7 The Subjunctive in Independent Phrases
The Subjunctive in Independent Phrases
With Certain Adverbs
When we use adverbs that indicate possibility or probability, we can use the indicative or the subjunctive. The mood we chose depends on what we want to express.
| Quizá(s) / Tal vez | Perhaps |
| A lo mejor | Maybe, Probably |
| Posiblemente | Possibly |
| Probablemente | Maybe, Probably |
| Igual | Maybe |
EJERCICIO 7.1
Elige la continuación más lógica según el nivel de duda o certeza que se expresa con el indicativo o subjuntivo.
Hindsight
To talk about what someone should have done in the past, we can use the imperfect subjunctive of haber with a past participle.
-
Me hubieras dicho la verdad.
You should have told me the truth. -
¡Lo hubiera pensado antes!
He/She should’ve thought of that before!
EJERCICIO 7.2
As an alternative to this construction, we can use de + haber + past participle:
-
De haberlo sabido, no habría venido.
If I would’ve known , I wouldn’t have come. -
¡Habérmelo dicho antes!
You should have told me that before!
Ejercicio 7.3
¡Qué estés bien!
We can use que + present subjunctive to express wishes and desires. Although this is in independent phrase, you can think of it as a subordinate phrase where you simply omit a main expression that expresses desire: (Espero) que estés bien. Here are a few common ways you can hear this in use:
| ¡Qué estés bien! / ¡Qué te vaya bien! | Have a good one! |
| ¡Qué dios te acompañe! | God be with you! |
| ¡Qué descanses! | Have a good rest! |
| ¡Qué te diviertas! | Have fun! |
| Que en paz descanse. | Rest in peace. / May he/she rest in peace. |
EJERCICIO 7.4
The expression ojalá comes from the Arabic law sha’ allah, which means Si dios quisiera. We use ojalá + present subjunctive when we want to express a wish that has a plausible outcome. We use ojalá + imperfect subjunctive when we want to express a wish that has an improbable outcome.
EJERCICIO 7.5
¡Quién + [imperfect subjunctive]!
I wish…
The exclamation ¡Quién + [imperfect subjunctive]! is used to talk about a strong wish or desire that seems improbable or impossible—very much like wishful thinking. It’s similar to using ojalá + [imperfect subjunctive].
- ¡Quién pudiera vivir como vos!
I wish I could live like you! -
¡Quién lo supiera todo!
I’m going to do it, no matter how difficult it may be.
Set expressions that use the Subjunctive
o sea
that is to say
- Eso me parece una perogrullada, o sea, es obvio, no hace falta decirlo.
That seems like a truism, that is to say, it’s obvious, you don’t need to say it.
lo que sea, lo que fuera
something/anything, whatever
- Comé una manzana, o lo que sea si tenés hambre.
If you’re hungry, have an apple or something.
pase lo que pase (and other duplicative forms)
Whatever may happen
- “Pase lo que pase, mantente con vida, iré a buscarte.”
“You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you!”
—Last of the Mohicans. -
Lo voy a hacer cueste lo que cueste.
I’m going to do it, no matter how difficult it may be.
por + [adjective/adverb] + que + [subjunctive]
No matter how…
- Por más guapo que sea, me cae mal.
No matter how handsome he is, I don’t like him.
BUT, note that this expression can take the indicative if it expresses a habitual action:
- Por mucho que te apresurás, nunca llegás a tiempo.
You’re never on time no matter how much you hurry.
que sepa/sepamos
As far as I/we know
- Que sepa, Ana no ha llegado.
As far as I know, Ana hasn’t arrived.
que digamos
Not exactly…/I wouldn’t quite…
- Él no es muy simpático, que digamos.
He’s not exactly what I’d call likeable. / I wouldn’t exactly call him likeable.
quieras o no
Whether you want to or not
- ¡Te vas a comer el brócoli quieras o no!
You’re going to eat your broccoli whether you want to or not!
EJERCICIO 7.6
ni que + [imperfect subjunctive]
It’s not as if…
- ¿Por qué tan caro este pan? ¡Ni que fuera de oro!
Why’s this bread so expensive? What’s it made out of, gold?
EJERCICIO 7.7