Español en serio
“Tal vez” in Spanish: Indicative or Subjunctive?
Dieser Beitrag erklärt ein wichtiges Thema der spanischen Grammatik (Text auf Englisch).
Tal vez, quizá, quizás
🔵 These three forms are used to express doubt in Spanish:
Tal vez llueva mañana.
Quizá llueva mañana.
Quizás llueva mañana.
All three have the same meaning: “Maybe it will rain tomorrow.”
🔵 Why do we have “quizá” and “quizás”, if they both mean exactly the same? Because in the formation of languages there is a phenomenon called analogy, through which speakers create words by relating them to others that they perceive as similar. And since in Spanish we have several adverbs ending in ás (such as además, jamás, más, atrás), quizás began to be used instead of quizá, and today we have two words instead of one.
🔵 The adverb quizás comes from quién sabe (who knows).
🔵 These three forms can be used with both the indicative and the subjunctive, but the degree of certainty or doubt is not the same:
Tal vez llueva mañana. Subjunctive (expresses doubt or possibility)
Tal vez llueve mañana. Indicative (expresses a possibility that the speaker considers quite probable)
If you are learning Spanish and find explanations like this helpful, I offer personalised online Spanish lessons for students and adults worldwide, including GCSE and A-Level preparation.
Lessons are available in English or German, and I offer a free initial consultation. You can contact me at laura@spanishforlondon.com.
Example from the episode
Remember that you can read the novel that complements this blog, which I am writing alongside these grammar posts, where you can see examples in context of what we are explaining:
Episode: → “Tal vez la libertad sea eso…” → “Tal vez todo empiece por uno.”
Read the full episode here →
Episode 21
Book your first free demo lesson, with no obligation on your behalf, at laura.@spanishforlondon.com.
Bachelor’s degree in Literature (University of Buenos Aires). Spanish and Literature teacher. Researcher and author of Los premios Nobel de literatura. Una lectura crítica (University of Seville). More than 30 years’ experience teaching Spanish to international students.
One-to-one lessons via Zoom.
Abschluss in Literaturwissenschaft (Universität Buenos Aires). Lehrerin für Spanisch und Literatur. Forscherin und Autorin des Buches Los premios Nobel de literatura. Eine lectura crítica (Universität Sevilla). Über 30 Jahre Erfahrung im Unterricht von Spanisch als Fremdsprache.
Einzelunterricht über Zoom.
