Problem with subjunctive 2

Question

How do i know when to use subjunctive before relative pronoun? I have never seen it so i am little confused. Does it really matters if i put subjunctive before or after relative pronoun or there is no difference? I would never say or write it like and that's why i would like to have it settled. (I am not 100% sure about it from gekkosan answer from previous question)

Can you help me with that?

Can you give an example sentence or two in Spanish and English so we can understand your question better? - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

Daniel: What method and sources are you using to learn Spanish? Perhaps we can offer some good options for you that are free and very good. :) - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

i mainly use a book written in my native language and also some internet sources like studyspanish, duolingo, yabla - Daniel5841, Aug 8, 2017

What is your native language and how good is your English? I highly recommend the SD Video course to take you step by step with personal involvement / drilling with flashcards. - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

I've spent a lot of time on Duolingo, but they don't really teach you Spanish grammar very well there. You have to learn by trial and error. Great if you have a solid foundation. Confusing if you don't. (I M H O) :) - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

my native language is slovak and in english i am somewhere between intermediate and advanced i would say - Daniel5841, Aug 8, 2017

If you want to give the Spanish Dict Video course a try you can find it under Learn Spanish in the main menu and then click on the picture with the pretty lady. :) - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

yeah i think i will, i found another source of confusion for me in another exercise :( - Daniel5841, Aug 8, 2017

I also love Lenglia.com, but it costs $99 per year. I say this primarily to let you know that I have no vested interest in the SpanishDict video course. That's just what I used first to learn Spanish and I've never regretted it. :) - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

i will definetly think about it 99 dollars is not small price but i guess its worth it - Daniel5841, Aug 8, 2017

Good luck and PM (private message) me if you want to discuss more. - DilKen, Aug 8, 2017

Answer 1

Here's a teaching article that I wrote on the subjunctive that many people found helpful.

The only thing I didn't include were the forms which is another issue entirely and is well taught in the grammar section here on SD.

Link to article on subjunctive

Hola, Querida! when is Part 2 of the subjunctive article coming out? I need to update my "Spanish According to Daniela" textbook. ;-) xx - Winkfish, Aug 8, 2017

I've been lazy about this, but I'll start working on it soon. - Daniela2041, Aug 8, 2017

:) - ian-hill, Aug 8, 2017

Answer 2

Daniel:

I don't know what you are talking about in terms of indicative or subjunctive BEFORE a relative pronoun. However, after a relative pronoun the rule is:

If the antecedent (the person or thing being referred to in the subordinate clause) is real, known to exist and specific use the indicative. If the antecedent does not exist or is hypothetical use the subjunctive.

Indefinite or non-existent entities

Subjunctive vs Indicative with Adjective Clauses - IPFW

Also, if you're not very familiar with relative pronouns, you may not be aware that "que", all by itself, is by far the most common relative pronoun in Spanish and, when referring to people is usually translated as "who."

:) - rac1, Aug 8, 2017

i saw for of subjunctive before relative pronouns and form of indicative after relative pronoun (maybe i misread or it was imperfect but i want to be sure) - Daniel5841, Aug 8, 2017