Mientras + Subjunctive

[fglorca]

¿Qué van a hacer tus primos mientras están aquí en Sevilla?

Should this not be 'estén'?

Many thanks.

[poli]

No, this sentence does not usually take the subjunctive. There may be a situation when the subjunctive is used here, and leave that to native speakers. I could only assume that you can use it if doubt that they'll actually be in Seville is expressed.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by poli

I could only assume that you can use it if doubt that they'll actually be in Seville is expressed.

I reckon only 2 or 3% of real instances using Spanish subjunctive relate mostly or exclusively with doubt or hesitation, so I'm always a bit surprised this is so often mentioned.

Originally Posted by fglorca

¿Qué van a hacer tus primos mientras están aquí en Sevilla?

Should this not be 'estén'?

Many thanks.

Both are OK, but I like it better with estén, as it sounds only born in healthy curiosity. With están it sounds more like (I hope I'm using the right vocabulary and tense to convey what is meant in Spanish): "I wouldn't like to impose but tell me, what will be your cousins doing while they're here in Seville?"