Choice of subjunctive or indicative

Claire N.C1Kwiziq community member

Choice of subjunctive or indicative

If using the indicative or subjunctive is completely interchangeable without affecting the meaning, what are the reason(s) for choosing one over the other? Can you give some examples? 

"Lo de que" can be followed by the indicative or subjunctive, without changing the meaning of the sentence


Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Claire

There is not a clear nuance between the use of indicative or subjunctive here in this case with "lo de que..."; I can only think that if we choose the indicative over the subjunctive the speaker may want to present the information as a declaration, presenting it as new (even though it may not be) for it to have more emphasis/more importance. In the cases when we choose the subjunctive this information is seen as a background information, something everyone involved in the conversation knows. 

For example:

1. Lo de que tienes un trabajo nuevo me parece genial.

Here, although the listener obviously knows about this new job, the speaker is using the indicative to emphasise somehow that bit of information.

2. Lo de que tengas un trabajo nuevo me parece genial.

Here with the subjunctive, this information is seen as some background information - no specific reason to put any emphasis. 

Saludos

Inma

Claire N. asked:

Choice of subjunctive or indicative

If using the indicative or subjunctive is completely interchangeable without affecting the meaning, what are the reason(s) for choosing one over the other? Can you give some examples? 

"Lo de que" can be followed by the indicative or subjunctive, without changing the meaning of the sentence


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