nuance using present indicative vs subjuctive after desde que

Wendy M.B2Kwiziq community member

nuance using present indicative vs subjuctive after desde que

In the following: Cada domingo estudio español ________ almuerzo.Every Sunday I study Spanish from the moment I finish lunch....I used subjunctive because "from the moment I finish lunch" seems to be in the future.... Why is the answer present indicative?
Asked 3 days ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Wendy

I can see why you may take this as a future action but if we read the whole sentence, you can see that it is about a "habitual action" so it's talking about something that happens "every Sunday" , therefore, we consider the subordinate clause something that does happen "from the moment I finish lunch [every Sunday] I [always] study Spanish. 

If we modify the sentence a little: 

El domingo que viene estudiaré español desde el momento en que termine de comer.

Next Sunday I'll study Spanish from the moment I finish lunch.

We are now talking about a future Sunday (next one) and when that day comes I will study Spanish when I finish lunch that day. (present subjunctive: termine)

I hope this clarified the difference. It's a tricky one, the same as when we use "cuando". 

Saludos cordiales

Inma

Wendy M. asked:

nuance using present indicative vs subjuctive after desde que

In the following: Cada domingo estudio español ________ almuerzo.Every Sunday I study Spanish from the moment I finish lunch....I used subjunctive because "from the moment I finish lunch" seems to be in the future.... Why is the answer present indicative?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
Getting that for you now...