Sharpening My Subjunctive Kung-Fu

Question

I want to clarify that I'm following the right train of thought here: http://www.learnpracticalspanishonline.com/intermediate/more-on-pres-subjunctive.html 1) Conozco a un actor que habla tres idiomas – I know an actor who speaks three languages

2) Busco un actor que hable tres idiomas – I am looking for an actor that speaks three languages

It seems to me that the second example can be subjunctive if I'm stating that I want to find a trilingual actor. If someone asked me "What are you doing?" and I replied with the second example, then it wouldn't be subjunctive because I'm stating a fact. Without any context whatsoever, the second example is assumed to be subjunctive because if I'm searching for something, it's likely because I want to find it.

To further illustrate:

Ejemplo 1 (Indicitive):

Kamila: Hola, que estas haciendo?

Me: Estoy buscando para un actor que habla tres idiomas.

Ejemplo 2 (Subjunctive):

Me: Disculpa, estoy buscando para un actor que hable tres idiomas.

Here is a link to further explanation of what Daniela and Julian are telling you: http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/subjadj.htm - bosquederoble, Dec 17, 2016

Answer 1

Your first example is correct.

Your second example can be spoken with either indicative or subjunctive depending on the meaning: Busco un actor que hable tres idiomas - this means you are searching for any actor who speaks 3 languages. Busco un actor que habla tres idiomas - this means you are searching for a specific actor, the one who speaks 3 languages.

It´s more natural if Kamila says: Hola ¿qué haces? but your version is grammatically correct.

Estoy buscando para un actor que habla tres idiomas.

This is incorrect because para should not be used.

Answer 2

Julian's answer explains it all.

The only thing I want to add here is that when it comes to translating phrasal verbs into Spanish language, you need to be careful.

Phrasal verbs are idioms and they cannot be literally treated in Spanish, they need to be figuratively understood.

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Whenever you attempt to translate a phrasal verb, first take a look in a dictionary, because you cannot translate the particles to give them a translation on its own in Spanish.

That's why you don't say buscar para. You simply say buscar.

Answer 3

One more thing, when I say. "Busco un actor que hable tres idiomas." I'm not sure such a person exists, so the subjunctive is necessary.

In the college textbooks this is called "the subjunctive of uncertainty."

BUT If I know an actor who speaks three languages I will say:

Busco al actor que habla tres idiomas. (I Know he's around somewhere.)

I never knew that, thanks for the extra info - I'll look that up. So this gives more insight into the interpretation. Whether I desired to search for a trilingual actor, or I simply was uncertain of who is trilingual, it still triggered the subjunctive. - TryNewLangs77, Dec 17, 2016