Translate into English the following sentence 'hopefully she will come tomorrow'

Answer: Ojalá venga mañana
The English sentence hopefully she will come tomorrow uses the future tense and is often mistakenly translated into Ojalá vendrá mañana by using the equivalent Spanish future tense. Whilst there exists a future tense in Spanish, it would be incorrect to use it in this context, and the present subjunctive tense venga is instead used. Ojalá can be translated to let's hope in English which expresses a desire. The use of the subjunctive is a complicated concept for English speaking students since, although it exists in the English language, it is rarely seen. One example is I wish it were different. This, just like in the Spanish example expresses a desire and so requires the use of the present subjunctive.
Taking another example, I want her to come tomorrow the Spanish translation would be quiero que venga mañana because quiero que expresses a desire, and so it follows that quiero que + subjunctive.

Answered by Chelsea C. Spanish tutor

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