Using Ni que + subjuntivo

William C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Using Ni que + subjuntivo

Put a coat on, Carlitos! Do YOU think it's August?

¡Ponte un abrigo, Carlitos! Ni que estuviéramos en agosto.

Why “estuviéramos” and not “estuvieras”?

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola William,

this is a very idiomatic structure which could have different translations. We chose this one here "do you think it is August?" simply to use a sentence that conveys a surprise/abnormal situation. 

The reason why we used "estuviéramos" in the Spanish, using the nosotros form, is because we are here using another idiomatic sentence used in the nosotros form to say what date, time of year it is: "estamos a 11 de junio" "estamos en primavera", "estamos en agosto"; but we cannot translate this sentence literally into English saying something like "We are not in August." because it would sound odd in English. 

We used instead a sentence that reflects what "ni que estuviéramos en agosto" conveys. 

I hope this clarified it.

Inma

William C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks

Gato G.C1Kwiziq community member

Similar to my favourite Andalucian expression - "no ni ná" roughly translated as "no way".

William C. asked:

Using Ni que + subjuntivo

Put a coat on, Carlitos! Do YOU think it's August?

¡Ponte un abrigo, Carlitos! Ni que estuviéramos en agosto.

Why “estuviéramos” and not “estuvieras”?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
I'll be right with you...