Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
Exploring the subjunctiveThis is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Exploring the subjunctive
Puedes verlo
[you can see it = indicative] No pienso que puedas verlo [I do not think you can see it = subjunctive] puedas verlo [you may be able to see it] En este caso estoy usando el subjuntivo sin palabras antes del verbo [subjunctive] Podemos verlo [we can see him = indicative] Espero que podamos verlo [I hope we can see him = subjunctive] podamos verlo [we may be able to see him = subjunctive] pero, para la divérsion, pongo esta frase en traductor de Google: "we may be able to see him", la resulta fue "podemos ser capaces de verlo" ¿tiene sentido? Last edited by ducviloxi; March 10, 2012 at 10:47 AM. |
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I think Google translator has it OK.
You translated into English two phrases that are at least ungrammatical: "puedas verlo" and "podamos verlo", although you was aware of that fact. But you translated them anyway so you probably didn't do it from its source language (real Spanish) but from some idea you may have in English about what Spanish subjunctive is. Don't think of this as hard criticism on my part, as I fully understand that it is very difficult to catch the essence of Spanish subjunctive departing from a language that has not comparable features, but I wanted you to have some feedback. Thinking of "you may be able to see it" couldn't be farther from the use of subjunctive in "No pienso que puedas verlo", especially when its positive counterpart is "Pienso que puedes verlo" and "pienso que puedas verlo" is ungrammatical within the sense you are analysing it (it may make sense in some pragmatic context, but with a different meaning of pensar). Think in these sentences in English -not exactly the same- and try to explain why b and c use can in opposite ways being that they are not extremely unlike: a)You can see it. b) I don't think you can see it. c) You cannot see it, I think. Well, Spanish subjunctive states that a notion is not in our mind so a) Puedes verlo. b) No pienso que puedas verlo. c) No puedes verlo, pienso yo. (I think there are different cases for this sentence)
__________________
[gone] |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Muchas gracias por su respuesta aleCcowaN
|
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Si la frase fuera "it may be we are able to see him" sería subjuntivo. ¿es correcta esa frase en inglés? |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
or Maybe we would see him or We may be able to see him |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
'It may be we are able to see him' is a valid English sentence. An equivalent would be 'Perhaps we are able to see him'.
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
This goes to show that there are variations in interpretations and understanding even among native speakers Appreciate all the good information in this thread! Last edited by ducviloxi; April 10, 2012 at 11:56 AM. |
Link to this thread | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Is this the subjunctive? | Caballero | Grammar | 49 | May 15, 2011 05:12 PM |
Use of the subjunctive | tacuba | Grammar | 7 | February 04, 2010 12:36 PM |
When and How to use Subjunctive | DeterminadoAprender | Grammar | 9 | April 12, 2009 07:38 AM |
The subjunctive.... | hola | Grammar | 2 | February 17, 2009 07:18 PM |
Use the subjunctive? | tacuba | Grammar | 5 | February 12, 2009 09:25 AM |