quedó vs quede

Question

In the sentence below, I am wondering if the verb in the subordinate phrase should read "quede" instead of "quedó" . Any advice?

Clavó el poste en el suelo hasta que quede bien tieso para colgar la bandera.

Answer 1

i would say "quedara". The reason is that I look at the sentence as "He drove the post into the ground so that it would remain firm enough to fly the flag." "So that" was my clue that the imperfect subjunctive would be the correct tense.

Now, if he checked its proper installation and it was indeed done with due dliligence, then it would be the preterite. "Quede" is not correct because it is present and "clavó" is past. "He drove the post into the ground so that it is...." makes my ears fall off.

Answer 2

The use of quedó after clavó is grammatically correct because both are completed actions.

However, to say quedara after clavó is also correct because this form expresses the action of quedar not happening until after the action of clavar is complete. In other language studies this usage of past subjunctive is referred to as "future in the past."

I believe the two variants are regional and obviously a matter of preference. I would use the form of preterite followed by past subjunctive because this "sounds right", but my Spanish is from Mexico City.

Hey there! What's wrong with Chilango Spanish? :) - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Apr 2, 2017

Ha ha, that's the only Spanish I know - 005faa61, Apr 3, 2017

Answer 3

For me it is clavó el poste hasta que quedó..... Indicative then in muy opinión.

I agree, this is a know fact in the past not a hypothetical or future situation. In this case "hasta que" can mean until and is followed by the indicative. - DilKen, Apr 2, 2017

Yo también estoy de acuerdo. - Daniela2041, Apr 2, 2017

Answer 4

http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/SUBJADV.HTM

Adverbial conjunctions of time:

The following adverbial conjunctions deal with time, and are followed by the subjunctive when they introduce an anticipated situation. If they introduce one which is viewed as completed or habitual, they are followed by the indicative. Of course, if there is no change of subject involved and a preposition is available, typically the preposition is used with an infinitive.

So I agree with quedó

To answer Don Bigote's second question

So that it would remain:

Para que quedara

I would use para que instead of hasta que. Para que always uses subjunctive. To me hasta que means he acheived it- he did it until it was, para que only that that was his aim- he did it so that it would be. (in order that it would be)

Para que is in this section of the above link:

Adverbial conjunctions which are ALWAYS followed by the subjunctive (because they always indicate a pending/hypothetical action or state):

Bosque: very well put. :) - DilKen, Apr 2, 2017

That makes perfect sense, Bosquederoble. Thank you. I have to think more deeply about "hasta que" and "para que". I'm always learning new things. - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Apr 2, 2017

Answer 5

I have an additional question then: How would you translate the following into Spanish?

1, "He drove the post into the ground so that it would remain firm enough to fly the flag."

1. "He drove the post into the ground so that it was firm enough to fly the flag."

There's a definite difference in meaning. I see that the original phrase used "quedó" so the second sentence would apply here.

But what if the post-planter only presumed that he did a good job (he does the job but doesn't check his work)? Wouldn't the first sentence be more appropriate?

Answer 6

Thank you DonBigoteDeLaLancha. I thought that "quede" is subjunctive, but I see that -- even so, "quede" is present tense subjunctive and, yes, it would then seem that "quedara" would be better.

Answer 7

That is certainly an interesting post about adverbial conjunctions of time. Thank you everyone very much.