The main rule
An affirmative verb of belief, perception or communication takes the indicative (Creo que es). Negated, it usually takes the subjunctive (No creo que sea), unless the speaker presents the content as a known fact. A reason you reject takes the subjunctive (no porque quiera) and the real reason the indicative (sino porque debo). Purpose with a different subject takes a fin de que + subjunctive.
| Trigger | + indicative | + subjunctive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| creer, pensar, parecer, ver, estar claro | affirmative: the speaker holds it true | negated: the speaker does not accept it | Veo que has mejorado. No veo que hayas mejorado. |
| no digo que ... sino que | the real point (after sino que) | the claim you reject | No digo que mientas, sino que te equivocas. |
| sentir que | to sense, to perceive | to regret | Siento que me observan. Siento que no puedas venir. |
| entender que | to gather, to realise a fact | to find it reasonable | Entiendo que estás molesto. Entiendo que estés molesto. |
| porque | a real cause | never in a plain cause | Voy porque quiero. |
| no porque ... sino porque | the real cause (after sino porque) | the cause you reject | No lo hago porque quiera, sino porque debo. |
| no es que ... sino que | the real reason (after sino que) | the reason you reject | No es que sea caro, sino que no tenemos presupuesto. |
| a fin de que, con el fin de que | never | different subjects | Publican la guía a fin de que todos la entiendan. |
| a fin de, con el fin de | with the same subject: an infinitive | no conjugated verb | Publican la guía a fin de informar. |
What English hides
English says "I don't think it is", "I'm sorry that you can't come" and "not because I want to" with the ordinary verb form. Nothing in the sentence signals a mood, so English speakers keep the indicative and write *No creo que es*, *Siento que no puedes* or *No lo hago porque quiero, sino porque debo*. Spanish marks the speaker's stance on the verb. When the content is asserted, the indicative. When it is denied, doubted, rejected or reacted to, the subjunctive.
Negated belief, perception and communication
After an affirmative verb of thinking or seeing, the indicative: Creo que es viable, Me parece que tiene razón, Veo que has mejorado, Está claro que hay un problema. Negate the verb and the speaker no longer vouches for the content, so the subjunctive: No creo que sea viable, No me parece que tenga razón, No veo que haya mejorado, No está claro que haya un problema. In formal writing this is the way to present something as unproven: No está demostrado que el fármaco sea eficaz.
The honest note: in rhetorical questions and emphatic speech the indicative also occurs after no creo que and in ¿No crees que es tarde?, because the speaker is pushing a view. In a plain statement the subjunctive is the rule, so use it. No dudo que and no niego que take both moods and are best left alone at first.
To reject a claim, pair the two clauses: No digo que mientas, sino que te equivocas. The subjunctive belongs to the claim you refuse, the indicative to what you actually say.
Content presented as a known fact
A negation does not always call for the subjunctive. In a rhetorical question the speaker points to something obvious, so the indicative stays: ¿No ves que está lloviendo?, ¿No te das cuenta de que es tarde? After no sabía que both moods exist: No sabía que estaba casado presents his marriage as a fact the speaker now accepts, and No sabía que estuviera casado is also correct. A negative command with creer or pensar usually takes the indicative too: No pienses que es fácil, No creas que no lo sé. The speaker is not doubting here but correcting the listener.
Sentir and entender: the mood changes the meaning
Spanish has one verb sentir where English has "sense" and "be sorry". With the indicative it is perception: Siento que alguien me observa. With the subjunctive it is regret: Siento mucho que no puedas venir. Entender works the same way. Entiendo que estás molesto means "I gather that you are upset", a conclusion about a fact; Entiendo que estés molesto means "I see why you are upset", acceptance. English "I understand that you're upset" covers both, so only the mood tells them apart. Briefly, the same split exists in decir: Dice que viene informs, Dice que vengas orders.
