The subjunctive with indefinite people and things (El subjuntivo con las cláusulas adjetivales) Queremos un presidente que sea honrado.

Admiramos un político honrado. We admire an honest politician. An adjective describes, limits, or modifies a noun. A clause that modifies a noun is an adjective clause. ADJECTIVE Admiramos un político honrado. We admire an honest politician. ADJECTIVE CLAUSE Óscar Arias es un político que es honrado. Óscar Arias is a politician who is honest.

Buscamos una paz que sea duradera. The subjunctive is used in an adjective clause when it refers to a person or object that is indefinite or does not exist. INDEFINITE ANTECEDENT Buscamos una paz que sea duradera. We are looking for a peace that is lasting. Necesitan un ejército que respete los derechos de los ciudadanos. They need an army that respects the rights of the citizens.

No hay ningún candidato que me guste. The subjunctive is used in an adjective clause when it refers to a person or object that is indefinite or does not exist. NONEXISTENT ANTECEDENT No hay ningún candidato que me guste. There is no candidate that I like. No hay nadie que yo conozca en esta reunión. There is no one that I know at this meeting.

Hay alguien aquí que conozco. There is someone here that I know. When the dependent clause refers to a person or thing that is certain or definite, the indicative is used. Hay alguien aquí que conozco. There is someone here that I know. Ése es el político que me gusta. That is the politician that I like. Necesitamos al activista que se expresa bien. We need the activist who expresses himself well. (We know him.)

¿Conoce usted un soldado que haya ido a la guerra? In questions where it is precisely the existence of the person or object that is being asked about, the subjunctive is used. ¿Conoce usted un soldado que haya ido a la guerra? Do you know any soldier who has gone to war? ¿Hay alguna persona que no quiera una paz duradera? Is there anyone who doesn’t want a lasting peace?

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