Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

Quizá(s) and tal vez, ‘perhaps’, can be followed by an indicative or subjunctive verb, with the subjunctive being used when ther ...

¿Está usted/estás (completamente) seguro/a de que...? Are you (quite) sure that...? ¿Le/te parece? Do you think so? ¿Cree usted/ ...

50 Expressing supposition This chapter examines the concept of supposition and the verbs and phrases associated with it. 50.1 Co ...

Supongamos que te llame. ¿Qué le dirás? Let’s suppose he/she calls you. What will you tell him/her? Suponiendo que te escriba, ¿ ...

50.1.4 Deber (de)+estar+ gerund This construction expresses supposition with regard to an action in progress.
 20.1 (p. 96) Tu ...

51 Expressing conditions This chapter deals with conditions and conditional sentences, normally expressed in Spanish with the wo ...

Si no llegas a las seis empezamos sin ti. If you don’t arrive at six we’ll start without you.
 16.1.1.2 (p. 59) 51.1.2 Si+ pre ...

51.1.5 Si+ imperfect subjunctive + conditional A condition which is seen as more remote or less likely to be fulfilled is expres ...

51.2.2 Si+ pluperfect subjunctive + conditional perfect/pluperfect subjunctive A condition which was not fulfilled is expressed ...

51.3.2 Gerund instead of si-clause In colloquial language, the gerund (words like estudiando, ‘studying’, subiendo, ‘going up’) ...

When the subject is understood or when the subject of the main verb and the subordinate verb are the same, we can use en caso de ...

fulfilled. The verb in the conditional clause will be in the present or the imperfect subjunctive, the latter conveying a greate ...

52 Expressing contrast or opposition This chapter deals with the concept of contrast and the words and expressions associated wi ...

Further emphasis can be placed on the contrast by using the expression pero sin embargo. Siempre está corta de dinero, pero sin ...

Aunque llueve iremos. (see 52.1.3) Even though it’s raining we’ll go. Aunque es difícil lo haré. (see 52.1.3) Even though it’s d ...

A pesar de que me critiquen, no desistiré. Despite the fact that they may criticize me, I won’t give up.
 18.2.2 (p. 87) Pese ...

aun cuando‘even though’, ‘although’, ‘even if’ si bien‘even though’, ‘although’ así‘even if’ aun así‘still’ así y todo‘all the s ...

incapability 53 Expressing capability and incapability This chapter examines the ways in which the concepts of capability and in ...

In the imperfect, poder indicates capability with regard to something in the past but not necessarily fulfilment of the action r ...

¿Sabes tocar el piano? Can you play the piano? Sí, sé tocar muy bien. Yes, I can play very well. Ella sabe nadar, ¿verdad? She c ...