Dan Nichols
With "a" and without "a" in the indicative and subjective clausal adjectives

Hola Todos! Hi all. I have a question about  [El indicativo y el subjuntivo en cláusulas adjetivales]  

 

In the following sentences, I am curious why when the a is present, the verb vivir is in indicative form, and when a is absent, the verb vivir is conjugated in subjunctive form.

Estoy confuso, en los siguientes frases - que significa el a porque el verbo cambió a subjuntivo ... porque sin el "a" el verbo cambió a subjuntivo?

 

 "Buscan a un médico que vive aquí"

VS

"Buscan un médico que viva aquí"

Mar 25, 2019 11:04 PM
Comments · 3
3
With the subjunctive, we’re looking for any doctor who may happen to live here. It’s hypothetical, so there is no real concrete doctor — no real person.

With the indicative, we are looking for a specific doctor that we know lives here. There is a real, concrete doctor.
March 25, 2019
1
The first sentence implies that they are looking for a doctor that lives around here. Meaning they currently reside in the area.

The second sentence implies that they are looking for a doctor/medic that will live/reside in the area.

March 26, 2019
Hi Phil! Thanks so much! I think I understand that part about the incertidumbre, but I am focusing know the phrase alludes to that based on the presence or absence of "a". Maybe it is really obvious, but I am still lost on why the "a" indicates existence, whereas without the "a", (the only difference in the sentences that I see) it indicates the unknown. Thanks again!
March 25, 2019