For using the subjunctive mood you need, in first place, a sentence with two clauses. A clause is an syntactical sequence (syntagm) that has a subject and a conjugated verb, for example:
(Yo) Pienso (I think). As you notice, Spanish doesn't really need subject pronouns (though, there are cases when it does use them), because we can tell who the performer is thanks to the verb ending.
The subjunctive mood is used when you are going to express what you doubt, feel uncertain about, a hypothetical situation or a wish in the second clause (the clause that comes after the connector "que"). The hint to know whether to use indicative or subjunctive is the information expressed by the verb of the first clause. For example, in the clause:
Yo sé (I know), your verb (saber) expresses certainty, right?
Yo sé que tú eres inteligente.
I know (that) you are intelligent. This (compound) sentence has two clauses, "Yo sé" (I know), which expresses certainty, and "tú eres inteligente" the FACT (that) I know (you're intelligent).
I am certain of the FACT that you are intelligent: "Yo sé que tú eres Valerie". Due to the certainty expressed by the verb "saber" in the first clause (yo sé), you must use INDICATIVE mood in the second clause (tú ERES inteligente).
On the other hand, when the verb in your first clause expresses any doubt, uncertainty, a desire or a wish, you NEED SUBJUNCTIVE mood for the verb in the second clause.
Espero que seas inteligente.
Espero = I hope. This clause, the first clause, expresses a wish; thus, the second clause "(Tú) seas inteligente" has to use the subjunctive mood.
More examples and what I said about the verb "creer":
"Creer" can be translated to English as "to believe"; however, in Spanish, its meaning is different. If you use it in an affirmative clause, the meaning equals "I'm (very/pretty) sure"
Yo creo que hoy es miércoles. I'm (very/pretty) sure it is Wednesday.
Nosotros creemos que hace frío. We are (ver/pretty) sure it is cold.
Ellos creen que tú eres Valerie. They are (very/pretty) sure you are Valerie.
In contrast, when you use "creer" in a negative clause, the meaning equals "I'm not sure at all". Therefore, when you use "no creer" in the first clause, you ALWAYS need Subjunctive for the verb in the second clause.
No creo que HAGA calor. I'm not sure it is hot at all.
No creen que seas pesimista. They are not sure at all that you are pessimistic.
No crees que yo vaya a México. You're not sure at all that I go to Mexico.
If you say that you do not believe or don't think (No creo, no pienso),that, the first clause (No creo, no pienso), is the fact. Whatever it is that you don't believe or don't think is the "unreal, uncertain" thing; therefore, you must use SUBJUNCTIVE for the verb in the second clause ( the clause that comes after "que"). Compare:
CREO que el examen ES difícil.
CREO (first clause) que (conector) el examen ES fácil (second clause).
If you look back at what I previously told you about creer, you'll see that, since I'm using it in an affirmative clause, It means "I'm pretty sure"; thus, the second clause (el examen ES difícil) uses indicative mood.
NO CREO que el examen SEA difícil.
NO CREO (first clause) que (connector) el examen SEA difícil (second clause in SUBJUNCTIVE mood).
NO PIENSO que tú ESTÉS confundida.
NO PIENSO (first clause) que (connector) tú ESTÉS confundida (second clause in SUBJUNCTIVE mood).
I hope this can help you. Buena suerte.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario