Ch 38 · Lesson 18Spanish · Chapter 38 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Ni que, quién pudiera, que yo sepa, por si
¡ ! (scorn), ¡ ! (a sigh), (as far as I know), and , which takes the indicative. Plus the mistakes.
The short version
takes the indicative:
.
Why?Hide
(in case) is the odd one out among the set phrases: it takes the present indicative, never the present subjunctive. . Its cousin is the one that takes the subjunctive: .
Ni que and quién: scorn and a sigh
Two spoken flourishes borrow the same past subjunctive. mocks a pretension ("anyone would think..."); + imperfect subjunctive sighs for something out of reach:
| Phrase | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
¡ ! | Anyone would think you were rich! | |
¡ ! | Anyone would think he was the boss! | |
¡ ! | As if we had all day! | |
¡ ! | If only I could! | |
¡ ! | Oh, to be twenty again! |
This asks nothing: it means "if only I", not "who".
Que yo sepa and por si
yo (as far as I know) is a fixed hedge, at either end of the sentence:
, .- As far as I know, he/she hasn't arrived., .- No one else is coming, as far as I know.
(in case) is the exception on this page: it takes the present indicative, never the present subjunctive. Its cousin takes the subjunctive:
| Phrase | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
. | Take a coat in case it's cold. | |
, . | Take some money, just in case. | |
| in case it rains |
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| takes a past subjunctive | |
| never the present subjunctive | |
| both halves are subjunctive | |
| always takes the subjunctive | |
| a wish takes the subjunctive | |
| takes the indicative | |
| takes a past subjunctive |
Going further: Set phrases at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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