More Usages of the Subjunctive Tense Sp. 3 H c.7

Subjunctive with Indefinites and Negatives (INs), CQs, and Por X que X This use of the subjunctive is used when the subject of the main clause is not definite or may not even exist. Some texts refer to these subjects as ghosts, but we will refer to them as INs. If the subject in the main clause may or may not exist, then the verb in the dependent clause has to be in the subjunctive tense. Ie…Paco busca un libro que tenga dos mil páginas.

Subjunctive with Indefinites and Negatives (INs), CQs, and Por X que X Ie…Paco busca un libro que tenga dos mil páginas. The verb following the que is in the subjunctive because the subject is INDEFINITE. You are not sure if such a thing actually exists. No hay nadie aquí que toque el clarinete.

Subjunctive with Indefinites and Negatives (INs), CQs, and Por X que X KEY POINT: Indefinite subject in the primary clause + que = subjunctive in the dependent clause.

Here is the formula for this type of construction: IN Subject in main clause+ que +verb in the subjunctive No hay nada No hay nadie BuscoNecesito Me gustaría Verb in the appropriate ComoquieraQUE form of the subjunctive CualquieraDondequieraQuienquiera Por (adj or adv)

Progression of Tenses Next we have to determine WHICH subjunctive tense to use based on the PROGRESSION OF TENSES VERB in main clause Subjunctive Verb in second clause Present FuturePresent Subjunctive Commands Present Perfect Subjunctive Pres. Prog., Pres. or Future Perfect preterite imperfect Imperfect Subjunctive conditional Pluperfect Subjunctive past progressive conditional perfect preterite perfect

Subjunctive with Indefinites and Negatives (INs), CQs, and Por X que X KEY POINT: A change of one little word could tip the sentence from definite to indefinite… …from indicative to subjunctive. Busco la persona que habla español. Busco una persona que hable español,