present subjunctive V imperfect subjunctive.
Hola: Can anyone tell me if the present perfect indicative is usually followed by the present subjunctive or the imperfect subjunctive? example "¡Han pasado cinco años y parece que sea ayer!" or should it be: ¡Han pasado cinco años y parece que fuera ayer!" I thought if the first part was in the indicative then the subordinate verb would be in the present subjunctive. thanks
2 Answers
Welcome to the forum. The subjunctive adds many layers to the language and takes time to absorb.
I remember the mnemonic V O C E S verdad, obvio, cierto, evidente y seguro = indicativo unless it is negativo = subjunctivo.
I hadn't realised until I saw Ken's answer that parecer fitted this reasoning.
Here is a helpful piece parecer
I often go back to a very useful site maintained by a retired Spanish professor. It is great for some of the things I have been taught but then forgotten. Here is his piece about subjunctive tenses which complements Ken's answer
Good luck
Maggie:
If the main phrase is in the present perfect and the subordinate clause requires the subjunctive it can be:
present subjunctive [for a simultaneous or future state or action] OR present perfect subjunctive [for a prior state or action]
In your sentence, with parece I would have said:
Han pasado cinco años y parece que fue ayer!
No subjunctive
I could be wrong, let's see what a native speaker says.
Parecer, like creer, can be followed by the indicative. It just reflects what you are thinking, so the following statement can declare (indicate/indicative) this.
Paracer + adverb (e.g. bien or mal) is followed by the subjunctive because now you are expressing an emotional reaction towards the event.
