Breakdown of Capaz que empiezan a predecir el clima.
a
to
empezar
to start / to begin
el clima
the weather
capaz que
maybe / perhaps
predecir
to predict
Questions & Answers about Capaz que empiezan a predecir el clima.
Why is empiezan in the indicative instead of the subjunctive? Doesn't capaz que express doubt?
While capaz que means 'maybe' or 'might,' it is frequently used with the indicative in everyday Latin American Spanish. Using the indicative (empiezan) often signals that the speaker views this as a very real possibility or a strong guess. You could use the subjunctive (empiecen) to express a bit more doubt, but the indicative is completely natural here.
Can I use capaz without que in this sentence?
Generally, when introducing a new clause with a conjugated verb like empiezan, you need the que. The phrase capaz que functions as a colloquial chunk meaning 'it is possible that.' While you might occasionally hear native speakers drop the que in fast speech, capaz que is the standard way to structure this expression.
Why is there an a between empiezan and predecir?
Verbs that express the beginning of an action, such as empezar and comenzar, require the preposition a when they are followed by an infinitive. It is a fixed formula: empezar a plus an infinitive, meaning 'to start doing something.'
I originally learned that 'the weather' is el tiempo. Is el clima also correct here?
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