13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
ANTE TODO
Just as the subjunctive is required with expressions of emotion, influence, and will, it is also used with expressions of doubt, disbelief, and denial.
Main clause Subordinate clause
Dudan que su hijo les diga la verdad.
The subjunctive is always used in a subordinate clause when there is a change of subject and the expression in the main clause implies negation or uncertainty.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
dudar to doubt no es verdad it’s not true
negar (e:ie) to deny es imposible it’s impossible
no creer not to believe es improbable it’s improbable
no estar seguro/a (de)
not to be sure (no) es posible it’s (not) possible
no es cierto it’s not true;
it’s not certain (no) es probable it’s (not) probable
no es seguro it’s not certain
Expressions of doubt, disbelief, or denial
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
For example:
El gobierno niega que el agua esté contaminada. The government denies that the water is contaminated.
Es probable que haya menos bosques y selvas en el futuro.It’s probable that there will be fewer forests and jungles in the future.
Dudo que el gobierno resuelva el problema. I doubt that the government will solve the problem.
No es verdad que mi hermano estudie ecología.
It’s not true that my brother studies ecology.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
The indicative (in the appropriate tense) is used in a subordinate clause when there is no doubt or uncertainty in the main clause. Here is a list of some expressions of certainty.
no dudar not to doubt estar seguro/a (de) to be sure (of)
no cabe duda de there is no doubt es cierto it’s true
no hay duda there´s no doubt es seguro it’s sure
no negar (e:ie) not to deny es verdad it’s true
creer to believe es obvio it’s obvious
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
For example:
No negamos que hay demasiados carros en las carreteras. We don’t deny that there are too many cars on the highways.
No hay duda de que el Amazonas es uno de los ríos más largos.
There is no doubt that the Amazon is one of the longest rivers.
Es verdad que Colombia es un país bonito.
It’s true that Colombia is a beautiful country.
Es obvio que los tigres están en peligro de extinción.
It’s obvious that tigers are in danger of extinction.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
In affirmative sentences, the verb creer expresses belief or certainty, so it is followed by the indicative.
In negative sentences, however, when doubt is implied, creer is followed by the subjunctive.
No creo que haya vida en el planeta Marte.
I don’t believe that there is life on the planet Mars.
Creo que debemos usar exclusivamente la energía solar.I believe we should use solar energy exclusively.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
The expressions quizás and tal vez are usually followed by the subjunctive because they imply doubt about something. The word “que” is not needed with these two expressions.
Quizás haga sol mañana. Perhaps it will be sunny tomorrow.
Tal vez veamos la luna esta noche.Perhaps we will see the moon tonight.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denialConsider the following sentence:
I doubt that I will do the homework.
Note: When you wish to express doubt, disbelief, or denial
without a change of subject in a two clause sentence,
Spanish speakers usually express it with an expression of
certainty rather than doubt, disbelief, or denial in the first
clause, and a negative statement using the indicative in the
second clause.
I believe that I will not do the homework.
Creo que no haré la tarea.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
In one clause sentences with the following expressions, the
infinitive is used:
Es posible reciclar.
No es posible conservar energía.
Es imposible mejorar el medio ambiente.
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
¡INTÉNTALO! Completa estas frases con la forma correcta del verbo.
1. Dudo que ellos ____ (trabajar).
trabajen
2.Es cierto que él ____ (comer) mucho.
come
3. Es imposible que ellos ____ (salir).
salgan
4. Es probable que ustedes ____ (ganar).
ganen
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
5. No creo que ella ____ (volver).
vuelva
6. Es posible que nosotros ____ (ir).
vayamos
7. Dudamos que tú ____ (reciclar).
recicles
8. Creo que ellos ____ (jugar) al fútbol.
juegan
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
9. No niego que ustedes ____ (estudiar).
estudian
10. Es posible que ella no ____ (venir) a casa.
venga
11. Es probable que ellos ____ (dormir).
duerman
12. Es posible que Marta ____ (llamar).
llame
13.2 The subjunctive with doubt, disbelief, and denial
13. Tal vez Juan no nos ____ (oír).
oiga
14. No es cierto que ellos nos ____ (ayudar).
ayuden
15. Es obvio que Luis ____ (aburrirse).
se aburre
16. Creo que Juana ____ (ir) a casarse.
va