Subjunctive Tense in Spanish when in English Tense Doesn't Match

Question

Thinking of how to say something like "I wish she was a better friend" when in English the first clause in in the present tense but the second is in the past tense. My belief is that we would use present tense for both clauses in Spanish:

"Espero que sea mejor amiga" or "Ojalá sea mejor amiga"

as opposed to

"Espero que fuera mejor amiga" or "Ojalá fuera mejor amiga"

Is this correct thinking that for a subjunctive sentence like this the tenses must match? In general does the subjunctive clause always match the tense of the first clause?

Welcome to SpanishDict. - rac1, Mar 25, 2017

Answer 1

I agree completely with Daniela.

If you say this in Spanish using incorrect (although accepted) English conjugation, it would make absolutely no sense. The most natural way: Quisiera que fuera mejor amiga.

Your examples "Espero que fuera mejor amiga" or "Ojalá fuera mejor amiga" are also correct.

Answer 2

According to my grammar book by Butt & Benjamin, the tenses do not always need to match, even though many websites and textbooks say they do. They base their opinions on an exhaustive study of published works in newspapers, magazines, books, plays, and conversations with native speaking experts.

I think you should use the English subjunctive: I wish she were a better friend. Even though the "were" sounds like the past tense, this is the way the English subjunctive works and it can mean that you have some hope that she will be a better friend in the future, but it is contrary to current facts. It could also mean, I think, that you doubt this will even happen, but you can wish for it anyway. Hence the uncertainty of the statement.

The Spanish for this would be one of your last two guesses or the suggestion by Julian:

Quisiera que fuera mejor amiga.

And, as you can see with Julian's last sentence, he agrees that the tenses in the main and subordinate clauses doe not necessarily have to match (although in the vast majority of cases they do) :

Julian's last sentence
Your examples "Espero que fuera mejor amiga" or "Ojalá fuera mejor amiga" are also correct.

You made a good point about the subjunctive in English. - Daniela2041, Mar 25, 2017

For a dead person, "hubiera sido" would be right, no? - jtaniel, Mar 25, 2017

jtantiel : Yes, you're right. I wrote this in a hurry. I have deleted some of my earlier statements which, based on subsequent posts and further reflection, I no longer believe to be true. - DilKen, Mar 25, 2017

Answer 3

Even in English the subjunctive is used with a condition contrary to fact and in the conditional.

" I wish she "were" a better friend is the better construction.

Answer 4

I find it helpful to think when we use the subjunctive in English, because though it is much less often than in Spanish when we use it Spanish people definitely use it - as set out in Daniela's post.

I find the material on F Jehele's site excellent.

This is his table for tense of the subjunctive

when to use what

In the end it often depends on what you want to say. In many cases the use of the subjunctive rather than indicative alters the meaning. In other cases the tense can vary the sense. I find the more I speak hear and read Spanish the more I get a feel for it, but sadly not as finely tuned as my English brain which instantly notices something 'odd'

Here is a general index of Jehele's information:

general

Mind your P's and Q's is those bits you have forgotten or never learnt!