English-Spanish Helpful Handouts
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Verbs Of Emotion - The Use Of The Present Subjunctive In Noun Clauses The subjunctive mood is used to express the speaker’s perception of reality. One way that it is used is to communicate emotions and feelings. It reflects the speaker’s attitude, bias, or reaction toward someone or something. The subjunctive mood is used in subjective situations whereas the indicative mood is used in objective situations. Verbs of emotion are used in sentences with the present tense of the subjunctive mood. This kind of sentence has an independent clause and a dependent noun clause. A dependent noun clause is a group of words that function as the subject or the object of the verb in the independent clause. Dependent noun clauses in Spanish are introduced by the conjunction que. There are 2 differences between the independent and dependent clauses. The first difference is that the subject in the independent clause is different from the subject in the dependent clause. The second difference is that the independent clause has a verb in the indicative mood while the dependent clause has a verb in the subjunctive mood. Tense refers to the time when an action takes place. The present tense of the subjunctive indicates an action that is occurs at the same time as the action in the independent clause. It also indicates an action that occurs in the future. Me alegro de que Rebeca y Juan estén comprometidos. (I’m glad that Rebeca and Juan are engaged.)
Independent Clause Indicative Mood Present Tense Subject – I
Dependent Noun Clause Subjunctive Mood Present tense Subject – Rebeca and Juan
que
Rebeca y Juan estén comprometidos.
Me alegro de
Me alegro de que Rebeca y Juan se casen mañana. (I’m glad that Rebeca and Juan are getting married tomorrow.) Independent Clause Indicative Mood Present Tense Subject – I Me alegro de
que
Dependent Noun Clause Subjunctive Mood Present Tense Indicates Future Time Subject – Rebeca and Juan Rebeca y Juan se casen mañana.
Here is a list of some verbs that express emotion. sentir – to feel sorry Rita siente que María no esté aquí. extrañar – to puzzle, to surprise, to be ¿No te extraña que Roberto no llame? strange tener miedo de – to be afraid ¿Tienes miedo de que el médico te dé una inyección? sorprenderse de - to be surprised El director se sorprende de que los actores no sepan bailar.
Free handout from http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: www.morguefile.com and Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Rita is sorry that María is not here. Isn’t it strange that Roberto doesn’t call? Are you afraid that the doctor will give you an injection? The director is surprised that the actors can’t dance.
English-Spanish Helpful Handouts
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Verbs Of Emotion - The Use Of The Present Subjunctive In Noun Clauses Here are some more verbs that express emotion. estar contento – to be happy/pleased
estar felíz – to be happy
estar triste – to be sad
aborrece – to hate
sentirse + adjective – to feel
Gustar Type Verbs Many verbs of emotion are conjugated in the same way that gustar is conjugated. These verbs use the third person with an indirect object pronoun. Me preocupa que ella esté enferma. (It worries me that she is sick.) Les preocupa que ella esté enferma. (It worries them that she is sick.)
Here is a list of verbs that are conjugated like the verb gustar. agradar – to please emocionar – to excite, thrill importar – to concern aguantar – to put up with encantar – to delight indignar – to provoke asustar – to frighten fastidiar – to annoy irritar – to irritate doler – to ache ilusionar – to fascinate lamentar – to regret
molestar – to bother preocupar - to worry satisfacer – to satisfy sorprender - to surprise
Notice the difference between pronominal and verbs and verbs that use indirect object pronouns in the independent clause. Pronominal Verb – sorprenderse de – to be surprised This verb is conjugated like any pronominal verb. El director se sorprende de que los actores no sepan bailar. (The director is surprised that the actors can’t dance.) Transitive Verb – Sorprender – to surprise This verb is conjugated like gustar. It uses indirect object pronouns. Al director le sorprende que los actores no sepan bailar. (It surprises the director that the actors can’t dance.)
Temer And Esperar Temer means to fear, but it also means to suspect. Esperar means to hope, but it also means to expect. When temer and esperar mean to suspect and to expect, the indicative is often used in the dependent clause in affirmative sentences. When the sentence is negative, the subjunctive is used.
