cualquiera que + Subjunctive

Whatever/Whoever

Level 4

Use 'cualquiera que' + subjunctive to express 'whoever' or 'whatever'.

How It Works

The phrase cualquiera que is a powerful tool for making general statements. It translates to 'whoever', 'whichever', or 'whatever'. This lesson focuses on non-specific and concessive constructions with the subjunctive.

This is because 'cualquiera que' introduces an unknown, hypothetical, or irrelevant person, thing, or situation. The subjunctive presents the relevant possibility or treats its identity as immaterial; it does not always mean the speaker lacks factual knowledge.

Structure:
Cualquiera que + [verb in subjunctive]

While the present subjunctive is most common, other subjunctive tenses can be used to match the tense of the main clause. For example:

  • Cualquiera que venga a la fiesta será bienvenido. (Whoever comes to the party will be welcome.) - Present Subjunctive
  • Cualquiera que hubiera llamado, no le habría contestado. (Whoever had called, I wouldn't have answered.) - Pluperfect Subjunctive

Plural Form: Cualesquiera Que
In the concessive pattern, match a plural subject with cualesquiera: Cualesquiera que sean tus motivos, no los comparto (Whatever your motives may be, I do not share them). The singular cualquiera que sean occurs in speech but is not the standard agreement taught here. A common alternative is Sean cuales sean tus motivos.

The indefinite relative pattern can use different subjunctive tenses, as the examples show. Before a noun, use cualquier in the general standard: cualquier persona; without a noun, use cualquiera: cualquiera que venga.

Examples (6)

  1. Cualquiera que llame, dile que no estoy en casa.

    Whoever calls, tell them I'm not home.

    Word by Word: Whoever that calls, tell him/her that not I am at home.

  2. Cualquiera que tenga una pregunta debe levantar la mano.

    Whoever has a question should raise their hand.

    Word by Word: Whoever that has a question must raise the hand.

    'Tenga' is the present subjunctive of 'tener'. It refers to any person who might have a question, not a specific, known person.

  3. Cualquiera que gane la carrera recibirá una medalla.

    Whoever wins the race will receive a medal.

    Word by Word: Whoever that wins the race will receive a medal.

  4. Cualquiera que sea tu decisión, yo te apoyaré.

    Whatever your decision may be, I will support you.

    Word by Word: Whatever that may be your decision, I you will support.

    Cualquiera que sea presents the decision as irrelevant to the promise of support. The speaker might already know the decision; unknownness is not required.

  5. Cualesquiera que sean los obstáculos, seguiremos adelante.

    Whatever the obstacles may be, we will move forward.

    Word by Word: Whatever that may be the obstacles, we will continue forward.

    Cualesquiera and sean agree with plural los obstáculos. Use this agreement in standard Spanish, or the alternative Sean cuales sean los obstáculos.

  6. Cualquiera que hubiera llamado, no le habría contestado.

    Whoever had called, I wouldn't have answered them.

    Word by Word: Whoever that had called, not to him/her I would have answered.

    This shows 'cualquiera que' with the pluperfect subjunctive ('hubiera llamado') for a past hypothetical situation, linked to a main clause in the conditional perfect ('habría contestado').

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.

    Cualquiera que es el problema, lo solucionaremos.
    Cualquiera que sea el problema, lo solucionaremos.

    For the intended concession whatever the problem may be, use cualquiera que sea. This construction presents the identity of the problem as irrelevant; the choice is not simply true facts versus uncertainty.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

cualquiera que + SubjunctiveLevel 4Whatever/Whoever

Learn This First

To learn 'cualquiera que + subjunctive', you must first be comfortable with present subjunctive conjugations. Conceptually, this pattern builds on the rule of using the subjunctive for indefinite or non-existent antecedents, as 'cualquiera' (whoever/whatever) refers to a non-specific person or thing.

Words in This Pattern

cualquiera