Hola ¿Qué tal?

Hoy vamos a ver cómo elegir si usar el indicativo o subjuntivo cuando expresamos nuestra opinión. Today we are going to see how to make the correct choice between the Spanish Indicative and the Spanish Subjunctive when expressing opinion.

Stating facts + indicativo:

• Es seguro que: It’s sure that
• Es obvio que: It’s obvious that
• Es cierto que: It’s certain/true that
• Es indudable que: It’s undoubtable that
• Es evidente que: It’s evident that
• Es innegable que: It’s undeniable that
• Es verdad que: It’s true that
• Está demostrado que: It’s demonstrated that
• Está comprobado que: It’s proven that
• Está claro que: It’s clear that
• Está constatado que: It’s confirmed that

Making evaluations + subjuntivo:

• Es lógico que: It’s logical that
• Es normal que: It’s normal that
• Es una pena que: It’s a pity that
• Es malo que: It’s bad that
• Es probable que: It’s likely that
• Es fundamental que: It’s fundamental that
• Es importante que: It’s important that
• Es triste que: It’s sad that
• Es vergonzoso que: It’s embarrassing that
• Es injusto que: It’s unfair that

Let´s see now some examples of sentences stating facts with the Spanish indicative and also of making evaluations with the Spanish subjunctive…

Stating facts + indicativo:

• Es seguro que la tierra es redonda: It is sure that the Earth is round
• Es obvio que tienes que estudiar más: It is obvious that you have to study more
• Es cierto que tenemos que trabajar: It is true that we have to work
• Es indudable que Sonia es muy lista: It is undoubtable that Sonia is very clever
• Es evidente que la comida rapida no es saludable: It is evident that fast food is not healthy
• Es innegable que esta comida es buena: It is undeniable that this food is good
• Es verdad que estamos en Madrid: It is true that we are in Madrid
• Está demostrado que el vino tinto es bueno para la salud: It is demonstrated that red wine is good for your health
• Está comprobado que las mujeres fuman más que los hombres: It is proven that women smoke more than men
• Está claro que tenemos que visitar Roma: It is clear that we have to visit Rome

Making evaluations + subjuntivo:

• Es lógico que estemos cansados: It is logical that we are tired
• Es normal que haga tanto frío: It is normal that it is so cold
• Es una pena que Patricia se haya ido: It is a pity that Patricia has gone
• Es malo que fumes tanto: It is bad that you smoke so much
• Es probable que no salgamos este fin de semana: It is likely that we won´t go out this weekend
• Es fundamental que estudies todos los días: It is fundamental that you study every day
• Es importante que llames cuando llegues: It is important that you call when you arrive
• Es triste que seas tan egoista: It is sad that you are so selfish
• Es vergonzoso que nunca cocines: It is embarrassing that you never cook
• Es injusto que yo siempre lave los platos: It is unfair that I always wash the dishes

This is all for today. The Spanish subjunctive is something that scares many students because it is not something that translates easily to English. The subjunctive mood is used in English, but not half as much as it is in Spanish. In Spanish it plays a central role in everyday language and so it is vital that you start tackling it as early as possible. Generally speaking, the indicative is used to express factual information, certainty and objectivity whereas the subjunctive mood is used to express such things as doubt, possibility, uncertainty, and subjectivity. If you find it a little tricky to understand at first, don’t worry you are not the only one. Be patient, give it time and little by little it will sink in as you get a better feel for the language. But never give up on it and push it aside. It really isn’t as difficult as it may first appear.

Que paséis una buena semana y nos vemos pronto con más español.

¡Adiós!