React Emotionally with the Subjunctive
Expressions such as me alegra que evaluate a situation instead of simply asserting it. Choose a suitable emotion phrase and conjugate the following changed-subject action in the subjunctive.
Learning objective
Respond to events with emotion expressions followed by accurate subjunctive clauses.
An emotion expression evaluates a situation rather than introducing it as the speaker's main new assertion. Me alegra que estés aquí therefore uses subjunctive estés even when the listener's presence is accepted as real.
Un pronombre de objeto indirecto es una forma breve que aquí identifica a quien siente la emoción: me alegra, te sorprende, nos preocupa. El verbo concuerda con la causa: Me preocupan los retrasos es plural; Me preocupa que haya retrasos trata la cláusula como unidad singular.
When the emotional subject also performs the second action, Spanish often uses de plus an infinitive: Me alegro de verte or Lamento llegar tarde. With a separately expressed performer, de que or a direct que-clause introduces a finite subjunctive: Me alegro de que hayas venido.
El tiempo del subjuntivo depende de la relación temporal. Me alegra que vengas puede referirse a una visita presente o prevista; Me alegra que hayas venido valora una llegada ya completada. No elijas el tiempo solo por la emoción.
Examples
Me alegra que hayas encontrado trabajo.
I'm glad you've found a job.
The perfect subjunctive places the completed success before the present reaction.
Nos preocupa que el tren llegue demasiado tarde.
We're worried that the train might arrive too late.
Might conveys concern naturally; the Spanish subjunctive does not itself mean that arrival is impossible.
A Clara le sorprende que conozcas ese pueblo.
Clara is surprised that you know that town.
A Clara and le identify the person experiencing surprise.
Lamento no poder ir con ustedes.
I'm sorry I can't come with you.
One speaker both regrets and would go with the group, so an infinitive construction is natural.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Me alegra que estás aquí porque your presence is real.
- Try
- Me alegra que estés aquí.
Reality does not force the indicative after an emotion expression. The clause is presented as the situation being evaluated, so estés follows me alegra que. A separate assertion would be Sé que estás aquí.
Practice
Try it yourself
Respond to a colleague's connected update: they finished a difficult course, may change teams, missed one deadline, and will present tomorrow. Produce four linked reactions using joy, surprise, regret, and concern, with suitable subjunctive time relationships.