Breakdown of Quiero que obedezcas la orden inmediatamente.
querer
to want; to love (a person)
que
that (relative pronoun, conjunction)
obedecer
to obey
la orden
the order (command)
inmediatamente
immediately
Questions & Answers about Quiero que obedezcas la orden inmediatamente.
Why do we use the subjunctive form obedezcas here instead of the indicative obedeces?
The verb querer expresses a desire or influence. When you want someone else to do something, you use querer que followed by the subjunctive. Because the subject changes from 'I' (quiero) to 'you' (obedezcas), the subjunctive is required.
In English we say 'I want you to obey'. Can I translate that literally as 'Quiero te obedecer'?
No, that structure doesn't work in Spanish when the subject changes. In English, we use an infinitive ('to obey'), but in Spanish, you must create two parts connected by que: 'I want that you obey'. This is why we say Quiero que obedezcas.
Why does obedezcas have a 'z' in it when the infinitive is obedecer?
To form the present subjunctive, you start with the 'yo' form of the present indicative. For obedecer, the 'yo' form is obedezco (which adds a 'z' to keep the sound consistent). You drop the 'o' and add the opposite ending for 'tú', giving us obedezcas.
Wait, isn't orden a masculine word? Why is it la orden here?
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