Aunque + subjunctive in the sense "Even though ..."
As Inma says, sometimes it is quite difficult to draw a 'sharp line' between occasions when we should, and when we should not use the subjunctive.
My grammar book [by Butt & Benjamin] offers a simple and interesting guideline to help decide which would be best in the context of "aunque, referring to present [and also past] events". As is to be expected, expressing something in the subjunctive "strengthens the concession". Thus, they suggest that if you can translate it as "even though ...", then the subjunctive will be more appropriate:
"Even though you don't like films, you will like this one" >
"Aunque no te gusten las películas, ésta te va a gustar".
The Butt & Benjamin "rule" is of course quite consistent here with the concept of "shared information which is known both by the speaker and by the listener".
Butt & Benjamin cite another example [quoting a Peruvian Scholar]:
"I'll never blame Octavia, even though I may have tried to sometimes" >
"Jamás culparé a Octavia, aunque lo haya intentado alguna vez".
Why do we use the subjunctive here when something is unknown, but when we use 'aunque' it is the other way around? By that, I mean that we only use the subjunctive when the information is shared and the indicative is used to introduce new information.
I do not have to water them often,
Kwizbot no debo regarlas
You no necesito darlas agua
I’d like to know if my reply is good /correct Spanish or is it not the way this would usually be said. (I don't mean whether it would be understood, but is this the only way to say this, or can it be said other ways?)
Hope you had a muy Feliz Navidad and wishing you a wonderful New Year!
Thanks you.
Nicole
The phrase: y así devolver a esas personas un poco de su ayuda en el pasado.
I can't figure out from the literal tx whether the "de" should be "por":
y así devolver a esas personas un poco por su ayuda en el pasado.
If the intent is thank the older generation for their past help, surely "por" is more appropriate, no? Or does "de" somehow imply "for"?
Hi I have a question. For the phrase "and with sea views," why is it "y con vistas al mar", rather than "y con vistas del mar"?
In your example: "Esa chica me parece de lo más insensata" you used a feminine adjective?
Could I say "era" instead of "fue" as it is a part of description?
________ del colegio tendrás que hacer tus deberes.
When you get back from school you will have to do your homework.
Cuando volverás
Cuando hayas vuelto
Cuando volverías
Cuando volviste
The right answer is "hayas vuelto" , but I don't understand why "volverás" is wrong.
As Inma says, sometimes it is quite difficult to draw a 'sharp line' between occasions when we should, and when we should not use the subjunctive.
My grammar book [by Butt & Benjamin] offers a simple and interesting guideline to help decide which would be best in the context of "aunque, referring to present [and also past] events". As is to be expected, expressing something in the subjunctive "strengthens the concession". Thus, they suggest that if you can translate it as "even though ...", then the subjunctive will be more appropriate:
"Even though you don't like films, you will like this one" >
"Aunque no te gusten las películas, ésta te va a gustar".
The Butt & Benjamin "rule" is of course quite consistent here with the concept of "shared information which is known both by the speaker and by the listener".
Butt & Benjamin cite another example [quoting a Peruvian Scholar]:
"I'll never blame Octavia, even though I may have tried to sometimes" >
"Jamás culparé a Octavia, aunque lo haya intentado alguna vez".
in the hints you define "terrorífico" as meaning "terrifyingly" but then in the translation you count that as wrong and use "terrorificamente" instead.
you say "some fake drops of blood" but a better English translation would be "drops of fake blood". The drops are real; the blood is fake.
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