Subjunctive Question Question

Question

I have looked through the previous questions about subjunctive questions but I'm not quite sure about this question I'm trying to phrase. I'm trying to say, "Do you think that your family will visit you?" but I'm currently translating that into, "¿Piensas que tu familia va a visitarte?". Is this grammatically correct even though it's not in the subjunctive tense? I'm having a bit of a mind block with this. It does have two different subjects, a 'que' in the middle of the two halves of the sentence... I'm just not sure how I would phrase this in the subjunctive. I guess my main question is, is this grammatically acceptable and if not how would I phrase it?

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Jul 12, 2017

Thanks!! :) - Andrea1072, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 1

Pensar is like creer. When in the affirmative, even in a question, the subjunctive is not required in the subjoined verb. The way you have stated the question is correct, however I would have used the verb "creer" instead.

If the answer is in the negative, then the subjunctive would be used. "No, no pienso que mi familia me visite (o vaya a visitar.)

"the subjunctive is not required"... but it is used (in my experience), perhaps to indicate the expectation of a negative reply? Or is that just bad Spanish? Thanks! - jtaniel, Jul 12, 2017

Whenever I use creer/pensar in the affirmative I leave the subjoined verb in the indicative. Fortunately this is also the way it is taught in the textbooks I use in my classes. - Daniela2041, Jul 12, 2017

Thank you. - jtaniel, Jul 12, 2017

Thank you! - Andrea1072, Jul 12, 2017

Answer 2

"the subjunctive is not required"... but it is used (in my experience), perhaps to indicate the expectation of a negative reply? Or is that just bad Spanish? Thanks! - jtaniel

When asking about someone´s belief, even in a possitive nuance such as the posted question, the use of subjunctive is regional and there doesn´t appear to be a definite rule about this.

In Mexico the most common way would be: ¿Crees que tu familia te visite / te vaya a visitar?

In Spain and probably some other countries they would most likely say: ¿Crees que tu familia te visitará / te va a visitar?

However, these variations all follow the rule about not using subjunctive after si, ie: ¿Sabes si tu familia te vaya a visitar? (this is absolutely incorrect).

Very interesting. It is always good to hear some of the variations in the language which don't adhere 100% to the grammar books. Thanks. - DilKen, Jul 12, 2017

Thanks! - jtaniel, Jul 12, 2017

quite so, just like julian said, in Spain we would not use the subjunctive - 006595c6, Jul 12, 2017

Thank you! - Andrea1072, Jul 13, 2017

Answer 3

I remember being taught that the subjunctive should be used with “creer que” in a question: “¿Crees que venga a la fiesta?” (“Do you think he might come to the party?”). I think that’s the way I speak and I know that is the way I write. I don’t recall ever having been corrected.

Daniela stated in an earlier post that the subjunctive is not required. The textbooks that she uses in her classes state the same. It’s not required, but is it wrong to use it?

I have several novels on my hard disk so I did a CTRL-F for “¿Cree que”. I see it both ways…. with the subjunctive and the indicative.

So my question remains: is wrong to ask “¿Creer que subjunctive?”

I would say "No creo que venga" but "Creo que vendrá". - polenta1, Jul 12, 2017

But I meant as a question: Is "¿Crees tú que venga él?" correct? - DonBigoteDeLaLancha, Jul 12, 2017

I have read that some use the subjunctive in questions to convey or doubt even after ¿Crees que?. It is sort of like saying: "I doubt he will come, what do you think?" I don't think it is proper grammar however without the proper triggers. - DilKen, Jul 12, 2017

Answer 4

¿Piensas (or crees ) que tu familia va a visitarte?

¿Piensas (or crees) que tu familia te visitará?

If I used the subjunctive it would be if I thought of something eventual and uncertain in the future. I'm not sure if this is grammatically correct but you would definitely hear the indicative among native speakers.

Answer 5

But I meant as a question: Is "¿Crees tú que venga él?" correct? - DonBigoteDeL

yes, this is wrong.Not only because it is taught as explained in former posts but because it "sounds" wrong.