Use of imperfect subjunctive tense

[laepelba]

Is there ever a situation where the main clause of a sentence is in the present and the dependent/subjunctive clause uses the imperfect subjunctive? Or does the main clause ALWAYS have to be in the past tense to use the imperfect subjunctive in the dependent clause?

For example, I wrote "Espero que disfrutaras el fin de semana." My Mexican friend corrected me to say "Espero que hayas disfrutado el fin de semana."

I think that you could say correctly: "Esperaba que disfrutaras el fin de semana." Right?

It sounds strange to my English ear ... and it's a construction that I will have to work hard to remember because it doesn't quite make sense to me. Can you think of ANY examples where it is "Future tense + que + imperfect subjunctive"?

Thank you!!

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Is there ever a situation where the main clause of a sentence is in the present and the dependent/subjunctive clause uses the imperfect subjunctive? Or does the main clause ALWAYS have to be in the past tense to use the imperfect subjunctive in the dependent clause?

For example, I wrote "Espero que disfrutaras el fin de semana." My Mexican friend corrected me to say "Espero que hayas disfrutado el fin de semana."

I think that you could say correctly: "Esperaba que disfrutaras el fin de semana." Right?

It sounds strange to my English ear ... and it's a construction that I will have to work hard to remember because it doesn't quite make sense to me. Can you think of ANY examples where it is "Future tense + que + imperfect subjunctive"?

Thank you!!

Hmmm

So, "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend" sounds strange?

[Rusty]

Es bueno que disfrutaras del fin de semana.
It's good you enjoyed the weekend.

Buena cosa que no fueras.
It's a good thing you didn't go.

The sentences above are examples of present tense impersonal expressions used with events that happened in the past.
Also, verbs of volition, doubt, or emotion in the main clause, all expressed in the present tense, can reference something that happened in the past.

Dudo que lo hubieras hecho.
Me sorprende que él cumpliera todo lo que le pedí.

'Espero que disfrutaras de...' works for me. There will be those who argue for 'hayas disfrutado de', however, especially those from Spain.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

Hmmm

So, "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend" sounds strange?

I mean, I've heard it, but it doesn't sound correct to me...

Originally Posted by Rusty

Es bueno que disfrutaras del fin de semana.
It's good you enjoyed the weekend.

Buena cosa que no fueras.
It's a good thing you didn't go.

The sentences above are examples of present tense impersonal expressions used with events that happened in the past.
Also, verbs of volition, doubt, or emotion in the main clause, all expressed in the present tense, can reference something that happened in the past.

Dudo que lo hubieras hecho.
Me sorprende que él cumpliera todo lo que le pedí.

'Espero que disfrutaras de...' works for me. There will be those who argue for 'hayas disfrutado de', however, especially those from Spain.

Thanks, Rusty - I'm going to contemplate these and check with my Mexican friend and see what she says.... She couldn't think of even one example that starts with present tense and uses imperfect subjunctive in the dependent clause....

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I mean, I've heard it, but it doesn't sound correct to me...

Now, I need to know if it is correct.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

"Esperaba que disfrutaras el fin de semana."

It's correct, unless you don't mean what it says: I was expecting that you enjoyed the weekend (whether you actually enjoyed it or not.)

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

So, "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend" sounds strange?

It depends on context. As a straight statement it hardly makes sense, because there is no reason for not saying "I hope" instead of "I was hoping".

Now suppose you had been hoping that somebody had enjoyed the weekend, and you were about to ask, when they punch you in the face. You might then say "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend.... but I'm not now"


Notice in the face, not on it.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

It's correct, unless you don't mean what it says: I was expecting that you enjoyed the weekend (whether you actually enjoyed it or not.)

But you agree with my friend from Durango who says that "espero que disfrutaras el fin de semana" is not correct...? I'm trying to wrap my head around when "present + que + imperfect subjunctive" is acceptable (if ever)...

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by laepelba

But you agree with my friend from Durango who says that "espero que disfrutaras el fin de semana" is not correct...? I'm trying to wrap my head around when "present + que + imperfect subjunctive" is acceptable (if ever)...

Not a simple topic. Native speakers from Northern Mexico and New Mexico tend to use it that way, among other native speakers, and it's "good enough".

You have to consider that one of the dimensions of Spanish subjunctive relates with new information vs. old information, and regarding new information indicative and a precise time setting use to be preferred, so it sounds a little bit odd to me this "espero que disfrutaras el fin de semana" as it is new information -not to me, but for the person hearing it-. I find "espero que hayas disfrutado el fin de semana" to be far better.

However most native speakers find OK this kind of paragraphs: "Se lo dijo ayer y no te puedo expresar lo tranquilo que me deja que se lo dijera finalmente" (or "haya dicho"). With imperfect subjunctive the act of telling is completely "thingified" so it becomes a thing that is referred and not a thing that was happening at some point in the past.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Perikles

It depends on context. As a straight statement it hardly makes sense, because there is no reason for not saying "I hope" instead of "I was hoping".

Now suppose you had been hoping that somebody had enjoyed the weekend, and you were about to ask, when they punch you in the face. You might then say "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend.... but I'm not now"


Notice in the face, not on it.

So it would be OK, with or without a punch in the face.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Lou Ann: It's a matter of time agreement between both verbs. "Espero" is a present and "disfrutaras" corresponds with past tenses.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Lou Ann: It's a matter of time agreement between both verbs. "Espero" is a present and "disfrutaras" corresponds with past tenses.

Right - but one of my books said that you can use present+past or past+past, but never past+present in that order. Don't some of Rusty's examples use present+past? I need to study sequence of tenses.....

[Rusty]

All of my examples show 'present+past', because you asked if it was possible.

[caliber1]

Originally Posted by Perikles

It depends on context. As a straight statement it hardly makes sense, because there is no reason for not saying "I hope" instead of "I was hoping".

Now suppose you had been hoping that somebody had enjoyed the weekend, and you were about to ask, when they punch you in the face. You might then say "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend.... but I'm not now"


Notice in the face, not on it.

Or if you asked "how was your weekend"? They reply with a bunch of complaints and problems. Then you can say "I was hoping you enjoyed the weekend." Then they punch you in the face

[Ronald Ross]

Laespelba, it is important to remember that nearly always in Spanish the tense of the subjunctive in the dependant clause is agreeing with the tense of the indicative in the main clause. It derives its tense from that of the main clause. In only very few cases can be said to have its own tense. And this is true cross-linguistically. For example, in Quichua (Ecuador), the subjunctive has only one form and is always presumed to have the same temporal meaning as the main verb.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Ronald Ross

....nearly always in Spanish the tense of the subjunctive in the dependant clause is agreeing with the tense of the indicative in the main clause. It derives its tense from that of the main clause. In only very few cases can be said to have its own tense. And this is true cross-linguistically.

Presumably with "cross-linguistically" you mean in other languages, and this is an unnecessary and incorrect generalization. Germanic languages use a mixture of present conditional and imperfect subjunctive to express hypothetical situations, for example. Spanish does as well, doesn't it?

And what about things like

Me alegro de que hayas tenido éxito

Or have I misunderstood your post?