El subjuntivo para expresar lo indefinido y lo inexistente

The subjunctive is always used when the subordinate

clause refers to an indefinite, hypothetical or nonexistent person or object. In order to use the subjunctive, the person or thing does not exist, is uncertain or indefinite in the speakers mind.
Busco una persona que hable francs. Im looking for

someone who speaks French. Aqu no hay nadie que sepa hablar francs. Theres no one here who knows how to speak French. Queremos una casa que tenga piscina. We want a house that has a swimming pool. En este barrio no hay ninguna casa que tenga piscina. In this neighborhood there is no house that has a pool.

No hay
No hay will always indicate the use of the subjunctive. Hay algn restaurante aqu que sirva comida Mexicana? Is there any restaurant here that serves Mexican food?
No, no hay ningn restaurante aqu que sirva comida

mexicana. No, there is no restaurant here that serves Mexican food.

Personal a
Note that the personal a is not used when the noun does

not refer to a specific person. If the subordinate clause refers to existent, definite, or specified objects, persons or things, the present indicative is used. Aqu hay una chica que sabe hablar francs. There is a girl here who knows how to speak French. Vivo en una casa que tiene piscina. I live in a house that has a swimming pool. Aqu hay muchos restaurantes que sirven comida mexicana. There are many restaurants here that serve Mexican food.

Indefinite articles
The use of indefinite articles is a good indicator of the

subjunctive because the person or thing does not definitely exist.

Quiero la mochila que es roja. I want THE red backpack. Quiero una mochila que sea roja. I want A red backpack. We know that the red backpack from the first sentences

exists, due to the use of the definite article (la). However, we do not know if there is an actually red backpack in the second sentence, the speaker just wants one.

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By extension of the indefinite antecedent rule, subjunctive is also

used after such expressions as the following, because they refer to persons or things not definitely known to the speaker:
quienquiera (quienesquiera) - whoever el que (la que, los que, las que) - the one/s who

cualquiera (cualesquiera) - whichever (referring to persons, same as

whoever) cualquier cosa que - whatever donde or dondequiera - where, wherever adonde or adondequiera - to where, to wherever por + adjective or adverb + que + subjunctive verb = however a. ex. However rich he may be, he will not go. Por rico que sea, no ir.

Existing antecedent Nonexistent antecedent Definite antecedent Indefinite antecedent

Hay un hombre que There is a man sabe la respuesta. that knows the answer. No hay nadie aqu que There is no one sepa la respuesta. here that knows the answer. Busca la chica que Find THE girl that lleva zapatos nuevos. wears new shoes. Busca una chica que lleve zapatos nuevos. Find A girl that wears new shoes.