)

Also, can someone explain when I would use the conditional over the subjunctive?

Basically yes. I don't think your last point, unconjugated verb, works, but certainly, might, would, and were to.. depending on the tense. - annierats, Jan 20, 2016

the subjunctive doesn't necessarily have an english translation; however, you are quasi-correct with saying might, would, and were to. You can also think of the subjunctive to signify the future. "Espero que ella vaya a la tienda." - JordanTaylor07, Jan 20, 2016

"I hope she'll go to the store." - JordanTaylor07, Jan 20, 2016

muchísimas gracias, vosotros :) ¡me ayudasteis muchísimo! - ryanespana, Jan 20, 2016

I think the unconjugated verb works in certain constructions. For example, "It would make me happy that he eat with me." It sounds a little strained since English speakers tend to avoid the subjunctive, but I think it serves well as a way to think . . . - AnnRon, Jan 20, 2016

. . . about it when translating into Spanish. - AnnRon, Jan 20, 2016

Great question, Ryan. and welcome to the Spanishict forum :) - FELIZ77, Jan 20, 2016

Please don't feel insulted, as Ann rightly says, we receive so many requests from English students to do their Spanish homework for them which, of course we refuse to do but it leaves some of us feeling a little suspicious at times, that students are ... - FELIZ77, Jan 20, 2016

trying to 'pull a fast one' (trick us into doing their homework for them. We are genuinely sorry if you felt insulted by any of our reponses! .Please be assured ....it was nothing personal ! ;) - - FELIZ77, Jan 20, 2016

I would / will add that most native English speakers don't even know or care if they are using the sunjunctive. - ian-hill, Jan 22, 2016

Answer 1

I have the feeling that I am doing your homework....

Anyway.

• I wish he would text me. = Ojalá me mandara texto (me texteara, even in English "text" is a noun)

• If I go out with my boyfriend, it's possible that my parents might get mad. = Si salgo con mi novio, es posible que mis padres se enojen

• ¿Y quieres que te lo haga yo? • So do you want me to do it for you?

I am not sure what you mean with the following.

What I'm basically asking is: are these translations correct, and can the subjunctive translate with these words:

might

may

would

were to

unconjugated verb form (I go, she go, he eat)

no, actually, you aren't. i'm working my way to fluency, but thanks for the insulting assumption. - ryanespana, Jan 20, 2016

Don't be insulted. We get so many people assuming we're here to do their homework for them that we can be a bit paranoid about it. It's nothing personal. - AnnRon, Jan 20, 2016

And chileno is an hispanoblante - Mardle, Jan 20, 2016

Chileno was the only one that answered your question. He doesn't insult members. - rac1, Jan 21, 2016

I can help you become fluent, if that;s what you want. - chileno, Jan 21, 2016

Thank you guys. - chileno, Jan 21, 2016

Gracias Chileno. - ian-hill, Jan 22, 2016

Answer 2

Your profile says you're an English native speaker, so I'm a bit unsure what you mean when you say "Also, can someone explain when I would use the conditional over the subjunctive?".

Do you mean, when should you use the conditional (in Spanish) over the subjunctive (in Spanish)? Because both moods mean completely different things.

The issue is that the words you list are used in a lot of constructions in English, and they don't always filter over the Spanish exactly (for example "might" is used with the conditional and subjunctive in Spanish but both mean different things). So asking for broad translation help won't really be too useful.

Rather, if you want, give a bunch of example sentences (in English), using the words you've listed (try to be exhaustive with all their meanings), and I can translate them for you (and explain why I chose one mood over the other).

@HackerKing , yes. I need examples of the subjunctive and conditional in Spanish. My wording was poor in this question. My apologies. :) - ryanespana, Jan 27, 2016