Spanish 3 / Unit 3: The Subjunctive with Doubt and Impersonal Expressions
3.5 Choosing Between Indicative and Subjunctive
Notes
Use a quick checklist when you see que.
- Step 1: Is there a trigger? (wish, emotion, doubt, impersonal opinion, ojalá)
- Step 2: Does the que-clause have a different subject than the main clause?
- Step 3: Is the main clause affirmative or negative? Creo que... → indicative; No creo que... → subjunctive.
- Worked example: Es verdad que el planeta se calienta. No creo que los gobiernos hagan suficiente.
Practice
Elige la oración correcta.
No pensar que expresses doubt (subjunctive). Pensar que and es cierto que take the indicative.
Es increíble que los estudiantes ___ (saber) tanto sobre el tema.
Es increíble que expresses an emotional reaction: subjunctive, and saber is irregular (sepan).
Estoy seguro de que mi hermano ___ (llegar) a tiempo.
Estoy seguro de que expresses certainty: indicative.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.