The Subjunctive Blues
I have received an urgent plea on the part of the staff of a Mexico City daily, whose editors have been students of mine. “Help!”, went the call. “We need to know if it is correct to say ‘Qué bueno que estás aquí’ or ‘Qué bueno que estés aquí’ (It’s so good [that] you are here). Another example: ‘Es una lástima que Jaime esté enfermo’ or ‘Es una lástima que Jaime está enfermo’ (It’s a shame [that] Jaime is sick). We are under the impression that in Spain everyone says the former expression, while in Mexico everyone uses the latter. What gives?”
Well, a whole lot gives, and in both directions, but it has nothing to do with whether one is from Spain or Mexico. This is a case of the subjunctive blues. It is truly difficult for English speakers to discern when to use and when not to use the subjunctive mood, as I mentioned a few weeks ago in an article entitled “The Sublime Subjunctive.” To answer this question, perhaps it would be a good idea to go back to the beginning and see what the subjunctive mood is for, and some simple examples of how it is used. Then we can better address the problem at hand.
In general, we use the subjunctive mood when expressing doubt, fear, lack of certainty, suggestion, desire, emotion, permission, possibility, desire, or the imperative. The subjunctive is usually employed in compound sentences like: “Dudo que lo sepas” (I doubt you know) and “Quiero que vengas” (I want you to come). It can also be used in simple sentences: “Quizá tengas tiempo” (You may have time) or “Preséntese enseguida” (Report right away). On many occasions one may either use the subjunctive or the imperative, depending on the level of doubt or certainty. For example: “Tal vez tienes el dinero contigo ahora” (Perhaps you have the money with you now) is in the indicative mood because the speaker feels the probabilities are good that the person he is speaking with actually has the money, but if there were doubt, he would say “Tal vez tengas el dinero contigo ahora.”
If someone were to say to me “Haré lo que usted dice” (I shall do as you say), that person knows exactly what my orders are. On the other hand, if that person says “Haré lo que usted diga” (I will do whatever you might say), the orders are at least partially in the future, uncertain. Here is a possible dialogue in which this sentence could be used:
—Las ventas de este semestre deben subir 20 por ciento. Por eso voy a trazarle una nueva estrategia.
—Haré lo que usted diga.
Translation: “This semester’s sales must go up 20%. That’s why I am going to draw up a new strategy for you.” “I will do whatever you say.”
So let’s get back to the original questions. Should we say “Qué bueno que estás aquí” or “Qué bueno que estés aquí”? “Es una lástima que Jaime esté enfermo” or “Es una lástima que Jaime está enfermo”?
In the first case we have an either or situation. By using the indicative estás, we emphasize the fact that the person is really here. By using the subjunctive estés, we imply it is good that the person was able to arrive, that he wasn’t waylaid in the jungle or something. This is not, however, a black or white affair. One could use either mood and no one would raise an eyebrow. The reason we may use the indicative in this case has to do with the fact that we are declaring something we consider to be a reality. But if we change over to the other syntax, we are using what is called an impersonal expression, and these also require the subordinate verb to be conjugated in the subjunctive mood. In other words, we should say “Es una lástima que Jaime esté enfermo” in the same way would would say “Es malo que no estudies” (It’s bad that you don’t study), “Es útil que sepas latín” (It’s useful for you to study Latin), or “Conviene que hables claramente” (It’s a good idea that you speak clearly).
These are borderline cases in which one can easily become confused, especially native speakers, who don’t ordinarily consult treatises on grammar when speaking. The confusion arises because whether we say “Es bueno que estés aquí” or “Qué bueno que estés (or estás) aquí,” our meaning is basically the same. The only thing that changes is the shade of that meaning.
We should, however, remember this: when emitting an opinion with the copulative verb ser, we should always use the subjunctive: “Es lamentable que llegues en estas condiciones” (It’s pitiful that you should arrive in this condition), or “Es horrible que tengas que fingir” (It’s horrible that you have to pretend).
The subjunctive mood is a complicated topic. And we surely shall return to it sometime in the future.
| 
