285. The subjunctive is more common
in Spanish than in English. It is used to express desire, certain
kinds of commands, and to express what may be rather than what is
a fact.
Learn the forms of the present subjunctive of the regular verbs,
444-453, of the radical-changing verbs, 461-467,
of the irregular verbs decir, 477; estar,
478; hacer, 480;
ir, 481; venir,
492; ser, 488; salir,
487.
286. Subjunctive in Independent Clauses. In
independent clauses the present subjunctive is used:
a. As a substitute for the imperative (see 288,
below).
b. In the first and third persons with a hortatory or
optative idea.
| Estudiemos nuestra lección. |
Let us study our lesson. |
| No nos rindamos. |
Let us not yield. |
| Que se ponga la mesa. |
Let the table be set. |
| (Que) vengan (ellos)
pronto. |
Let them come at once. |
1. Que is more commonly used when a vague desire
is expressed in the third person.
| Que me maten si lo hago. |
Let them kill me if I do it. |
287. The Imperative. Learn the
forms of the imperative of regular verbs, 447 d,
452, the irregular imperatives, 477, 480,
482, 484, 487, 488, 489, 491, 492.
The imperative in Spanish is found only in the second person, the
subject being, therefore, tú or
vosotros, and is used only in affirmative commands.
| Carlos, toma (tú)
este libro. |
Charles, take this book. |
| Niños, tomad (vosotros)
estos libros. |
Children, take these books. |
| Carlos, ven (tú)
presto. |
Charles, come soon. |
| Muchachos, venid presto. |
Boys, come soon. |
288. Subjunctive as Substitute for the Imperative.
The present subjunctive is used for the imperative:
a. With the pronoun usted, which takes
the third person:
| Venga acá, don
José. |
Come here, Joseph. |
| No venga todavía. |
Do not come yet. |
| Siéntense, señores. |
Sit down, gentlemen. |
| No compren (ustedes)
esa casa. |
Do not buy that house. |
b. With tú or vosotros
in negative commands (since the imperative is used only affirmatively):
| No hables (tú)
de esa manera. |
Do not speak in that way. |
| No habléis (vosotros)
de mí. |
Do not speak of me. |
| No me digas (tú)
eso. |
Do not tell me that. |
| No nos digáis (vosotros)
eso. |
Do not tell us that. |
289. Review the rules for the position of pronouns,
140. With the (positive) imperative or the positive
subjunctive used imperatively or with a hortatory idea, the pronoun
or pronouns follow the verb and are attached to it.
| Dámela 1
(tú). |
Give it to me. |
| Dádnosla (vosotros). |
Give it to us. |
| Cómpremelos (usted). |
Buy them for me. |
| Levantémonos (nosotros). |
Let us rise. |
| Digámosle lo que queremos. |
Let us tell him what we want. |
1 Observe that the
accent mark may be necessary to keep the original stress of the
verb form.
With the negative subjunctive of the above constructions, the
pronouns precede the verb and are not joined to it.
| No me lo des (tú). |
Do not give it to me. |
| No se lo compréis (vosotros)
a él. |
Do not buy it from him. |
| No nos lavemos ahora. |
Let us not wash now. |
| No se te figure a ti tal cosa. |
Do not imagine such a thing. |
290. Use of usted. (See
also 43.) When not otherwise stated the student
should always use usted for ' you,' which demands
the subjunctive as an imperative, both negatively and affirmatively.
For the sake of politeness usted is usually not
omitted.
| Déjeme usted entrar,
señor Montijo. |
Let me (or please let
me) come in, Mr. Montijo. |
a. There are other ways of translating the English '
please':
| Hágame (usted)
el favor de entrar. |
Please come in. |
| Háganme (ustedes)
el favor de venir. |
Please come. |
| Sírvase (usted)
abrir la puerta. |
Please open the door. |
| Sírvanse ustedes cerrar
la ventana. |
Please close the window. |
| Tenga (usted)
la bondad de hablar más despacio. |
Please speak more slowly. |
| ¿Me hace (hará)
usted el favor de decirme dónde hay una zapatería? |
Will you kindly tell me where there
is a shoe store? |
| Démelo usted, si me
hace el favor. |
Give it to me, please. |
|
