Subjunctive with "would"

Question

I'm trying to think through how I would translate this sentence: "I don't think they would want to go with us"

No creo que quieran ir con nosotros No creo que quisieran ir con nosotros

or are both of these wrong? Thanks

Answer 1

Good answers by both Ken and Feliz.

I would make a slight change, however: "acompañar" sounds better without changing the meaning, in my opinion. "To go with" sounds better in English.

"No creo que quieran acompañárnos." "I don't believe they want to go with us."

No creo que quisieran acompañarnos." I do believe they would want to go with us."

I prefer the second statement because it is "softer". The imperfect subjunctive and the conditional are often used to be a bit more tactful. Example:

"Debes visitar al médico." "You should (must) see the doctor." This is like an order to visit the doctor,

"Deberías visitar al médico." "You really should see the doctor" (just in case).

Answer 2

Hello Phils,

Welcome to our Spanishdict community F forum

You asked:

Subjunctive with "would" I'm trying to think through how I would translate this sentence: "I don't think they would want to go with us" No creo que quieran ir con nosotros No creo que quisieran ir con nosotros or are both of these wrong? Thanks

When you use:

creo que ...in the affirmative, the indicative mood should be used

so your sentence would read: Creo que quieren ir con nosotros =I think / believe (that) they want to go with us

However, when you use the creo que construction in the negative form: No creo que ....this triggers the subjunctive mood and the conditional indicative would be used in combinación with the subjunctive !

So, the first part of your sentence with the imperfect subjunctive quisieran being used as a conditional indicative would now read as:

No creo que quisieran ir con nosotros... si se dieran cuenta de que habiamos acabado de robar a su coche!

÷ I don't think (that) they would want to go with us .....if they realized that we had just stolen their car!"

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

Feliz: Glad you joined in on this. I don't see where you are using the conditional indicative in combination with the subjunctive??? Quisieran is past subjunctive, I don't see any verbs in the conditional. - DilKen, Jun 2, 2017

Unless you mean to say that you are using the imperfect subjunctive with a conditional meaning, which I "would buy" - DilKen, Jun 2, 2017

Also, if using the above sentence (without your improvised addition, which I did also in a separate post) wouldn't using the past subjunctive say I don't think they **wanted** to go with us? That's why I used present subjunctive, but I could be wrong. :) - DilKen, Jun 2, 2017

Anyway, have a vote for joining the fray: - DilKen, Jun 2, 2017

Yes, Ken I am using the imperfect subjunctive with a condicional meaning Often Spanish natives use quisiera like me gustaría = (to mean) I would like :) - FELIZ77, Jun 2, 2017

It seems that Quisiera is much more common than querria , although in my example it would be quisieran ( in place of querrian) - FELIZ77, Jun 2, 2017

Feliz: I gotcha. Wouldn't you want to make that clear in your post rather than saying that you are using the conditional indicative? - DilKen, Jun 2, 2017

Yes, Ken , good point ...thank you I have now clarified the point! :) - FELIZ77, Jun 2, 2017

I was going to say something about "qusiera" but it looks like you settled the matter. - Daniela2041, Jun 3, 2017

Answer 3

Please first read my original answer to this question which starts with "Would is used in many ways in English."

Here is a modification of the original sentence, using "would" in a conditional sense.

If they knew we were murderers, I don't think they would want to go with us.

Note the use of the past tense (knew) in this English sentence, even though, in no way, am I really referring to the past. This is (I think) an acceptable way of using the English subjunctive mood. Another option, which is an even clearer way of using the English subjunctive mood is:

If they were to know that we are murderers, I don't think they would want to go with us.

Here is my best guess at the Spanish for the above. I'm still a learner, so I could be wrong and look forward to corrections if necessary.

Si supieran que (nosotros) somos asesinos, no creo que quisieran ir con nosotros.

Note that I used the past subjunctive - quisieran, rather than the conditional, which I chose because it is following "no creo que" which should "trigger" the subjunctive.

I believe it is acceptable to use the past subjunctive with a conditional sense in Spanish in constructions such as this. I don't think is is acceptable to use the Spanish conditional following "no creo que." Note that I used the perfect subjunctive with the original sentence that did not state a condition. I'm really not sure both choices are correct...that's what I'm hoping to find out from a native.

Now, what if I eliminate "I don't think"

If they knew we were murders, they would not want to go with us.

Here, we have a classic "contrary to fact" conditional statement, which requires the past subjunctive in the main clause and the conditional in the subordinate clause.

Si supieran que (nosotros) somos asesinos, no querrían ir con nosotros.

According to a grammar book that I have from Butt & Benjamin, it is also quite common to use the past subjunctive in the subordinate clause (quisieran) in a case like this. Is it past subjunctive with a conditional meaning.

Answer 4

I'm trying to think through how I would translate this sentence:
"I don't think they would want to go with us"
No creo que quieran ir con nosotros No creo que quisieran ir con nosotros
or are both of these wrong? Thanks

Would is used in many ways in English. The first thought that probably comes to mind when language students think of "would" is the conditional use. However, in this sentence, I don't see "would" as being used in a conditional sense.

Wouldn't the following sentences say the same thing?

I don't think they will want to go with us. (future)

I don't think they want to go with us. (present)

I think they will not want to go with us.

I think they do not want to go with us.

According to what we are taught in Spanish lessons, the first two should use the present subjunctive with "No creo que..." while the second two would use either the present or future indicative with "Creo que no..."

So, to stay as close as possible to your original construction (I don't think) I would say the best Spanish translation is:

No creo que quieran ir con nosotros. (present subjunctive, your first suggestion)

Note that I did not use the Spanish conditional tense for querer (querrían).

In a separate answer, I will this modify this statement using would in a conditional sense. I will do this in part to try to learn something myself and hope it may help someone else.

• I should also say, that the original sentence might be using would in the conditional sense. Sometimes, the condition is implied, rather that stated outright as follows.

I don't think they would want to go with us (if we asked them) (if they were given a choice), etc.

Nevertheless, I don't believe Spanish speakers would use the Spanish conditional tense in a situation like this, opting instead for the present subjunctive which carries a degree of uncertainty in itself. i.e. If we asked them they might not want to go with us.