I just got my brand new Spanish Dictionary, and I saw a form I wasn’t aware of, the future subjunctive. I always thought that one just used the present subjunctive for both present and future. E.G. Quiero que ella venga manana. This also exists in Latin, so if any Latinists know when to use the future subjunctive in Latin, it may also apply. This may seem stupid, but I’m gonna be in the DR and Spain this Summer, and I want to be able to be able to speak Spanish as well as possible before I go.
I’m not a native speaker of Spanish, but I dug up an old textbook. Here’s what it says about the future subjunctive.
I’ve never heard anybody use it, but I only converse with New World Spanish speakers. Could be different in Spain.
I am a native speaker and I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Future imperfect inflexible subjuntive? I just speak the language! Ask an Speaker of English the same question and he won’t have a clue either! Tell me what you want to say and I’ll tell you how to say it in Spanish.
Sailor,
I’m not sure exactly when to use the future subjunctive, but I’ll give you a few verbs in the form of the future subjunctive, and you might be able to tell me if you have ever used that form before:
from lavar: lavare, lavares, lavare, lava’remos, lavareis, lavaren
from correr: corriere, corrieres, corriere, corrie’remos, corriereis, corrieren
from subir: subiere, subieres, subiere, subie’remos, subiereis, subieren
*Source- Simon and Schuster Spanish Dictionary
So maybe something like: Dudo que ella se lavare manana. The confusion was, I thought that it was supposed to be: Dudo que ella se lave manana.
I think you will get more strange looks from people if you use the future subjunctive in place of what you think is right.
I suggest that when you travel to Spain, don’t be wishy-washy. Only speak in the indicative mood. Don’t leave anything to chance.
Where do you get your Latin information, Cogitoergosum? I was taught that there is neither a future subjunctive nor a future perfect subjunctive in Latin. This is confirmed by Wheelock’s and other sites I found.
and from Ohio State University
Years after I left school I was surprised to learn that there are languages that do have a future subjunctive, among them Portuguese. About.com says there is no future sujunctive in Spanish. I think that they must be mistaken, since some forms of that tense are given at the bottom of this page
I was surprised too about the Latin thing, because I was told that it did not exist. However, Collin’s Gem says that the future subjunctive is formed from the future participle + sim, sis, sit, etc. OR essem, esses, esset. Of course, it could be wrong, or it could be found only in ME texts. If anyone has an OLD, it might have a note on it.
The only situation modern Spanish uses future subjunctive (both simple and perfect) on a regular basis anymore is in the legal profession, and then only when drafting formal documents or presenting formal arguments in court. For everyday use, the present and past subjunctive, and even the present indicative with the backing of modifiers, are the common usages.
José
you made me dig out a grammar book and study grammar! I am too old for this!
Anyway, I am looking at the verb forms labeled subjuntivo futuro imperfecto and they sound quite archaic and not used in common everyday language. You can forget about them because if you use tham people will look at you funny.
I spent two years on a Spanish-speaking religious mission. I ran into the future subjunctive a few times in scripture, and no spanish-speaker could tell me what the conjugation meant. I finally found it in 501 verbs near the beginning, and it’s listed as archaic.
Well, even if I don’t have to use it, just out of curiosity, when was it used. Is it used just when there was a subjunctive clause taking place in the future, or did it make the clause even more subjunctive.