Indefinite phrases and the subjunctive

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Indefinite phrases and the subjunctive
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Indefinite expressions

• Donde quieras Where/wherever you like
• Cuando quieras When/whenever you like
• Lo que quieras What/whatever you like
• Quieran o no quieran Whether they like it or not

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• Pase lo que pase Whatever happens
• Digan lo que digan No matter what they say
• Dondequiera que vayan Wherever they go

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Indefinite clauses

• In Spanish a distinction is made between what is
  definite/concrete and what is indefinite (the
  subjunctive).
• Buscamos alguien que hable inglés y español
• In this sentence the speaker does not have a
  particular person in mind (indefinite)

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• Conozco a alguien que habla inglés y español
• In this sentence the speaker has a particular
  person in mind (definite)
• NB Note that the personal a is not used in front
  of alguien when it is indefinite

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The subjunctive follows a negative assertion

• The subjunctive is always used with nadie (or
  ningún/ninguna noun) in this type of indefinite
  construction
• No matter how indefinite the construction, the
  personal a is never omitted in the negative
• No conozco a nadie que hable chino.