Subjunctive in Indefinite Free Relatives

Level 5

Free relatives with qui use indicative for an asserted referent and subjunctive for a non-specific or prospective one.

How It Works

Qui vulgui pot entrar means whoever wants may enter. There is no separate noun antecedent: the relative expression itself names the person or people meeting the condition. After a preposition, qui can refer back to a stated person: la dona amb qui treballo.

For an open invitation, rule or selection, subjunctive leaves the person unidentified: qui ho necessiti can be whoever needs it. An indicative qui ho necessita refers to those actually needing it in the speaker's presentation. The free relative can be a subject or follow a preposition, as in per a qui vulgui participar. Keep the verb in the main clause separate from the relative verb when checking agreement and mood.

Examples (3)

  1. Qui ho necessiti pot demanar ajuda.

    Anyone who needs it can ask for help.

  2. Donarem entrada a qui arribi primer.

    We will admit whoever arrives first.

  3. És una activitat per a qui vulgui participar.

    It is an activity for anyone who wants to participate.

How It Connects

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Subjunctive in Indefinite Free RelativesLevel 5

Learn This First

Build a personal free or prepositional relative with qui. Determine whether the relative’s referent is identified or sought.

Words in This Pattern

qui