Indicative vs subjunctive: one sentence, two meanings

One verb, two meanings

Some verbs have two meanings, and the mood shows which one is intended. Decir, escribir, avisar, insistir en: with the indicative they report (“says that…”), with the subjunctive they order or demand (“tells someone to…”).

Sentir: with the indicative it means “to feel, to sense”, with the subjunctive “to be sorry”. Comprender, entender: with the indicative “to realise a fact”, with the subjunctive “to find it natural, to sympathise”.

Sequence of tenses. If the main verb is in the past, the subjunctive moves to the imperfect: Dice que llames → Dijo que llamaras. The indicative shifts as in ordinary reported speech: Dice que viene → Dijo que venía.

How to tell them apart

Each verb, two meanings

Three more pairs

Me temo que + indicative is a polite “I’m afraid that…” before bad news; temo que + subjunctive is real fear. Parece que + indicative means “it seems”; me parece bien / mal / lógico que + subjunctive is an evaluation. Recordar que + indicative reminds someone of a fact; recordar a alguien que + subjunctive reminds them to do something.

One phrase, two moods

One conjunction, two meanings

Como at the start of a sentence: with the indicative it gives a reason (“since”), with the subjunctive a condition, often a threat (“if…”): Como no contestas, cuelgo — “since you’re not answering, I’m hanging up”; Como no contestes, cuelgo — “if you don’t answer, I’ll hang up”.

Mientras: with the indicative “while”, with the subjunctive “as long as”: Mientras vivas aquí, cumplirás mis normas.

Siempre que: with the indicative “whenever, every time”, with the subjunctive “provided that”. De modo que, de manera que: with the indicative a result (“so”), with the subjunctive a purpose (“so that”).

Aunque: with the indicative it concedes a fact that we are stating (“although”); with the subjunctive it is a hypothesis (“even if”) or a fact both speakers know but which does not matter to the speaker. No porque… sino porque: a rejected reason takes the subjunctive.

Each conjunction, two meanings

One conjunction, two moods

Where there is no choice

Sin que, antes de que, para que always take the subjunctive — even for a real fact: Salió sin que nadie lo viera. Here the mood distinguishes nothing, and the indicative would be a mistake.

Conjunctions with no choice

Known or any

Lo que, el que, donde: with the indicative something known, with the subjunctive anything, still unknown: Comeré lo que preparas (I’ll eat what you’re cooking — I know what it is) / Comeré lo que prepares (I’ll eat whatever you cook).

Quien, como and clauses that describe a noun work the same way. If the person or thing is known and certainly exists, use the indicative; if it is still being sought, any one will do, or it may not exist, use the subjunctive.

What decides the mood

One word, two moods

Nobody and nothing

Something denied or non-existent takes only the subjunctive: No hay nadie que lo sepa, No conozco ningún bar que abra a esta hora. The indicative here is a mistake.

Verbs: report or will

• Dice que vienes mañana.He says you’re coming tomorrow.
• Dice que vengas mañana.He says you should come tomorrow.
• Me escribió que llegaba el lunes.He wrote to tell me he was arriving on Monday.
• Me escribió que llegara el lunes.He wrote telling me to arrive on Monday.
• Siento que me miran.I can feel people looking at me.
• Siento que estés mal.I’m sorry you’re not well.
• Siento que te hayas enterado así.I’m sorry you found out like that.
• Insiste en que es inocente.He insists that he is innocent.
• Insiste en que vengamos.He insists that we come.
• Los vecinos insisten en que el ruido viene de nuestro piso.The neighbours insist that the noise is coming from our flat.
• Mi médico insiste en que deje el tabaco.My doctor insists that I give up smoking.
• Comprendo que no hay otra salida.I realise there is no other way out.
• Comprendo que estés enfadado.I understand why you’re angry.
• Te aviso de que el museo cierra los lunes.Just so you know, the museum is closed on Mondays.
• Avísales de que traigan ropa de abrigo.Tell them to bring warm clothes.
• Me temo que el vuelo ha sido cancelado.I’m afraid the flight has been cancelled.
• Me parece lógico que queráis cambiar de piso.It makes sense to me that you want to move to a new flat.

Conjunctions

• Como no vienes, me voy.Since you’re not coming, I’m leaving.
• Como no vengas, me voy.If you don’t come, I’m leaving.
• Como no me llames esta noche, me enfado.If you don’t call me tonight, I’ll be upset.
• Mientras cocinas, pongo la mesa.While you cook, I’ll set the table.
• Mientras cocines tú, yo friego.As long as you do the cooking, I’ll do the washing-up.
• Mientras haya salud, lo demás no importa.As long as we have our health, nothing else matters.
• Siempre que vamos a Cádiz, comemos en el mismo sitio.Whenever we go to Cádiz, we eat at the same place.
• Podéis quedaros, siempre que no hagáis ruido.You can stay, as long as you don’t make any noise.
• Perdí el tren, de modo que llegué tarde a la reunión.I missed the train, so I was late for the meeting.
• Explícalo de manera que lo entiendan todos.Explain it so that everyone understands.
• Aunque llovía, salimos a correr.Although it was raining, we went out for a run.
• Aunque me lo pidas de rodillas, no pienso ir.Even if you beg me on your knees, I’m not going.
• No te llamo porque necesite nada, sino porque te echo de menos.I’m not calling because I need anything, but because I miss you.
• Lo arreglé antes de que llegaran mis padres.I fixed it before my parents arrived.

Clauses

• Haré lo que dices.I’ll do what you’re telling me.
• Haré lo que digas.I’ll do whatever you say.
• Vamos donde dijiste.Let’s go where you said.
• Vamos donde quieras.Let’s go wherever you like.
• Busco a la chica que habla ruso; me dijeron que trabaja aquí.I’m looking for the girl who speaks Russian; I was told she works here.
• Buscamos a alguien que sepa programar en Python.We’re looking for someone who can code in Python.
• No conozco a nadie que cocine como tu madre.I don’t know anyone who cooks like your mother.