Subjunctive vs. Indicative: Relative Clauses
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Explanation
Some relative clauses in Spanish require the indicative, while others require the subjunctive.
We use the indicative in the relative clause when the antecedent is definite, concrete, or known to the speaker. However, when the antecedent is hypothetical, not specific, desired, or its existence is negated or unknown to the speaker, the verb of the relative clause is in the subjunctive.
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses are subordinate clauses that are equivalent to an adjective. They usually explain or elaborate on the noun they modify (the antecedent). In Spanish, relative clauses are commonly introduced by the relative pronoun que.
Check out the following example of a relative clause.
In the above example, the relative clause is que vive en Bután. The antecedent is un amigo.
The Subjunctive with Hypothetical or Desired Antecedents
The verbs buscar, necesitar, and quereroften trigger the subjunctive because we use these verbs to express a desire for something that may or may not exist. More often than not, when one of these verbs is used with a definite antecedent (a noun introduced by elor la, the indicative is used in the relative clause. But when they are used in combination with an indefinite antecedent (a noun introduced by unor una, the subjunctive is generally used in the relative clause.
Take a look at these examples. The first example uses the indicative while the second example uses the subjunctive.
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As shown in the second example, the personal a is often omitted when referring to an unidentified person.
The Subjunctive with Negated Antecedents
Relative clauses that follow the negated forms of tener, conocer, haber, and existirtake the subjunctive.
Take a look at the following examples. The first example uses the indicative while the second uses the subjunctive.
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Relative Clauses in Questions
In questions, the verb in the relative clause is commonly used in the subjunctive. This is the case when there is an element of doubt and the speaker is not sure whether the antecedent exists.
Take a look at the following examples. The first example uses the indicative because the speaker is just confirming a fact, while the second uses the subjunctive because the antecedent isn't identifiable.
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Learn more about the subjunctive with the following articles:
