Why the use of 'tenga' in this sentence?
No deja a ser una paradoja que inglaterra, país inventor de este transporte, no tenga un tren de alta velocidad en circulación
What triggers tenga in the above sentence? I don't see why it is used? The FACT is Britain DOESN'T have a high velocity train, that is not opinion, or desire or whatever(I understand this is just the basics of the subjuntive)
My only insight is that the article mentions how plans are underway to build such a train, so the tenga just refers to the current situation but indicates that such plans are in theory anyway underway.
4 Answers
To expound on what Querba correctly said:
One description I have seen is that you use indicative to declare a fact, and subjunctive if you take it as fact but are declaring (in indicative) how you feel about that fact- and what you are declaring your feelings about is in subjunctive.
In the case, not having a train is a fact. But how you feel about it is that it is a paradox, and that is what you are actually declaring in indicative. It is a paradox that Britain would not have such a train. It is a paradox for Britain to not have such a train. I don’t even have to write it in indicative in English, although I can (It is a paradox that Britain does not have such a train).
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/subj1.htm
At the above link, see these two examples below subjunctive, towards the bottom of the link:
It's good that John goes to the store. (The clause "it's good" alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)
It's important that John goes to the store. (The clause "it's important" alerts us that the speaker is about to express a subjective opinion.)
You can see that “It’s a paradox that…” would fit in the same category.
To me, it is an opinion. The author is not just saying that Britain doesn't have high velocity trains, they are saying: "Britain created trains, yet they don't have high velocity ones. That is senseless".
"El hecho de que Inglaterra no tenga un tren de alta velocidad me parece absurdo".
Bosquederoble makes a good point that the use of subjunctive is based on the clause about paradox, so one clause affects the other.
This can be written using indicative in both verbs, but by using two separate sentences, ie: Inglaterra, país inventor de este transporte, no tiene un tren de alta velocidad en circulación. No deja a ser una paradoja. In this case, however, the paradox is presented as a fact rather an opinion, but the nuance is small and by using two sentences, of course, is a more elementary style of writing.
Great question with two great answers. I learned more about the subjunctive today. Thanks!
