Impersonal expressions

Question 1

What is used with most impersonal expressions?

Answer 1

The subjunctive (wish, doubt, emotion, unreality, etc.)

Question 2

bastar

Answer 2

to be enough

ex: Bastaba que yo le explicara las cosas solo una vez

It was enough for me to explain things to him only once

Question 3

convenir

Answer 3

to be advisable

ex: Conviene que aprenda por lo menos algunas frases.

It is advisable that she learn at least a few phrases

Question 4

parecer mentira

Answer 4

to seem incredible, impossible

ex: Parecía mentira que Yoli hubiese olvidado tan pronto todo lo que hice por ella

It seemed incredible that Yoli had forgotten so soon everything that i did for her

Question 5

poder ser

Answer 5

to be possible

Puede ser que Eduardo no sepa que se canceló la reunión

It is possible that Eduardo doesn’t know that the meeting was canceled

Question 6

¡Que lástima!

Answer 6

What a pity!

¡Que lástima que Betty no hable español!

What a pity that Betty doesn’t speak Spanish

Question 7

ser bueno

Answer 7

to be a good thing

Sería bueno que le enviaras un mensaje de texto

It would be a good thing for you to send him a text message

Question 8

ser difícil

Answer 8

to be unlikely

Es difícil que encontremos pasajes de avión

It is unlikely that we will find plane tickets

Question 9

ser dudoso

Answer 9

to be doubtful

Question 10

ser extraño

Answer 10

to be strange

Question 11

ser importante

Answer 11

to be important

Question 12

ser necesario, ser preciso

Answer 12

to be necessary

Question 13

ser (una) lástima

Answer 13

to be a pity

Question 14

ser (im)posible

Answer 14

to be (im)possible

Question 15

ser preferible

Answer 15

to be better, preferable

Question 16

ser (im)probable

Answer 16

to be (un)likely

Question 17

ser urgente, urgir

Answer 17

to be urgent

Question 18

valer más

Answer 18

to be better

Question 19

valer la pena

Answer 19

to be worthwhile

Question 20

What construction do you use when the speaker wishes to place the emphasis on the person rather than on the action?

Answer 20

combine an indirect object pronoun and an infinitive

ex: Me bastaba explicarle las cosas

It was enough for me to explain things

Question 21

What are five impersonal expressions that take the indicative when positive? When do they take the subjunctive?

Answer 21

1. ser cierto- it’s true
2. ser evidente- it’s evident
3. ser verdad- to be true
4. ser un hecho- to be fact
5. estar claro- to be clear

They take the subjunctive when used negatively (ex: no es cierto)

Question 22

How should you use the construction “No ser que… sino que…”?

Answer 22

to deny the reality of the main verb and use the subjunctive

“It’s not that… but rather…”

ex: No es que me gusta (gustar) el cafe, sino que el cafe me mantiene despierto

It’s not that I like (1st verb- denied) coffee, but rather that coffee keeps me awake