Why subjunctive for a certain plan

Aron J.C1Kwiziq community member

Why subjunctive for a certain plan

In the question:

They will be very cold when they go to Scotland next December.

It seems to me that this is a quite certain plan, like one of the examples here: ‘ Cuando voy de vacaciones a Tenerife me hospedo en el hotel Olimpia.’

So I thought the answer should be in the indicative:

Tendrán mucho frío cuando irán a Escocia el próximo diciembre.

But the correct answer was in the subjunctive:


Tendrán mucho frío cuando vayan a Escocia el próximo diciembre.


Why is that? Is it a mistake?

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Aron,

In this sentence:

"Tendrán mucho frío cuando vayan a Escocia el próximo diciembre."

we can see that "cuando vayan" is referring to a future event; something that hasn't happened. 

This triggers the subjunctive.

However here in this sentence:

"Cuando voy de vacaciones a Tenerife me hospedo en el hotel Olimpia."

we can see that the action actually happens. "Every time I go to Tenerife..., I stay at hotel Olimpia."

It tells us this talking about a habit. 

I hope this clarified it.

Inma

T. M.C1Kwiziq community member

I'm very confused, I used vayan and got it wrong.

T. M.C1Kwiziq community member

I'm very confused, I used vayan and got it wrong.

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Terri

I checked your tests from 6th June and I can see that the answer chosen by you from the dropdown menu was the wrong one using "irán", not "vayan". Maybe you misread it.

Saludos

Why subjunctive for a certain plan

In the question:

They will be very cold when they go to Scotland next December.

It seems to me that this is a quite certain plan, like one of the examples here: ‘ Cuando voy de vacaciones a Tenerife me hospedo en el hotel Olimpia.’

So I thought the answer should be in the indicative:

Tendrán mucho frío cuando irán a Escocia el próximo diciembre.

But the correct answer was in the subjunctive:


Tendrán mucho frío cuando vayan a Escocia el próximo diciembre.


Why is that? Is it a mistake?

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
Clever stuff happening!