Which subjunctive tense should I use?
Are these Spanish translations grammatically correct?
Is it possible that it will rain tomorrow? ¿Es posible que lloviere mañana?
Is it possible that it will rain tomorrow? ¿Es posible que vaya a llover mañana?
I don't think they will go to the party. No creo que ellos vayan a la fiesta.
For the last translation, I have no idea how to conjugate llover.
I didn't think it would rain today
No pensé que lloviere/llovería/lloviera hoy
I know it has to be subjunctive since "no pensar" triggers subjunctive. Lloviere indicates future and so does llovería (conditional). Lloviera is imperfect subjunctive which sort of matches with pensé. If I had to guess, I would say lloviera. I didn't think it was going to rain today.
2 Answers
All are correct.
You should know that future subjunctive, as you used in the first sentence, is no longer used except in old literature, but you are still grammatically correct. For this we use present subjunctive llueva.
Your guess for the last one is correct as well.
Ramona, this is my attempt to explain these grammatical points you ask about in comments - unfortunately, speaking any language correctly is much easier that explaining how it works.
Why is "iba a llover" correct? Doesn't "No pensé" trigger subjunctive?
Actually, the usage of ir in this context cannot be explained - at least by me - except to say that it has has its own function which allows it to be used as habitual past action as well as impending action of the past (positive action only). This is just one of many examples of why the idea of "to trigger subjunctive" can be very confusing for any learner of Spanish as an additional language. I had never heard of this notion until recently. There are also many other cases when we actually have the option of using either subjunctive or indicative depending on the desired nuance, so to rely only on these "triggers" can create confusion.
If I can use "iba a llover" which isn't subjunctive, then could I also use llovería (conditional)?
In English the conditional can be used as a present tense hypothetical event as well as a past tense indicator of future action in the past ("would" can be hypothetical present or "will" in past tense). In Spanish the conditional is only used as present tense hypothetical action. We use subjunctive copreterite to indicate future action in the past, in this case lloviera.
