Feeling a bit lost when it comes to choosing between the indicative and subjunctive in Spanish relative clauses? No worries, you’re not alone! It’s a tricky grammar point, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll sound way more fluent.
Understanding Relative Clauses
First things first, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what relative clauses are. They’re those handy little clauses that give us extra information about a noun. They often start with words like que (that, which, who).
The Big Rule: Specific vs. Non-Specific
Here’s the key to unlocking the indicative/subjunctive mystery:
- Indicative: Use it when you’re talking about something specific or known.
- Subjunctive: Use it when you’re talking about something non-specific, unknown, or hypothetical.
Let’s see some examples to make it clearer:
Busco el libro que está sobre la mesa.(I’m looking for the book that is on the table.)- We know which book – it’s the one on the table. So, we use the indicative.
Busco un libro que sea interesante.(I’m looking for a book that is interesting.)- We don’t have a specific book in mind, just any book that fits the description. So, we use the subjunctive.
A Few More Tips
- Negative statements: Even if something seems specific, if it’s in a negative sentence, you’ll often use the subjunctive.
No hay nadie que hable ruso aquí.(There’s no one here who speaks Russian.)
- Expressions of doubt or uncertainty: These usually call for the subjunctive too.
Dudo que haya alguien que pueda ayudarnos.(I doubt there’s anyone who can help us.)
- Superlatives & Ordinals These usually take the indicative
Es la mejor película que he visto.(It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen)
Practice Makes Perfect
The best way to get comfortable with this is to practice! Try these exercises:
- Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb:
Necesito un coche que _____ (ser) confiable.(I need a car that is reliable.)Este es el restaurante que _____ (recomendar) mi amigo.(This is the restaurant that my friend recommended.)
- Translate these sentences into Spanish, paying attention to the mood:
- I’m looking for a house that has a garden
- This is the dog that bit me.
¡Ánimo!
Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while to master this. Just keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using the indicative and subjunctive like a native speaker! ¡Buena suerte!