I have a question about the use of the Spanish subjunctive tense and in particular to the verb poder.

I am aware that the subjunctive tense is used after the word "que", as in "No creo que pueda comer más hoy" (I don't think that I can eat more today)

However in the following sentence the verb poder is used in the subjunctive after the words "sobre el que". Would I be right in thinking that the spanish subjunctive would be used in any subsequent phrase after the words "sobre el que"

"siempre que tengo algún síntoma sobre el que pueda necesitar una opinión rápida

Thank you for any guidance you can give me on this topic

Richard

Question

I have a question about the use of the Spanish subjunctive tense and in particular to the verb poder.

I am aware that the subjunctive tense is used after the word "que", as in "No creo que pueda comer más hoy" (I don't think that I can eat more today)

However in the following sentence the verb poder is used in the subjunctive after the words "sobre el que". Would I be right in thinking that the spanish subjunctive would be used in any subsequent phrase after the words  "sobre el que"

"siempre que tengo algún síntoma sobre el que pueda necesitar una opinión rápida

Thank you for any guidance you can give me on this topic

Richard

Answer

Yours is not an easy question.
First of all, subjunctive is a mode and not a tense. There are present, past and future tenses in subjunctive.
As my colleague said, after "sobre el que" you can use both indicative and subjunctive. It all depends on the context and on the things you´re saying or you want to express after that "sobre el que" section. Let´s say that indicative, as usual, it goes better with more concrete and specific sentences

Answer

Puedo enseñarte español siempre y cuando hablemos en inglés unos minutos

Answer

"sobre el cual puedo / pueda" are both possible if you are expressing certainty or doubt, or evidence or reasoning.

I would say,

Siempre que tengo algún síntoma sobre el cual podría necesitar una opinión rápida, consulto con un especialista.

answers could vary here,

Answer

Siempre que tengo algún síntoma sobre el cual puedo necesitar una opinión rápida, acudo a Google.

Sobre el que/cual necesito 
Sobre el que/cual requiero 
Sobre el que/cual espero

Yeah seems like it

But I think it sounds better with “ cual “ instead of “ que”

Answer

Thank you all for your replies, they are much appreciated
Richard

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