Subjunctive vs. Indicative in Noun and Adjectival Sentences.

The Subjunctive is used in subordinate sentences in Spanish most of the time but not always. The problem is how to ascertain when the Indicative is called for. In this page, following a method due to D. Bolinger, we give a relatively simple test that can be carried out on an English sentence to help determine which mood is to be used. Further details on the method are to be found throughout the Grammatical Notes.

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Grammatical Notes

Question #1 - . . . . . (1| Dudo (2| No dudo que Juan . . . . . |a) baila |b) baile muy bien. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'noun subordinate sentences': John dances very well, I . . . . . (1| doubt (2| don't doubt . . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Dudo Dudo No dudo No dudo baila baile baila baile 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #2 - . . . . . (1| Creo (2| No creo que . . . . . |a) viene |b) venga hoy. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'noun subordinate sentences': He's coming, I . . . . . (1| believe (2| don't believe today. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Creo Creo No creo No creo viene venga viene venga 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #3 - . . . . . (1| Necesito (2| Tengo una secretaria que . . . . . |a) sabe |b) sepa escribir a máquina. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'adjectival subordinate sentences': . . . . . (1| I need (2| I have a secretary. She knows how to type. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Necesito Necesito Tengo Tengo sabe sepa sabe sepa 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #4 - Busco . . . . . (1| un (meaning 'one') (2| un (meaning 'anyone') (3| el (meaning 'that one') (4| el (meaning 'the likely') negocio que . . . . . |a) vende |b) venda con descuento. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'adjectival subordinate sentences': I am looking for . . . . . (1| one (2| anyone (3| that one (4| the likely store. It sells at a discount. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) (3|a) (3|b) (4|a) (4|b) un (meaning 'one') un (meaning 'one') un (meaning 'anyone') un (meaning 'anyone') el (meaning 'that one') el (meaning 'that one') el (meaning 'the likely') el (meaning 'the likely') vende venda vende venda vende venda vende venda 4 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #5 - . . . . . (1| Conozco a un (2| No conozco ningún estudiante que . . . . . |a) quiere |b) quiera ser astrónomo. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'adjectival subordinate sentences': . . . . . (1| I know a (2| I don't know any student. He wants to be an astronomer. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Conozco a un Conozco a un No conozco ningún No conozco ningún quiere quiera quiere quiera 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #6 - . . . . . (1| Sé que ningún (2| No sé que algún estudiante . . . . . |a) quiere |b) quiera ser astrónomo. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'noun subordinate sentences': No student wants to be an astronomer, . . . . . (1| I know (2| I don't know . . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Sé que ningún Sé que ningún No sé que algún No sé que algún quiere quiera quiere quiera 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #7 - . . . . . (1| Estoy seguro de (2| No estoy seguro de que lo . . . . . |a) has |b) hayas perdido. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'noun subordinate sentences': You have lost it, . . . . . (1| I am sure (2| I am not sure . . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Estoy seguro de Estoy seguro de No estoy seguro de No estoy seguro de has hayas has hayas 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #8 - . . . . . (1| Me (2| No me apena que lo . . . . . |a) has |b) hayas perdido. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'noun subordinate sentences': You have lost it, . . . . . (1| I am sorry (2| I am not sorry . . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) Me Me No me No me has hayas has hayas 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #9 - Siempre compro un . . . . . (1| (meaning 'one') (2| (meaning 'anyone') número de la lotería que . . . . . |a) termina |b) termine en cero. For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'adjectival subordinate sentences': I always buy . . . . . (1| one (2| anyone lottery number. It ends in zero. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) (meaning 'one') (meaning 'one') (meaning 'anyone') (meaning 'anyone') termina termine termina termine 2 valid answers. Can you find them all? Question #10 - . . . . . (1| Hay (2| ¿Hay un estudiante aquí que . . . . . |a) sabe |b) sepa la lección . . . . . (1| . (2| ? For help, check the English semantic independence test for 'adjectival subordinate sentences': . . . . . (1| There is (2| Is there here a student . . . . . (1| . (2| ? He knows the lesson. . . . . . if O.K. grammatically, choose Indicative if Ungrammatical, choose Subjunctive . (1|a) (1|b) (2|a) (2|b) 2 valid answers llohay/archive nfs bg,xattr,dev=458002d 1073649555 ellohay:/archive1 /hmt/elloha Top

Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 1 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 1 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 1 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause affirming a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 1 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 1 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause affirming a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 2 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 2 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 2 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 2 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 3 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 3 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 3 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 3 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 4 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 4 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 4 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 4 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 4 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 4 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 4 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 4 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 5 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 5 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 5 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 5 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause affirming a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 6 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 6 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 6 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 6 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause affirming a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 7 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 7 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 7 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 7 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 8 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 8 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 8 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. Hints? Back to question 8 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 9 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 9 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 9 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 9 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. Hints? Back to question 10 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 10 Not a valid choice. Improper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. Hints? Back to question 10 Correct! Proper use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. Hints? Back to question 10

Grammatical notes for the drills in this page. The Subjunctive is used in subordinate sentences in Spanish most of the time but not always. The problem is how to ascertain when the Indicative is called for. In this page, following a method due to D. Bolinger, we give a relatively simple test that can be carried out on an English sentence to help determine which mood is to be used. Further details on the method are to be found throughout the Grammatical Notes. This method was proposed in: D. Bolinger, Hispania 57:462 (1974). The test is carried out on a 'test sentence' which is a translation of the original Spanish, modified to be grammatically valid only when the Indicative is to be used. We will say that in such a situation the subordinate is 'semantically independent', otherwise, that the subordinate is 'semantically dependent'. The items covered are: 1) The use of verb for a 'semantically independent' noun subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause affirming a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. The 'English test sentence' is constructed as follows for noun subordinates: Express yourself as closely as possible, both in meaning and in structure, with an English equivalent compound sentence. Drop the that and shift the principal sentence after the subordinate followed by a comma. Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 2 Quest. 6 Quest. 7 2) The use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' noun subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the main clause not affirming or showing a saying, thinking, observing, or knowing attitude. The 'English test sentence' is constructed as follows for noun subordinates: Express yourself as closely as possible, both in meaning and in structure, with an English equivalent compound sentence. Drop the that and shift the principal sentence after the subordinate followed by a comma. Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 2 Quest. 6 Quest. 7 Quest. 8 3) The use of verb for a 'semantically independent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Indicative is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being known or identified. The 'English test sentence' is constructed as follows for adjectival subordinates: Express yourself as closely as possible, both in meaning and in structure, with an English equivalent compound sentence. Drop the that (or any other 'relative pronoun') of the subordinate and replace it by a period, adjusting for any needed pronoun to preserve mening. Examples: Quest. 3 Quest. 4 Quest. 5 Quest. 9 Quest. 10 4) The use of verb for a 'semantically dependent' adjectival subordinate sentence. The Subjunctive is used in this situation, which corresponds, in the conventional treatments, to the antecedent of the adjectival subordinate sentence being unknown, vague, unidentified, indefinite, or non existent. The 'English test sentence' is constructed as follows for adjectival subordinates: Express yourself as closely as possible, both in meaning and in structure, with an English equivalent compound sentence. Drop the that (or any other 'relative pronoun') of the subordinate and replace it by a period, adjusting for any needed pronoun to preserve mening. Examples: Quest. 3 Quest. 4 Quest. 5 Quest. 9 Quest. 10 Main Menu

Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.

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