Subjunctive again

Subjunctive again
 

Hi,

From Duolingo:

It's good that the printer is working.

Es bueno que la impresora esté funcionando.

Why not está? There is nothing conditional or unfulfilled in the printer state.

When es bueno que expresses a personal opinion, it should be followed by the subjunctive. It may always require the subjunctive, but let a native speaker clarify this.

I agree with Poli.
All sentences expressing an opinion with this construction, always take the subjunctive.
- Es bueno/malo que...
- Es importante que...
- Es necesario que...
- Es conveniente que...
- Es increíble que...
- Es posible que...
...

I can't understand :D .

All these starters may happen in the gray area (wish, hope, etc.). Suppose I know nothing about this printer and its present state. How do I know that it's happily printing away? Suppose I'm reading the sentence and can't see the happy eyes of that person...

Do you mean that I positively can't read this sentence like It'd be good if that printer were working? If so, what's the correct translation of this one?

Estaría bien si la computadora (o el ordenador) funcionara.

While it's a fact that the printer is working, the subjunctive comes from my personal opinion that it's a good thing.
- Es muy triste que no quieras venir. - I find your presence pleasant, so I'm sad that you don't want to be with me.
- Es importante que hables varios idiomas. - I personally value people who speak several languages.
- Es horrible que uses esos zapatos. - I hate those shoes, so I think you shouldn't wear them.

As for "It'd be good if that printer were working", Poli's translation is fine.
Also: "Sería bueno que esa impresora estuviera funcionando".
In this case, my mood would improve if the machine were working, but the conditional is expressing that it is not.
- Sería conveniente que me dijeras qué regalo quieres. - You haven't told me what present you want, but I prefer you did.
- Sería terrible que aumentaran los impuestos. - I fear taxes could get higher, but they haven't yet.

In all these cases, the construction is the same:

Impersonal "ser" + adjective + "que" + subjunctive

- Es necesario que termines el trabajo.
- Era difícil que ganara mi equipo.
- Fue amable que me trajeras a casa.
- Será mejor que no compres un perro.
- Sería injusto que me culparan del robo.