Adjectival clauses function as adjectives modifying a noun or pronoun, which is known as the antecedent (antecedente). These clauses are most frequently introduced by the relative pronouns que (which/that/who) quien/quienes (who), el que, la que, los que, los que (which/that/who), or el/la cual, los/las cuales (which/that/who).
If the noun modified is a definite one, then the indicative is used.
Speaking about a specific secretary - (indicative)
Busco a la secretaria que habla español.
I'm looking for the secretary who speaks Spanish.
If the noun or pronoun modified is negated, nonexistent, vague, or indefinite, then the verb in the modifying clause will be in the subjunctive.
Speaking about a non-specific secretary (one which may, or may exist) - (subjunctive)
Estoy buscando una secretaria que hable español.
I am looking for a secretary who speaks Spanish.
Other examples of vague or indefinite nouns.
¿Hay alguien aquí que hable español?
Is there someone here who speaks Spanish?
Buscamos una paz que sea duradera.
We are looking for a peace that is lasting.
¿Conoce usted a alguien que sea soldado?
Do you know anyone who is a soldier?
This lesson will focus on the use of the subjunctive verb form in adjective clauses which describe nouns that are not real and specific. In other words, we have no real evidence that this person or thing actually exists. We are speaking of someone or something that might exist, but at this point is merely something that exists in our imagination.
We also want to remember that we have to follow a time sequence. When the main verb is in one of the present tenses, the subjunctive verb in the adjective clause will be the present subjunctive. When the main verb shifts to the past, the subjunctive verb in the adjective clause will be the past subjunctive.
Another item which we need to notice in these sentences is that when the first part of the sentence is negative, we use "nadie" ("nobody") instead of "alguien" ("someone"). We do use the preposition "a" before either of these when it functions as a direct object since it refers to a person (real or not).
Examples
Have you found someone who can help us?
¿ Has encontrado a alguien que nos pueda ayudar? / ¿ Has encontrado a alguien que pueda ayudarnos?
Remember that when we have a verb phrase that ends with an infinitive (R), we have two choices for the placement of the object pronoun.
Can you find someone who can help us?
¿ Puedes encontrar a alguien que nos pueda ayudar? / ¿ Puedes encontrar a alguien que pueda ayudarnos?
I hope that you find someone who can help us.
Yo espero que tú puedas encontrar a alguien que nos pueda ayudar. / Yo espero que tú puedas encontrar a alguien que pueda ayudarnos.
Mary wants me to find someone who can help us.
María quiere que yo encuentre a alguien que nos pueda ayudar. / María quiere que yo encuentre a alguien que pueda ayudarnos.
I found someone who can help us.
Yo encontré a alguien que nos puede ayudar. / Yo encontré a alguien que puede ayudarnos.
I have found someone who can help us.
Yo he encontrado a alguien que nos puede ayudar. / Yo he encontrado a alguien que puede ayudarnos.
I have not found someone (anyone) who can help us.
Yo no he encontrado a nadie que nos pueda ayudar. / Yo no he encontrado a nadie que pueda ayudarnos.
I have not been able to find someone who can help us.
Yo no he podido encontrar a nadie que nos pueda ayudar. / Yo no he podido encontrar a nadie que pueda ayudarnos.
I was hoping that you would be able to find someone who could help us.
Yo esperaba que tú pudieras encontrar a alguien que nos pudiera ayudar. / Yo esperaba que tú pudieras encontrar a alguien que pudiera ayudarnos.
John found someone who helped us.
Juan encontró a alguien que nos ayudó.
John found someone who was able to help us.
Juan encontró a alguien que nos pudo ayudar. / Juan encontró a alguien que pudo ayudarnos.
I didn't think that John would be able to find anyone who could help us.
Yo no creía que Juan pudiera encontrar a nadie que nos pudiera ayudar. / Yo no creía que Juan pudiera encontrar a nadie que pudiera ayudarnos.
Nobody was able to help us.
Nadie nos pudo ayudar. / Nadie pudo ayudarnos.
I didn't find anyone who could help us.
Yo no encontré a nadie que nos pudiera ayudar. / Yo no encontré a nadie que pudiera ayudarnos.
Were you able to find anyone who could help us?
¿ Pudiste encontrar a alguien que nos pudiera ayudar? / ¿ Pudiste encontrar a alguien que pudiera ayudarnos?
Vocabulary Flashcards