Breakdown of Ojalá que la sorpresa incluya un paseo al destino que deseo.
que
that
desear
to want
ojalá
I hope
incluir
to include
al
to the
la sorpresa
the surprise
el paseo
the walk
el destino
the destination
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Ojalá que la sorpresa incluya un paseo al destino que deseo.
Why is que used after ojalá? Is it always necessary?
The conjunction que after ojalá is optional. In Latin America people commonly say ojalá que + subjunctive, but you can also simply say ojalá + subjunctive (for example, ojalá incluya…). Either way, the verb following ojalá must be in the subjunctive mood.
Why is the verb incluya in the subjunctive mood instead of the indicative?
Expressions of desire or hope (like ojalá) always trigger the subjunctive in Spanish. Because you’re wishing for something uncertain—“la sorpresa incluya…”—you use the present subjunctive incluya rather than the indicative incluye.
What does paseo mean here, and how does it differ from viaje?
Paseo usually refers to a short excursion, walk or ride—something leisurely. Viaje implies a longer or more formal trip. In this sentence, paseo suggests a fun, possibly brief outing rather than a full-fledged journey.
Why is al used before destino, and what does it stand for?
Al is the contraction of the preposition a and the definite article el (a + el = al). It indicates direction or movement toward el destino you desire.
Why is the relative clause que deseo in the indicative mood instead of subjunctive?
Relative clauses use the indicative when they refer to a specific, known thing—in this case, the exact destination you want. If the destination were more hypothetical or non-specific, you’d use subjunctive (for example, cualquier destino que deseé).
Why don’t we include the subject pronoun yo with deseo? Could we say que yo deseo?
Spanish often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending already indicates who is doing the action. Deseo clearly means “I desire,” so yo is unnecessary. You can add yo for emphasis, but it’s perfectly natural to leave it out.
Could we replace destino que deseo with destino deseado? What’s the difference?
Yes. Destino deseado uses the past participle deseado as an adjective (“desired destination”). It’s a bit more formal or literary. Destino que deseo is more direct and highlights your active desire (“the destination that I want”).