The subjunctive after feelings: me alegra que, siento que
React to what others do: me alegro de que, siento que, me molesta que, tengo miedo de que, qué pena que.
Part of the free B1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
When you react emotionally to what someone else does or what is happening, the second verb goes into the subjunctive. It doesn't matter that the fact is true; what matters is that you present it through your feelings.
expression of feeling + que + new subject + subjunctive (The present subjunctive: forms)
Common expressions
| Feeling | Spanish |
|---|---|
| glad | me alegra que, me alegro de que, estoy contento de que |
| sorry | siento que, lamento que |
| love, like | me encanta que, me gusta que |
| annoyed | me molesta que, me fastidia que, me da rabia que |
| worried, afraid | me preocupa que, tengo miedo de que, temo que |
| surprised | me sorprende que, me extraña que |
| a pity | qué pena que, es una pena que, me da pena que |
- Me alegro de que estés aquí.I'm glad you're here.
- Siento que no puedas venir.I'm sorry you can't come.
- Me molesta que la gente hable en el cine.It annoys me when people talk in the cinema.
- Me preocupa que no duermas bien.It worries me that you're not sleeping well.
- Tengo miedo de que se pierda el perro.I'm afraid the dog will get lost.
- ¡Qué pena que os vayáis tan pronto!What a pity you're leaving so soon!
- Me sorprende que no sepáis nada.I'm surprised you don't know anything.
Gustar-type verbs
Me encanta, me molesta, me preocupa, me sorprende work like gustar (Gustar: me gusta / me gustan, Verbs like gustar: encantar, interesar, doler, molestar, parecer): the whole que clause is the subject, so the verb stays singular, and the person who feels goes in the pronoun.
- A mis padres les encanta que los visitemos.My parents love it when we visit them.
Alegrar: two patterns
- Me alegra que vengas. (It makes me glad that you're coming: no de)
- Me alegro de que vengas. (I'm glad that you're coming: with de)
In speech you'll often hear me alegro que without de. It is common, but the careful form keeps de.
Same subject: infinitive
- Siento llegar tarde.I'm sorry I'm late.
Also Me alegro de verte, Me encanta cocinar, Tengo miedo de perderme.
Sentir: feeling sorry or sensing
Sentir que + subjunctive = to be sorry that. But sentir que can also mean to sense, to feel that something is so, a perception rather than an emotion, and then it takes the indicative:
- Siento que algo no va bien.I feel that something isn't right.
Latin America
The same expressions are used, with ustedes forms (¡Qué pena que se vayan tan pronto!). In Mexico and much of Central America, me da pena often means I'm embarrassed rather than it makes me sad, so qué pena que is safer there for "what a pity".
Common mistakes
Me alegro de que vienes: feelings take the subjunctive: Me alegro de que vengas.Me molestan que los vecinos griten: the que clause is singular as a subject: Me molesta que…Siento que yo llegue tarde: same subject, so Siento llegar tarde.Estoy feliz que estés aquí: with an adjective, add de: Estoy feliz de que estés aquí (or contento de que).
Practice
- Me alegro de que _____ (tú, tener) un trabajo nuevo.
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tengas
- Siento que tu hermano _____ (estar) enfermo.
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esté — Esté with an accent; este without it means this.
- Me molesta que mi vecino _____ la música tan alta.Options: ponga · pone · poner · pongue
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ponga — Feelings take the subjunctive. Poner → yo pongo → ponga.
- Siento _____ tarde.Options: llegar · que llegue · que llego · llegue
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llegar — Same subject (I'm sorry, I'm late): infinitive.