The Subjunctive and Indefinite or Nonexistent Antecedents

This complicated looking title is referring to situations when you are looking for, wishing for, wanting, or not seeing, something that you want.   You would use the Subjunctive (after que) to describe something that you want but don't know exists.
For example:
I want a boyfriend who is tall, dark, a total babe and who likes to ride horses. Quiero un novio que sea alto, moreno, requeteguapo y que le guste montar a caballo. 

I use the Subjunctive here because I don't really know a person exactly like this.  On the other hand, if I already know of a guy that fits this description, I could point him out to my friends and say:

I want that guy who is tall and dark, and who likes to ride horses. Quiero al hombre que es alto y moreno, y a quien le gusta montar a caballo.
And my friends would respond, "Oh, that is Mel Gibson!  He is already married!  ¡Qué lástima!

If I am an employer describing the type of employee I want to find, I would use the Subjunctive.  If I am describing an employee who already works for me, I use the Indicative.  I also use the Subjunctive when I describe people who don't exist (or who I believe don't exist.)  For example, if I point out that there is no one who can write in 15 languages, I use the Subjunctive.  Anytime I start a sentence

There is no one who... No hay nadie que...
I must use the Subjunctive in the description - because I am describing someone who doesn't exist.
 
But if I say, "There is someone in this department who can..," I finish with the Indicative - because I know this person exists and what his or her skills are.
See "When not to use the Subjunctive."
Practice on the Web! Back to the Subjuntive page Back to the Grammar Page
More Practice: indicative or subjunctive?
Copyright © 2000 Deborah R. Lemon. All rights reserved.