Subjunctive after emotions: me alegra que
B1Grammar path · Lesson 46 of 86 · Stage B1 · The subjunctive
When you react emotionally to what someone else does, whether you feel happy, sad, annoyed or afraid, Spanish puts the verb after que in the subjunctive. The core idea: the second clause is something you are reacting to, not information you are asserting, so the subjunctive is used even when the fact is true. The pattern is emotion phrase + que + subjunctive, as in Me alegra que estés aquí. The most common mix-up: when the person feeling and the person acting are the same, use the infinitive with no que, as in Me alegra estar aquí.
Practise this lesson · 9 sentences
Form
Me alegra que + subjuntivoNo me gusta que + subjuntivo¿Te molesta que + subjuntivo?When to use it
Joy and pleasure
Use it when you are glad about or enjoy what someone else does. For a finished action, use the perfect subjunctive haya + participle.
Annoyance and dislike
Use it to complain about someone else's behavior. Change the emotion verb and the structure stays the same.
Sorrow, fear and surprise
Use it to express sympathy, worry or surprise about something. For fear, the phrase is usually tengo miedo de que.
Signal words
Don't confuse it with
Frequently asked questions
The fact is true, so why use the subjunctive after me alegra que?
Because the clause is what you are reacting to, not information you are asserting. Me alegra que estás aquí is wrong; say Me alegra que estés aquí.
When do I use the infinitive instead of que + subjunctive?
When the person feeling and the person acting are the same. Me alegra estar aquí means I am glad that I myself am here.
How do I talk about the past, as with me alegró que?
When the emotion verb is in the past, use the imperfect subjunctive: Me alegró que vinieras.
Does siento que always take the subjunctive?
No. Meaning sorry, it takes the subjunctive: Siento que no puedas venir. Meaning I sense, it takes the indicative: Siento que algo está mal.
Does es una lástima que take the subjunctive?
Yes. Impersonal emotion phrases like es una lástima que or es increíble que also take it: Es una lástima que te vayas.