Imperfect Subjunctive after Conditional?

Question

In the song "Me Equivoqué" by cd9, the lyrics are "quisiera que escucharas mi canción".

I was wondering why the subjunctive imperfect is used here? Why isn't it "quisiera que escuches mi canción"?

Thank you!

Answer 1

My take: Here Quisiera is a stand in for querría.

Conditional is often used in si phrases with past subjunctive to refer to a hypothetical future, and I think it is here too.

So this makes it softer, less likely more ethereal- sort of a wishful I would like that you were to (would) listen to my song as opposed to the more directive I want you to listen to my song/I want that you listen to my song.

This thread does not answer directly (it answers something else) but gives a good sense of the difference between quiero que present subjunctive vs. quisiera que imperfect subjunctive. I am quoting an answer from a native of Spain.

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/quisiera-que-subjuntivo-imperfecto.2490116/

A mí sólo me suena bien "tuviera".

Si sustituyes "Quisiera que llegara en el día en el que..." por "Ojalá llegara el día en el que... " sigue correspondiendo un imperfecto de subjuntivo, "tuviera que hablar".

Creo que al usar "Quisiera que...", imperfecto de subjuntivo, expresas que tienes pocas esperanzas de que ocurra lo que vas a decir, por lo cual debe construirse con imperfecto de subjuntivo también.

Compara con: Quiero que llegue el día en el que no tenga que volver a verle. Ahí usas presente de indicativo + presente de subjuntivo porque lo ves más probable.

Espero haberte ayudado. (Español de España)

I found a more direct discussion, I will quote from lazarus. The whole thread is worth a look.

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/quisiera-que-alguien-me-diga.226728/

Lo correcto es usar el imperfecto de subjuntivo (mira la explicación de jazyk sobre la "consecutio temporum"), o en infinitivo, claro. Este uso de cortesía con el imperfecto de subjuntivo solo se considera correcto con los verbos querer y deber (en -ra).

Pero siempre puedes usar el condicional, que es lo propio: "Me gustaría... / Querría...".

I will add another quote from that thread:

Pues supongo que lo correcto sería:

Quisiera que alguien me dijera

o bien

Quiero que alguien me diga

Como ves, usando o todo subjuntivo o todo indicativo sin mezclar. La diferencia es que la primera es más amable, la segunda parece una orden.

great work - patch, Jul 22, 2017

Answer 2

Or is it simply because it translates to "I hope that you heard my song."? vs "I hope that you hear my song"?

The lyrics:

Desperté, otra vez, con la ausencia de tu voz

Y pinte, con mis manos tu silueta amor

Si te llamo no contestas, si te busco nunca estas

Nena dame otra oportunidad

Mis días se hacen noches, si no estas

Sin ti la vida, ya no sabe igual

Te quiero en mis brazos,

Me duele aceptarlo

Me equivoque ie ie ie eh

Mis manos necesitan tu calor

Quisiera que escucharas mi canción

Te quiero en mis brazos, me duele aceptarlo

Me equivoque ie ie ie eh

Me equivoque

Me equivoque

¿te falle? Y tal vez, no merezca tu perdón

Soñare, que haz pensado en olvidar lo que pasó

Pero llamo y no contestas, si te busco nunca estas

Nena escucha solo una vez mas

Mis días se hacen noches si no estas,

Sin ti la vida ya no sabe igual

Te quiero en mis brazos,

Me duele aceptarlo

Me equivoque ie ie ie eh

Mis…

To look at the context:

Mis manos necesitan tu calor

Quisiera que escucharas mi canción

Te quiero en mis brazos, me duele aceptarlo

Me equivoque ie ie ie eh

I read that as:

My hands need your warmth(heat)

I would like you to listen to my song (I wish that you would listen to my song)

I want you in my arms, it hurts me to accept it

I was wrong.

It does not strike me as past.

Bosque: English can use the past to refer to the future here also, although the past subjunctive isn't the only way to say it. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

If you were to listen to my song I would love it. Past subjunctive + conditional just like the Spanish. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

Answer 3

Even English uses this type of construction to some extent.

"Quisiera" could be translated as "I would" as in the sense of "would like," then followed by "would hear my song."

I would that you would hear my song. Sounds kind of dopey in English. The Spanish just sounds so much better.

Remember the line from Hail, Caesar: "Would that it were so simple." Archaic, but correct. - AnnRon, Jul 22, 2017

Answer 4

In the song "Me Equivoqué" by cd9, the lyrics are "quisiera que escucharas mi canción".

I was wondering why the subjunctive imperfect is used here? Why isn't it "quisiera que escuches mi canción"?

All the grammar books and Spanish grammar websites that I have seen indicate that the past subjunctive should be used after a verb in the conditional. And Bosque is correct that the past subjunctive of querer (quisiera) is often used as a substitute for the conditional querría.

Even though the verb is in the past, it has a future meaning in this case.
This can be done in English as well with a conditional if statement:

If you were to come, I would love it. (good grammar, but a little outdated perhaps)

I would love it if you come. (subjunctive disappears...this is more common nowadays.)

I would love it if you came. (past tense, future meaning, not quite as formal as the 1st sentence)

Although I could find no source that said it was grammatically correct, some Spanish speakers would use the present subjunctive in the original sentence. I asked about this usage and a couple members said they are basically using quisiera as a more polite way to say quiero.

If they did use quiero, then the present subjunctive would be grammatically correct - so the polite quiero = quisiera + present subjunctive is their explanation for why they use it. They also say that they hear it frequently and it does not sound at all strange to them.

Here is the link to my question about this issue.

conditional + que + present subjunctive

Agreed, but note my sources say it should be imperfect. And that includes Lazarus, who I put more faith in than anyone. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 22, 2017

Bosque: I agree. I mentioned that only the past subjunctive is approved after the conditional in grammar books. I have now highlighted this statement. :) - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

I did say agreed, you emphasized quite well that it was used whether grammatically correct or not, I was simply trying to emphasize that others would consider it wrong. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 22, 2017

Just a you have pointed out "seguro de que" is correct, not "seguro que", even though the latter is used frequently enough by native speakers. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 22, 2017

But you do not win points trying to correct native speakers grammar, a point I re-learn every time I tell people they do not do things good, they do them well. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 22, 2017

Bosque. I agree. :) In your sentence, good would not be correct because it is modifying do and the adverb should be used. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

A lot of people would say "I'm good" is ungrammatical, and it should be "I'm fine" In reality, with "to be" and a couple other verbs it is fine to use an adjective like good. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

I meant to say I'm well insted of I'm fine in the comment above. - DilKen, Jul 22, 2017

Answer 5

Or is it simply because it translates to "I hope that you heard my song."? vs "I hope that you hear my song"?