la expresión, "no esté aquí" - la palabra, "esté"

James G.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

la expresión, "no esté aquí" - la palabra, "esté"

¿Porque usamos la expresión, "no esté aquí", en lugar de "no estoy aquí"? 

¿Qué significa la palabra, "esté", exactamente?

¿es lo tiempo presente subjuntivo?   después de más investigación, Yo pienso que significa, "would not be here". 

Gracias, Jaime

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Jaime,

this is probably part of a clause, because it is not grammatically correct on its own. As it is not linked to any lesson I can give you a couple of examples including this clause:

"Me extraña que no esté aquí."

I am surprised he is not here.

"Hablaremos de eso cuando ella no esté aquí."

We will talk about that when she is not here.

As you were very correctly guessing, "esté" is the verb estar conjugated in the present subjunctive, for the 3rd person singular. The use of the subjunctive is triggered by different reasons and different introductory sentences. These two examples I gave you are using a verb expressing a "feeling" with "que" (me extraña que...) and a clause introduced with "cuando" plus "que" indicating a future action. These two would trigger the subjunctive. 

Here are a few lessons that will help.

Cuando + present indicative/present subjunctive

Verbs expressing wish/feeling + subjunctive

Conjugate estar in the present subjunctive

I hope this helps.

Saludos

Inma

James G.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Gracias, Inma!

la expresión, "no esté aquí" - la palabra, "esté"

¿Porque usamos la expresión, "no esté aquí", en lugar de "no estoy aquí"? 

¿Qué significa la palabra, "esté", exactamente?

¿es lo tiempo presente subjuntivo?   después de más investigación, Yo pienso que significa, "would not be here". 

Gracias, Jaime

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