Free handout from http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: www.morguefile.com and Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
English-Spanish Helpful Handouts
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Verbs Of Emotion - The Use Of The Present Subjunctive In Noun Clauses Temo que la farmacia no está abierta a esta hora. (I suspect that the pharmacy is not open at this hour.) Espero que la farmacia está cerrada a este hora. (I expect the pharmacy to be closed at this hour.)
Impersonal Expressions Impersonal expressions of emotion are followed by the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Es una desgracia que nuestro equipo favorito pierda siempre. (It’s disgraceful that our favorite team always loses.)
Here is a list of some impersonal expressions. Es agradable – It’s nice Es deplorable – It’s unfortunate Es el colmo – It’s Es increíble – It’s incredible unbelievable Es estupendo – It’s Es una lástima – It’s a wonderful shame
Es maravilloso – It’s marvelous Es malo – It’s bad
Es terrible – It’s terrible
Es sorprendente – It’s surprising
Es vergonzoso – It’s shameful
Es una suerte – It’s lucky
Practice. Unscramble the sentences. The answers are on page 4. Example: /estar/triste/nosotros/Rebeca/estoy/no/con/pueda/que Estoy triste que Rebeca no pueda estar con nosotros.
1. /leal/tan/seas/estupendo/que/es/ ___________________________________________________________________ 2. /me/que/no/lleguen/extraña/ _______________________________________________________________________ 3. /es/terrible/haya/guerra/que/ ______________________________________________________________________ 4. /se/que/no/Marta/queja/escuches/la/ ________________________________________________________________ 5. /a/siento/comer/no/te/mucho/que/quedar/puedas _________________________________________________ 6. /que/las/calles/vivan/en/entristece/pobres/le/los/ ______________________________________________________ 7. /de/a/haga/tarea/los/padres/les/Paul/no/que/irrita/su __________________________________________________ 8. /toque/les/emociona/su/que/favorito/músico/ _________________________________________________________ 9. /Elena/temo/fiesta/no/a/la/vaya/que/ ________________________________________________________________
Free handout from http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: www.morguefile.com and Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
English-Spanish Helpful Handouts
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Verbs Of Emotion - The Use Of The Present Subjunctive In Noun Clauses 10. /mis/padres/se/preocupa/me/que/separen ___________________________________________________________ 11. /nueva/que/casa/una/tenga/alegra/mi/a/le/padre/ ___________________________________________________ 12. /chicas/que/las/otras/de/me/puedan/venir/alegro _____________________________________________________ 13. /obligada/irte/pronto/tan/que/siento/a/estés _________________________________________________________ 14. /que/estén/familia/bien/su/espero/todos/en _________________________________________________________ 15. /que/la/boda/chicas/se/venir/las/a/alegra/de/puedan/ ________________________________________________ 16. /no/que/enferme/espero/se _______________________________________________________________________ 17. /reciba/carta/no/la/temo/que/ _____________________________________________________________________ 18. /muy /contento/a/mis/vengan/estoy/verme/que/amigos _______________________________________________ 19. /que/alegro/me/ustedes/Madrid/visiten/de _____________________________________________________________ 20. /fiesta/ maravilloso/sea/que/hoy/es/ ___________________________________________________________________
Las Respuestas – The Answers 1. Es estupendo que seas tan leal. 2. Me extraña que no lleguen. 3. Es terrible que haya guerra. 4. Marta se queja que no la escuchas. 5. Siento mucho que no te puedas quedar a comer. 6 . Le entristece que los pobres vivan en las calles. 7. A los padres de Paul les irrita que no haga su tarea. 8. Les emociona que su músico favorito toque. 9. Temo que Elena no vaya a la fiesta. 10. Me preocupa que mis padres se separen. 11. A mi padre le alegra que tenga una casa nueva. 12. Me alegro de que las otras chicas puedan venir. 13. Siento que estés obligada a irte tan pronto. 14. Espero que todos en su familia estén bien. 15. Se alegra de que las chicas puedan venir al la boda. 16. Espero que no se enferme. 17. Temo que no reciba la carta. 18. Estoy muy contento que mis amigos vengan a verme. 19. Me alegro de que ustedes visiten Madrid. 20. Es maravilloso que sea fiesta hoy.
Free handout from http://sites.google.com/site/englishspanishhelpfulhandouts. Written by S. Watson. Photos: www.morguefile.com and Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.