present subjunctive vs. imperfect subjunctive

Question

i'm reviewing for my final exam in spanish four, and i need some help making sure i have my tenses straight. i'm having trouble with using present subjunctive or imperfect subjunctive. i have some review sentences, and i just wanted to make sure they were correct. in the sentences, i put the verb in question in parenthesis. please read over them and make sure they are correct

1. Juanito dudaba que los curas se (levantaran) del banco.

2 Dona Laura se alegro de que los curas (ocupen) el banco de don Gonzalo

1. Dona Laura ne quiere que Petra se (lleve) las miguitas de pan.

2. Dona Laura teme que los demas le (espanten) los parajillos

3. A don Gonzalo le molesto que dona Laura (fuera) tan entremetida

4. Dona Laura leia los versos sin que don Gonzalo le (prestara) sus gafas.

5. Petra le trae un ramo de violetas a dona Laura para que ella no se (enoje).

6. Don Gonzalo no recogera las flores a menos que Juanito le (ayudara).

thanks.

Answer 1

that makes sense. but the only choices i was given were ayude and ayudare. so out of those two, what would you suggest'

Answer 2

It is not always so strict. If the main verb in in preterite, the subjunctive one in imperfect gives perfect sentences almost all the time (safest bet). However, it is possible sometimes to use the present subjunctive if the subordinate clause points to a time frame which extends over the present time. In question 8 this is not possible, which is why "ayude" is in red.

Answer 3

HI wrestle, welcome to the forum.

Number 2 yes, but number 8 is future so it triggers the present subjunctive.

Answer 4

so number 2 and 8 were wrong because the 1st verb is preterite so the next has to be imperfect'

Answer 5

1. Juanito dudaba que los curas se (levantaran) del banco.

2 Dona Laura se alegró de que los curas (ocuparan) el banco de don Gonzalo

1. Dona Laura ne quiere que Petra se (lleve) las miguitas de pan.

2. Dona Laura teme que los demas le (espanten) los parajillos

3. A don Gonzalo le molesto que doña Laura (fuera) tan entrometida

4. Dona Laura leía (Leia is the princess in Star Wars) los versos sin que don Gonzalo le (prestara) sus gafas.

5. Petra le trae un ramo de violetas a doña Laura para que [del]ella[/del] no se (enoje).

6. Don Gonzalo no recogerá las flores a menos que Juanito le (ayude).