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".
Is this expression used only in Spain? I cannot find more information about the usage of this idiom. My teacher has not heard of this either.
Consejo(s) is used twice in the exercise. At first, the impression is that this is a singular word (consejo) in Spanish where it would be plural in English (tips). But later at the end it used in the plural (consejos) for the plural. This seems confusing to me.
Sigo pensando and Continúo pensando… am I misunderstanding? How is continúo an option?
I am sure that I am missing something that is right before my eyes, but I am going to ask for clarification anyway.
The lesson states that "cualquier is used BEFORE a singular noun."
Further it indicates Cualquiera must be preceded by un or una + and comes AFTER a singlular noun.
Lastly it references the plural of Cualqiera: cualesquiera. This has no requisite precedent (un/una).
Therefore, please explain if there is an exception as apparent in the following:
"La Unión estará de CUALESQUIERA derechos de aduana." This test question has no article precedent (un/una) and CUALESQUIERA appears BEFORE the noun (derechos de aduana); that is, it appears to act more in line with the singular CUALQUIER. So the question is: Is CUALESQUIERA the plural of Cualquier and not the plural of Cualquiera. Thank in advance for your help and response.
¿En español se puede usar hacia en el contexto de la actitud de alguien o algo? Por ejemplo en ingles se puede decir "I don't like your attitude towards me" o "We will work towards that".
¿Se puede decir algo como "no me gusta su actitud hacia yo"?
Saludos
Matt
According to the Cervantes Institute "no porque" must be followed by the subjunctive. Not sure where you guys get that you can use indicative.
“Usted tendría que devolver los
artículos en la caja. (You would have
to return the articles at the till.)
HINT: Conjugate "tener que"' in El
Condicional Simple.
“No entiendo “the till.” In the US would be the cashier, I think. In Latin America, perhaps “el cajero.” “The till” has various contations in the US and some border on the negative. From Miriam-Webster:
till
noun (1)
\ ˈtil \Definition of till (Entry 4 of 5)
1a: a money drawer in a store or bankalso : CASH REGISTERb: a box, drawer, or tray in a receptacle (such as a cabinet or chest) used especially for valuables2a: the money contained in a tillb: a supply of especially ready moneyAs 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".
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