Discussion of the sequence of tenses and the subjunctive in Spanish language textbooks demonstrates that there is a lack of mechanical morphonological agreement and that subjunctives may have a temporal value independent of that of the matrix with associated semantic differences; that is, subjunctives do not function as neutralized forms…

Most second language texts not only do not emphasize negotiation of meaning, but are also structured to mislead learners in their attempt to express meaning (in the learners' native language). Examples from German, Spanish, and French are used to illustrate the need for second language learning to stand alone and independently from the native…