Where Is the Help?

The very last thing to discuss about when to use the subjunctive in Spanish is the indefinite and non-existent. When you use a sentence describing something or someone out there who may or may not exist, you would use the subjunctive. When you are speaking about something that may or may not happen or the end time frame is "up in the air," you would use the subjunctive. These are all unknown factors and because they are undetermined, you must use the subjunctive.

Here are some examples:

Necesitamos un horno que funcione consistentemente.

We need an oven that works consistently.

Quiero que mi fiesta dure cinco horas sola.

I want that my party lasts only five hours.

Mi mamá busca a alguien que pueda limpiar nuestra casa los martes.

My mom is looking for someone who can clean our house on Tuesdays.

Let's take a closer look at them. In the first example, you see that there are two distinct subjects ("we" and "the oven"). There are also two different verbs (necesitar (to need) and funcionar (to work)). The first subject (we) sets up the statement by talking about what they need. The relative pronoun que (that) separates the first half of the sentence from the second half. The verb, funcionar, is describing the type of oven that the first subject (we) needs. It is not known whether they will find such an oven out there in the world, but they are stating what they need in case someone may know of one or to confirm with each other that that is the type of oven they will need in the future. An oven that works consistently may or may not exist. It may be non-existent.

The second example above also has two different subjects ("I" and "my party") and has two different verbs (querer (to want) and durar (to last)). There is also a relative pronoun que (that) separates both verbs and each half of the sentence. The sentence begins with a wish or a desire for something to happen. The second part of the sentence describes what the first subject (I) would like to happen. Please note that this hasn't happened yet, but there is a possibility of it happening in the future. Because this is talking about a future duration for the party, it is considered indefinite. It is not known whether the party will last that long at all. There may be circumstances out of the person's control that would shorten or lengthen the party.

In the final example, there is a person looking for another person to do something specific for them. Again, there are two subjects (mamá (mom) and alguien (someone)) and two verbs (buscar (to look for) and poder (to be able to, can)). Like the other two examples, both parts of the sentence have a relative pronoun que (that) separating them. Now the first subject (mom) may know of someone who can clean the house, but maybe that person cannot clean on Tuesdays. Perhaps she may not know of anybody who can clean her house, much less clean on Tuesdays. Here we are talking about someone who is non-existent at the time the sentence is being spoken.

Of course, if any of these things or people do exist and you can see them, point them out in a crowd, or mention their name, the second verb would be in the indicative rather than the subjunctive because they exist. They are real.

For example:

Mi mamá quiere que Laura limpia nuestra casa los martes.

My mom wants that Laura cleans our house on Tuesdays.

The first subject, mom, has a specific person in mind to clean the house on Tuesdays -- Laura. Mom specifically sees Laura or knows that Laura can clean her house on Tuesdays. Consider this to be a done deal. Laura has already agreed to do the task and will be doing it on Tuesdays. There is no doubt. There is no uncertainty. This is going to happen.

Now if mom is not sure if Laura can clean her house on Tuesdays or clean her house at all, she would use the subjunctive in the second part of the sentence like this:

Mi mamá quiere que Laura limpie nuestra casa los martes.

My mom wants that Laura cleans our house on Tuesdays.

They say the same thing, but the only difference is that there are some doubts as to whether or not Laura will clean the house or can do it. I know, it's a slight difference, but nevertheless, it is a difference that can change the entire sentence and meaning of the sentence. This is one of the reason why the subjunctive "mood" is very important to understand and use properly.

Now it's your turn! In the comments section below, write two sentences talking about indefinite things, events or non-existent people that you or anybody might want, need or desire. Practice using the subjunctive. The more you practice, the better and easier it will get. Get wacky; get creative; get subjunctive!

Espero que haya disfrutado aprendiendo el subjunctivo durante el verano conmigo.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning the subjunctive during the summer with me.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Expressing the Impersonal

Expressing impersonal desires or judgments in Spanish will always use the subjunctive "mood." But what are these impersonal expressions or statements?

Well, these are statements that must have a specific subject. They will still have two verbs and two subjects. Instead of two specific subjects, only the second verb will have a clear subject. The first subject is general and very generic in nature. It takes the form of "it." The expressions follow this construction:

It is + [an adjective] + that + [second subject] + [the desire or judgement].

Es + [un adjectivo] + que + [subjecto segundo] + [el deseo o la opinión].

Example: It is deplorable that Shannon wears white to the wedding!

Ejemplo: ¡Es deplorable que Shannon lleve blanco a la boda!

In this example, the first subject is "it" which is general or generic. The speaker is stating the general consensus according to their perspective. Keep in mind that this may not be factual, but one side of the story and how that person sees the situation. The adjective "deplorable" conveys the sentiment and judgement. The second subject is Shannon, the person receiving the judgement, along with the reason why she is receiving that judgement (wearing white to the wedding).

To help you gain a better idea of starting impersonal expressions out, I have a small (but not complete) list here:

es aconsejable que . . .	it is advisable that . . .
es bueno que . . .	it is good that . . .
es difícil que . . .	it is difficult (unlikely) that . . .
es dudoso que . . .	it is doubtful that . . .
es fácil que . . .	it is easy (likely) that . . .
es fantástico que . . .	it is fantastic that . . .
es importante que . . .	it is important that . . .
es improbable que . . .	it is improbable that . . .
es incierto que . . .	it is uncertain that . . .
es increíble que . . .	it is incredible that . . .
es malo que . . .	it is bad that . . .
es mejor que . . .	it is better that . . .
es menester que /es necesario que / es preciso que . . .	it is necessary that . . .
es posible que . . .	it is possible that . . .
es preferible que . . .	it is preferable that . . .
es probable que . . .	it is probable (likely) that . . .
es raro que . . .	it is rare that . . .
es ridículo que . . .	it is ridiculous that . . .
es terrible que . . .	it is terrible that . . .

There are some impersonal expressions that do not begin with es (it is) such as:

conviene que . . .	it is advisable that . . .
puede ser que . . .	it could be that . . .

Remember that all of the above impersonal expressions would use the subjunctive after the relative pronoun, que (that), to show judgments, feelings, or desires.

In my previous blog posting, I did mention that emotion verbs can be part of impersonal expressions when you state a general emotion. This is a slight overlap into the wide area of impersonal expressions. You may re-read that here.

Not all impersonal expressions will use the subjunctive. Those that express truth, fact, certainty, and credible belief will use the indicative for the second verb. If it does not fit this criteria, then use the subjunctive. Here's an example:

Es obvio que el cielo es azul.

It is obvious that the sky is blue.

This is considered general knowledge. Everyone knows this to be fact. There are no doubts about it. Scientists have studied and figured out why the sky is blue. Impersonal expressions such as this one will always use the indicative. Some of these expressions that trigger the use of the indicative start out as: es verdad que [it is true that], es obvio que [it is obvious that], es claro que [it is clear that], es evidente que [it is evident that], no es dudoso que [it is not doubtful that], and no hay duda que [there is no doubt that].

Finally, if there is no subject for the second verb, you would leave the second verb in its infinitive form (not conjugated and without any subject). For example: 

Es importante comer y beber bien.

It is important to eat and drink well.

Notice that there are no relative pronouns like que (that) to separate any parts of the sentence. It's all one idea, one sentence, and one thought.

Give it a try! Post some impersonal expressions of your own down below in the comments section.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith