Question 1

Why do we use the imperfect subjunctive limpiáramos here?

Accepted Answer

This is the core of reporting past commands. The officer gave an order in the past (mandó). When you report a past command, request, or piece of advice using que, the following verb must be in the imperfect subjunctive (limpiáramos).

Question 2

How does lo rígido que mean "how strict"?

Accepted Answer

The structure lo + adjective + que is a common way to express "how [adjective]" something or someone is. It emphasizes the degree or intensity of the trait. Literally it is like saying "the rigid that he was," but it translates smoothly to "how strict he was."

Question 3

Why are sabía and era in the imperfect tense, but mandó is in the preterite?

Accepted Answer

Sabía and era describe ongoing background states in the past: nobody knew, and he was a strict person. Mandó is in the preterite because giving the order was a specific, one-time event that happened and ended.

Question 4

I thought hasta que triggered the subjunctive. Why is mandó in the indicative?

Accepted Answer

The phrase hasta que only triggers the subjunctive when it refers to a pending or future action. Since the officer already gave the order in this sentence, it is a completed fact in the past. Therefore, mandó correctly takes the indicative.

Nadie sabía lo rígido que era el oficial hasta que mandó que limpiáramos el piso.

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