| ENGLISH GRAMMAR for Spanish Speakers |
1. Ways of expressing the Subjunctive
* The Subjunctive Mood
- It is extremely limited
- It has only one form (the infinitive -to)
- It does not add -s to the 3rd person
* Uses - In subordinate clauses introduced by that,
dependent upon a clause of request, command, necessity, suggestion, surprise, etc. (Mandative Subjuctive, more frequent in AmE). à
It is necessary that he accept out offer
- In the external structure of independent clauses that express a wish, or in other set idiomatic
expressions. à
God save the King!
- The verb to be has the form were which is used for hypothetical conditions and wishes with I wish or if only à
If I were rich
* Other constructions equivalent to the Spanish Subjuctive
1. Subjuctive with should
a) Mandative subjunctive: the main clause express a wish or command: à
He gave orders that they (should) be well treated
b) Emotive should. The main clause expresses a feeling or an opinion à
I am surprised that he should have behaved like that
c) Putative should. The main clause expresses possibility, impossibility, supposition or necessity à
It was impossible that this should go on much longer
d) To express contingency (inverted) à
Should you see him...
e) With a conditional meaning à
Anyone who should see him is requested by the Police
f). Final clauses: expressing purpose à
He was speaking slowly so that everybody should understand him
Note: Should as Subjuctive is considered to be too literary.
2. Accusative + infinitive + to
* With verbs of volitions (want, tell, ask, order, command, beg, expect, advice, allow, forbid) à
I want her to stay / I forbid you to go out.
3. For + accusative and infinitive + to
* When the main clause expresses a possibility, a feeling, an opinion or a necessity à
I’m impatient for her to ring me up.
4. May / might
1. In sentences that express possibility à
It may/might rain tomorrow.
2. In subordinate purpose clauses à
She died so that you might live
3. In subordinate concessive clauses, with inversion of the verb governed by may/might à
Try as he may, he will never succeed.
4. Sentences that express a wish, with inversion of the subject à May you live a hundreds of years.
5. Wish or if only + past or would
* Wish or if only are used to express a wish and are generally translated by ojalá:
- The
Simple Past: to express a desire (Pret. Imperfecto) à
I wish I were / was rich!
- The
Future: with would to express a wish (Pret. Imperfecto) à
I wish she would marry me!
- The
Past Perfect: to express a wish (Pret. Pluscuamperfecto) à
I wish you had told me!
6. Let + accusative and infinitive –to
* To express an order or wish of an imperious king à
Let him do it
7. Indicative with a subjunctive value
1. In subordinate temporal clauses referring to the future à When he comes, I’ll tell him
2. Subordinate conditional clauses expressing impossibility or improbability à
If it rained, we would stay at home
3. A variety of other subordinate clauses (depending upon the idea) à I don’t like his/him smoking pipe.
8. The -ing form with the genitive or accusative
2. Expressions most often used as equivalents of the Spanish Subjunctive
|
Infinitive with to |
With a verb of wishing or ordering |
I want her to wait |
Quiero que ella espere |
|
For + Accusative + Infinitive with to |
With a verb of possibility, necessity or opinion |
It's too early for him to go |
Es demasiado temprano para que se vaya |
|
May / Might + Infinitive without to |
In purpose clauses |
I'll write to him today so that he may get the letter tomorrow |
Le escribiré hoy para que reciba la carta mañana |
|
I wish / If only + Past /would/
Past Perfect |
For wishes (¡Ojalá! |
I wish they'd come! |
¡Ojalá vinieran |
|
If + Past |
For hypothetical or unfulfilled conditions |
If the weather was fine, we would go to the country |
Si el tiempo fuera bueno, iríamos al campo |
|
Indicative |
In subordinate temporal clauses |
We'll tell him as soon as he comes |
Se lo diremos tan pronto como llegue |
|
Should |
With verbs of necessity, possibility, wishing, command, opinion, etc. |
It was necessary that I should see you |
Era necesario que te viera |