cuando

[sendai]

Theoretically, you need to use the subjunctive after "cuando" when you're referring to the future. "Lo voy a matar cuando lo vea." The thing is, I regularly hear people in Argentina who don't follow this "rule". Just last night someone said:

"El miércoles, cuando se va."

They were very clearly referring to next Wednesday. By what the textbooks teach the person should have said "cuando se vaya". Here's another example:

"Ahora te ayudo cuando termino".

Lo "correcto" sería "cuando termine". Alguien tiene algún comentario al respecto?

[Noelia]

I'm not sure but to me, not using subjunctive gives the sentence the feeling that it's going to happen more certainly and probably sooner than the other way...

- El miercoles, cuando se va <--- sounds like he's almost leaving, even if it is a week from now.
- El miercoles, cuando se vaya <--- sounds like we have to wait until he leaves next wednesday..

- Ahora te ayudo cuando termino <--- I'm almost done, be patient
- Ahora te ayudo cuando termine <--- you have to wait until I'm done, no matter how long it takes..

I don't know if this is written anywhere, it's just a different feeling we get when we speak one way or the other.

[sendai]

Interesting. I've never heard that before, but your descriptions make sense.

Thanks.

[Robie]

Entonces....cada vez que no usaba subjuntivo con 'cuando' no estaba equivocada! Por supuesto dije lo que quise decir. ;D Me creen?