Indicative and Subjunctive in Restrictive Relatives
Subjunctive in a relative can describe a sought, hypothetical or otherwise unidentified referent.
How It Works
Busco un llibre que expliqui això asks for any book meeting the condition; the speaker need not know one exists. Busco el llibre que explica això points to a known book and uses indicative. The determiner and context help establish the reference.
In an offer, specification or selection rule, a restrictive relative can describe the properties any acceptable candidate must have: necessitem algú que conegui el sistema. Once a candidate is identified and described as a fact, indicative is natural: tenim algú que coneix el sistema. Do not select mood solely from un, cap or another determiner; the existence claim and the speaker's intended reference complete the analysis.
Examples (3)
- Necessitem algú que conegui el sistema.
We need someone who knows the system.
- Tenim algú que coneix el sistema.
We have someone who knows the system.
- No hi ha cap solució que serveixi per a tots els casos.
There is no solution that works for every case.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Determine whether the relative’s referent is identified or sought.
Related Patterns
Practice Indicative and Subjunctive in Restrictive Relatives in Bubblegum
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