suponer + subjunctive?
Hi,
I have always presumed that suponer would take the subjunctive because it is a presumption. However, it appears that it sometimes takes the indicative.
Here is the sentence that has confused me: "Para mí, Óscar es un mal modelo y se merece estar fuera de la isla. Supongo que simboliza todo lo que no puedo soportar en un hombre."
Why is this in the indicative not the subjunctive?
If someone could explain this I would be very grateful!
Thanks
1 Answer
Suponer, like pensar and creer generally take the indicative in Spanish. The person is supposing, thinking or believing in what follows, so he does not express addional uncertainty or doubt by using the subjunctive. These verbs do take the subjunctive in their negative form.
In English when we suppose, think or believe something, it does tend to convey more doubt than "I know", "I am certain" or "It is a fact." In Spanish when someone says what they are thinking with these verbs they use the indicative. Another way to think of this is that they are "declaring" something...it isn't just a feeling or emotion, which would use the subjunctive.
On the other hand "es probable que" "es muy probable que" etc. use the subjunctive.
With some phrases such as tal vez and quizas (maybe) one can use either the subjunctive or the indicative. Using the indicative implies: "maybe so and I think so" while the subjunctive implies "maybe so, but I'm not too sure"
I have found that it is more reliable to just learn the verbs and "trigger phrases" that require either the indicative or subjunctive and not try to put too much emphasis on the "uncertainty factor" ... just learn the triggers and use them correctly and after awhile it will become second nature.