Cause: porque, no porque, no es que
A plain cause takes the indicative: Lo hago porque me gusta. To deny a cause and give the real one, use no porque + subjunctive and sino porque + indicative: No lo hago porque quiera, sino porque debo. No es que + subjunctive ... sino que + indicative does the same for a reason: No es que sea caro, sino que no tenemos presupuesto. In everyday speech you hear no es que no quiero, but in an essay or a formal email use the subjunctive. Como at the start of a sentence gives a known cause with the indicative: Como no había entradas, nos fuimos.
A wish and a limit: the independent subjunctive
A wish can stand alone with que: ¡Que te mejores!, ¡Que tengas suerte! The fixed phrase que yo sepa ("as far as I know") is also subjunctive: Que yo sepa, la reunión es mañana. Ojalá + present subjunctive treats the wish as possible; the imperfect treats it as unlikely.
Formal purpose
When the subjects differ, a fin de que, con el fin de que and con objeto de que (all equivalent to para que) take the subjunctive: El ministerio publica la guía a fin de que los ciudadanos la entiendan. When the subject is the same, use the infinitive without que: El ministerio publica la guía a fin de informar. English "so that everyone can" and "in order to" do the same job, and the question is always who does what.
Examples
- No creo que sea una buena idea. I don't think it's a good idea.
- No veo que haya mejorado mucho. I don't see that he has improved much.
- No está demostrado que el método funcione. It has not been shown that the method works.
- No digo que mientas, sino que te equivocas. I'm not saying you're lying, but that you're mistaken.
- ¿No ves que está lloviendo? Can't you see it's raining?
- Siento que alguien me observa. I have the feeling that someone is watching me.
- Siento mucho que no puedas venir. I'm very sorry you can't come.
- No lo hago porque quiera, sino porque debo. I'm not doing it because I want to, but because I have to.
- No es que sea caro, sino que no tenemos presupuesto. It's not that it's expensive, but that we have no budget.
- ¡Que tengas buen viaje! Have a good trip!
Quick check
Ask two questions. Does the speaker vouch for the content, or is it denied, doubted or reacted to? And in a purpose clause, are there two different subjects? Only then choose between que + verb and the infinitive.
Common mistakes
*Creo que sea una buena idea.Creo que es una buena idea. affirmative belief, indicative*Lo hago porque me guste.Lo hago porque me gusta. a real cause is indicative*No lo hago porque quiera, sino porque deba.No lo hago porque quiera, sino porque debo. the real cause is indicative*No es que sea caro, sino que no tengamos presupuesto.No es que sea caro, sino que no tenemos presupuesto. after sino que, the indicative*Siento mucho que no puedes venir.Siento mucho que no puedas venir. regret takes the subjunctive*La universidad amplía el plazo a fin de que los alumnos pueden entregar el trabajo....a fin de que los alumnos puedan entregar el trabajo. a fin de que needs the subjunctive*Hemos cambiado la fecha a fin de los socios puedan asistir.Hemos cambiado la fecha a fin de que los socios puedan asistir. a conjugated verb needs que*Que yo sé, la reunión es mañana.Que yo sepa, la reunión es mañana. fixed phrase, subjunctive
Questions and answers
Do I use the subjunctive after no creo que?
Usually, yes: No creo que sea verdad. The indicative occurs in rhetorical questions and emphatic speech, but in a plain statement the subjunctive is the standard choice.
Does siento que take the indicative or the subjunctive?
With the indicative, Siento que alguien me observa means you sense something. With the subjunctive, Siento que no puedas venir means you are sorry. Adding mucho points to regret.
Is it entiendo que estás or entiendo que estés?
Both are correct. Entiendo que estás molesto means "I gather you are upset"; Entiendo que estés molesto means "I understand why you are upset".
Can I say lo hago porque me guste?
No. A plain cause takes the indicative: Lo hago porque me gusta. The subjunctive appears only when you deny the cause: no porque me guste, sino porque ....
When do I use a fin de and when a fin de que?
Use a fin de + infinitive when one subject does both things, and a fin de que + subjunctive when the subjects differ. Con el fin de and con objeto de work the same way.
What does que yo sepa mean?
It means "as far as I know" and always uses the subjunctive: Que yo sepa, no ha llamado nadie. *Que yo sé* is a mistake.