So you may (or may not) have heard of
ni modo.
And if you haven't, well, I strongly urge you to check out our
ni modo entry!
But whack a
que on the end and it turns into a completely different beast!
And, unfortunately, to tame the beast, you're going to have to use the dreaded subjunctive…
But, luckily for you dear reader, it’s very often the present subjunctive.
Phew!
And how in the name of all things linguistically bewildering do you use it?
Well, you use
ni modo que when an idea or alternative seems completely unreasonable, ridiculous, or just plain impossible.
Depending on the context, it can be a bit like saying:
👉
You can’t exactly… / Surely you don’t expect… / It’s not like…
Ahem, examples ahoy!
Because, boy do we need them!
And luckily for you I've been noting down
REAL examples from
REAL Mexican media for the last year or so:
Talking about breaking up with her boyfriend:Ni modo que lo corte por WhatsApp, ¿no?I mean, I can’t exactly break up with him over WhatsApp, can I?
Talking about doing a bungee jump that's already paid for:Ni modo de rajarme.It's not like I can back out.
Talking about a public transport strike:Ni modo que ya no vayamos a trabajar.It’s not like we can just stop going to work.
Talking about a man who refused to drink anything:Ni modo que le meta una Coca-Cola por el culo.It's not like I can just shove a Coca-Cola up his ass.
Talking about cleaning a sofa after someone threw up on it:Ni modo de dejarlo vomitado.I couldn’t exactly leave it covered in vomit.
Talking about a worker who got stuck down a hole:Eso fue como a las siete, y ni modo que haya estado en el hoyo hasta ahorita…That was at about seven, and he can't have been down the hole this whole time…
Did you spot the common thread? 🧵
Basically, the speaker imagines a possible alternative or outcome and immediately rejects it because it would be
WAY too ridiculous or unrealistic.
🧩 Useful patternsPero + ni modo que + subjunctiveThis is VERY useful when explaining why you have little choice but to do something:
No quiero gastar tanto, pero ni modo que deje a los niños solos.I don’t want to spend so much, but I can’t exactly leave the kids on their own.
Está bastante cerca, pero ni modo que me vaya caminando.It’s quite near, but it's not like I can just walk there.
Pues / pos + ni modo que + subjunctiveThis often introduces a sarcastic response:
Pos, ni modo que te digan que está con madre.Well, they’re not exactly going to tell you it looks fucking great.
Pues, ni modo que me pasen la clave de internet los vecinos.It's not like my neighbors are going to give me their internet password.
Ni modo que no + subjunctive¡Aguas! Adding no flips the meaning! You’re essentially rejecting the negative possibility:
Ni modo que no haya.There have to be some! / Surely there are some!
Ni modo que no tengan café.Surely they have coffee!
Ni modo que no se dé cuenta.Of course he’s going to notice!
Ni modo de + infinitiveYep, no subjunctive required for this one:
Híjole… creo que se nos ponchó una llanta. Ni modo de seguir manejando.Jeez… I think we've got a flat tire. There’s no way we can keep driving.
Pues, mi suegra ya había preparado la cena. Ni modo de decirle que ya había comido.My mother-in-law had already made dinner. I couldn’t exactly tell her I’d already eaten.
El perro estaba empapado. Ni modo de dejarlo subir a la cama.The dog was soaking wet. We couldn’t exactly let him get on the bed.
🆚 ni modo que VS ni que 🆚Get them gloves on, it's showdown time!
Because, well, these two chunks are pretty darn similar,
BUT they’re
NOT exactly the same.
Ni que + subjunctive rejects an imagined premise or comparison:
Ni que fueras millonario.It’s not like you’re a millionaire.
Ni que fuera tu sirviente.It’s not like I’m your servant.
Ni modo que + subjunctive rejects a specific action or possibility as unreasonable:
Ni modo que lo haga él solo.He can't exactly do it on his own.
Ni modo que trabajen gratis.It's not like they can just work for free.
👍 Rupert’s rule of thumbni que… =
It’s not like… + an imagined comparison (normally absurd)
ni modo que… =
You can’t exactly… / It’s not like you can just… + a specific action or outcome that seems unreasonable, unrealistic, or unacceptable
Make sure to check out the full
ni que breakdown HERE!