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-   -   Might (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=4675)

Might


bobjenkins July 20, 2009 04:17 PM

Might
 
Hola ¿cómo se diría, "I might do (something)"

Quizá nadar en el mar hoy
I might swim in the sea today

¿Hay otra manera decirlo? Gracias

chileno July 20, 2009 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobjenkins (Post 42607)
Hola ¿cómo se diría, "I might do (something)"

Quizá nadar en el mar hoy
I might swim in the sea today

¿Hay otra manera decirlo? Gracias

I might swim en the sea today - Podría nadar en el mar hoy.

Maybe I might swim in the sea today - Quizás podría nadar en el mar hoy.

Tomisimo July 20, 2009 06:58 PM

I'd say:

Podría nadar hoy. = I could swim today.
Quizá voy a nadar hoy. = I might swim today. (Maybe I'll swim today.)

I might infinitive.
Posiblemente/Quizá(s)/tal vez voy a infinitivo.
Posiblemente/Quizá(s)/tal vez/puede que verbo en el subjuntivo.

I might eat = Quizá voy a comer
I might sing = Posiblemente voy a cantar
I might work = Tal vez voy a trabajar

(subjuntivo)
I might walk = Posiblemente camine
I might talk = Quizás hable
I might run = Puede que corra

bobjenkins July 20, 2009 08:38 PM

GracIas me dais buena información y por eso os agradezco amigos
:thumbsup::thumbsup:

NiCACHiCA July 21, 2009 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomisimo (Post 42631)
I'd say:

Podría nadar hoy. = I could swim today.
Quizá voy a nadar hoy. = I might swim today. (Maybe I'll swim today.)

I might infinitive.
Posiblemente/Quizá(s)/tal vez voy a infinitivo.
Posiblemente/Quizá(s)/tal vez/puede que verbo en el subjuntivo.

I might eat = Quizá voy a comer
I might sing = Posiblemente voy a cantar
I might work = Tal vez voy a trabajar

(subjuntivo)
I might walk = Posiblemente camine
I might talk = Quizás hable
I might run = Puede que corra

Is there certain cases where you would use quizá/posiblemente/tal vez and certain cases for the subjunctive? Or can you use them interchangeably/as to whatever your preference is??

Tomisimo July 21, 2009 11:46 AM

What I wrote was just off the top of my head. It would be good to get some native speakers' opinions on this.

irmamar July 22, 2009 02:43 AM

I'm not very sure about what you're asking, Nicachica, but if I've understood, you're asking about the use of the subjunctive in such sentences (am I wrong? :confused: ):

- Probability with subjunctive:

Quizás venga pronto.
Tal vez esté trabajando.
Posiblemente/probablemente vayamos el domingo


- Probability with indicative:

A lo mejor viene pronto
Igual viene pronto.
('a lo mejor' and 'igual' with indicative)
Estará trabajando, quizás. Vendrá pronto, tal vez. Iremos el domingo probablemente (adverb at the end of the sentence).

There are no rules, just practice.

Some grammars (not all of them) say that you can use indicative with the first group to give a bigger degree of probability (for instance: quizás viene pronto). But I assure you that this sentence sounds like a grunt in my ears. With some verbs it doesn't sound so badly (for instance: quizá apruebo sounds better than quizá viene). To avoid problems, I think it's better to use subjunctive.

NiCACHiCA July 27, 2009 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 42823)
I'm not very sure about what you're asking, Nicachica, but if I've understood, you're asking about the use of the subjunctive in such sentences (am I wrong? :confused: ):

- Probability with subjunctive:

Quizás venga pronto.
Tal vez esté trabajando.
Posiblemente/probablemente vayamos el domingo


- Probability with indicative:

A lo mejor viene pronto
Igual viene pronto.
('a lo mejor' and 'igual' with indicative)
Estará trabajando, quizás. Vendrá pronto, tal vez. Iremos el domingo probablemente (adverb at the end of the sentence).

There are no rules, just practice.

Some grammars (not all of them) say that you can use indicative with the first group to give a bigger degree of probability (for instance: quizás viene pronto). But I assure you that this sentence sounds like a grunt in my ears. With some verbs it doesn't sound so badly (for instance: quizá apruebo sounds better than quizá viene). To avoid problems, I think it's better to use subjunctive.

I think the last part of your response is what I was asking. Is it better to use indicative or subjunctive. So what I'm gathering is it would be better to use strictly subjunctive to indicate probability??

irmamar July 28, 2009 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiCACHiCA (Post 43504)
I think the last part of your response is what I was asking. Is it better to use indicative or subjunctive. So what I'm gathering is it would be better to use strictly subjunctive to indicate probability??

Usually I'd use subjunctive, except with 'igual' and 'a lo mejor' (both of them go always with indicative). If you use subjunctive surely you'll say your sentences right (remember, never with igual and a lo mejor).


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