María y su amiga Ana estuvieron de compras...

[Caramelita]

Hola,


María y su amiga Ana estuvieron ayer de compras toda la tarde. Ana no compró nada, pero María compró demasiadas cosas, con las cuales no hace nada. Me parece extraño que gaste tanto dinero.


Some questions about this text : "con las cuales no hace nada" - could I also say "las cuales son inútiles" ?

and "Me parece extraño que gaste..." Should this be in subjunctive mode? Is it the same as "Es extraño que..." or should it be in indicative? "Me parece extraño que gasta tanto dinero" ?

[Rusty]

When you're expressing your opinion, the 'parecerle algo' construct calls for the subjunctive mood when 'algo' is replaced with a noun clause.

Your other proposition is proper Spanish, but totally changes the meaning. The purchased items aren't useless. María just won't use the things she bought.

[Caramelita]

When you're expressing your opinion, the 'parecerle algo' construct calls for the subjunctive mood when 'algo' is replaced with a noun clause.

Your other proposition is proper Spanish, but totally changes the meaning. The purchased items aren't useless. María just won't use the things she bought.


You're right. I will then leave it the way it is . "Con las cuales no hace nada" is right.

So "me parece extraño que gaste tanto dinero", is correct then:)

[Rusty]

Yes.