Softening the wish
When you want someone else to do something, the que clause takes the subjunctive. How polite it sounds depends on the verb in front. In the present (quiero que, prefiero que) it is direct. In the conditional (me gustaría que, preferiría que) or with quisiera que you step back, and the que clause usually shifts into the imperfect subjunctive.
The pattern
Same request, two distances
Direct
Quiero que me llames mañana.
I want you to call me tomorrow.
Prefiero que no fumes aquí.
I prefer you don't smoke here.
Polite
Me gustaría que me llamaras mañana.
I'd like you to call me tomorrow.
Preferiría que no fumaras aquí.
I'd rather you didn't smoke here.
Quisiera que me acompañaras al médico.
I'd like you to come to the doctor's with me.
Les pediría que apagaran los móviles durante la función.
We would ask you to switch off your phones during the performance.
Asking permission: ¿Le importaría…?
importar and molestar ask whether something bothers someone, like Do you mind…? After the present comes the present subjunctive, after the conditional usually the imperfect subjunctive. What matters is who acts: with an infinitive you ask the other person to do something (Would you mind closing…?). With que + subjunctive you ask whether you may do it (Would you mind if I closed…?).
| Form | Who acts? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ¿Le importaría + infinitive? | the other person | ¿Le importaría cerrar la ventana? |
| ¿Le importaría que + imperfect subjunctive? | me (or someone else) | ¿Le importaría que cerrara la ventana? |
¿Te importa que ponga un poco de música?
Do you mind if I put some music on?
casual, among friends
¿Le importaría que abriera la ventana?
Would you mind if I opened the window?
polite, with strangers
¿Les molestaría que nos sentáramos aquí?
Would it bother you if we sat here?
