Question 1

Why is 'doblara' in the imperfect subjunctive here?

Accepted Answer

The main verb exigió (demanded) is in the past tense and expresses a strong influence or command. When you report a past command, the verb in the dependent clause (after que) must shift to the imperfect subjunctive, which is doblara here.

Question 2

What would her original command have looked like in direct speech?

Accepted Answer

If we quote her directly, she would have used a command. She probably said ¡Que nadie doble la espada! (Let nobody bend the sword!) or ¡No dobléis la espada! (Don't bend the sword!). When reported in the past using a reporting verb like exigió, that original imperative or present subjunctive shifts backward to the imperfect subjunctive.

Question 3

Could I use 'doblase' instead of 'doblara'?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely! The imperfect subjunctive has two sets of endings: -ra and -se. Doblara and doblase mean exactly the same thing. Both are widely used in Spain, though the -ra ending is generally a bit more common in everyday speech.

Question 4

Since 'nadie' is a negative word, shouldn't there be a 'no' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

Not in this case. In Spanish, if a negative word like nadie (nobody) comes right before the verb, you drop the no. You only need a double negative if nadie comes after the verb, which would look like this: que no doblara la espada nadie.

Question 5

Doesn't 'doblar' usually mean 'to fold' or 'to turn'?

Accepted Answer

Yes, doblar is a very versatile verb! You probably first learned it as to turn (like at an intersection) or to fold (like clothes or paper). However, it is also the standard verb for to bend a physical object, like a sword, a piece of metal, or your knees.

Ella exigió que nadie doblara la espada.

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