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The Subjunctive in Adjectival Clauses
Adjectives are words that modify a noun, describing or limiting it. Examples of adjectives are: the new hat, the pretty dress, many intelligent students. An entire clause may serve an adjectival purpose, describing a noun or pronoun —the antecedent— in a sentence, for example:
1. Do you have a dress which will go with these shoes?
2. Yes, I have a dress which will be perfect.
3. I don't see any dress (that) I like.
Note that in all three examples above, there is an adjectival clause (the part in bold-faced type) that modifies or refers back to the word dress. That is, the antecedent in all three cases is dress, but in each case the situation is different: in number one, the antecedent is indefinite, that is, we don't know if such a dress exists; in number two, the antecedent is definite, that is, it definitely is portrayed as existing; in number three, the antecedent is negated, that is, its existence is denied or at least doubtful.
The rule: In Spanish, the subjunctive is used in an adjectival clause when the antecedent is indefinite or unknown or is nonexistent or negated; in contrast, the indicative is used when the antecedent is a definite or existing one.
| Illustration:
Main clause
| Dependent clause
| Predicate
| Antecedent
| Adjectival clause
| Mood of the verb ladrar(to bark)
| Reason for the use of the subjunctive or the indicative
| Tengo
| un perro
| que ladra mucho.
| Indicative
| There is a definite antecedent, a dog which I own.
| No tengo
| un perro
| que ladre mucho.
| Subjunctive
| The antecedent is negated; such a dog doesn't exist.
| Quiero
| un perro
| que ladre mucho.
| Subjunctive
| There is an indefinite antecedent; such a dog may or not exist.
| (I have/don't have/want a dog that barks a lot.)
| More examples of the three types of situations:
1. The indicative is used in an adjectival clause when there is a definite antecedent:
Hay algo aquí que me gusta.
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| There is something here which I like.
| Conoces al profesor que vive allí?
| Do you know the professor who lives there?
| Leo un libro que explica todo eso.
| I'm reading a book which explains all that.
| Tienen una criada que habla español.
| They have a maid who speaks Spanish.
| 2. The subjunctive is used in an adjectival clause when antecedent is negated:
No hay nada aquí que me guste.
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| There is nothing here I like.
| No veo *a nadie que conozca.
| I don't see anyone I know.
| No recomendamos ningún libro que él haya escrito.
| We don't recommend any book he has written.
| 3. The subjunctive is used in an adjectival clause when there is an indefinite antecedent:
Hay algo aquí que te guste?
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| Is there anything here you like?
| Quiero leer un libro que explique todo eso.
| I want to read a book which explains all that.
| Conoces *a alguien que viva cerca de aquí?
| Do you know anyone who lives nearby?
| Buscamos una criada que hable español.
| We're looking a maid who speak Spanish. [We hope we can find one!]
| *Note the use of the personal a before the pronouns alguien and nadie when used as direct objects.
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