Why not subjunctive present tense?

Dan B.C1Kwiziq community member

Why not subjunctive present tense?

In this item:  "Era recomendable que fuéramos juntos a la excursión" why is "fuéramos" and not "vayamos" used for the translation "It was recommended that we go together on the trip."?

Asked 4 years ago
InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Dan

This sentence is following the natural sequence of tenses. The tense used in the main clause is the imperfect (a past tense, "era"), therefore, the clause after "que" requires Imperfect subjunctive, not the present subjunctive. 

1. Es recomendable que vayamos juntos a la excursión."

2. Era recomendable que fuéramos juntos a la excursión."

The translation in English would be the same for both, using the present tense "...that we go". This may be a bit confusing. It makes you think you need the present there. 

I hope this clarified it.

Saludos

Inma

Why not subjunctive present tense?

In this item:  "Era recomendable que fuéramos juntos a la excursión" why is "fuéramos" and not "vayamos" used for the translation "It was recommended that we go together on the trip."?

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
Thinking...