B1 · Unit 24 · 42 words, 2 texts with translation
Express doubt about what others say
Say how sure you are, talk about news and rumors, and argue about an important decision.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Subjunctive after doubt: no creo que, dudo que
You already know the subjunctive forms (unit 16) and three of their uses: wishes — quiero que vengas — I want you to come (unit 18), purpose (unit 19) and cuando about the future (unit 21). Now here's the fourth: doubt.
In an argument you often need "I don't think…" and "I doubt…". The rule is simple:
| The speaker | Form after que | Example |
|---|---|---|
| is sure, states something | normal (indicative) | Creo que es verdad. — I think it's true. |
| doesn't believe it, has doubts | subjunctive | No creo que sea verdad. — I don't think it's true. |
The logic: with the normal form you present something as a fact. If you don't believe it yourself, there's no fact, and the verb moves to the subjunctive.
With the normal form: creo que, pienso que, me parece que, estoy seguro de que.
With the subjunctive: no creo que, no pienso que, no me parece que, no estoy seguro de que, dudo que.
- No creo que el piso sea tan caro. — I don't think the apartment is that expensive.
- Dudo que Pablo venga hoy. — I doubt Pablo is coming today.
- Estoy segura de que tienes razón. — I'm sure you're right (woman speaking).
- No estoy segura de que tengas razón. — I'm not sure you're right (woman speaking).
Watch where the no goes. No before creo — subjunctive. No in the second half — normal form: you're still stating something.
- No creo que venga. — I don't think he'll come.
- Creo que no viene. — I think he isn't coming.
The meaning is almost the same, and both are correct.
In a question, ¿crees que…? takes the normal form: ¿crees que es buena idea? You're not doubting — you're asking for someone's opinion.
A common mistake. English says "I don't think he will come", so it's tempting to say ✗ no creo que vendrá. Don't. After no creo que and dudo que, the present subjunctive covers both the present and the future: no creo que venga.
Me molesta que, me gusta que: feelings about what someone else does
You already know that after me gusta, me encanta, me molesta comes a thing or an infinitive: me molesta el ruido — the noise bothers me; me gusta cocinar (A1, units 5 and 14; A2, unit 11). What's new: they can also be followed by que and a whole clause.
You need it when what pleases or annoys you is not a thing and not something you do yourself, but something someone else does: "I don't like it when you're late", "it drives me crazy when people decide for me".
The choice is the same as with quiero (unit 18):
| Who does it | How to say it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I do | infinitive | Me gusta decidir sola. — I like deciding on my own (woman speaking). |
| someone else | que + subjunctive | Me gusta que me digas la verdad. — I like it when you tell me the truth. |
English makes a similar split: "I like to decide", but "I like it when you tell me".
All verbs like gustar work this way: me gusta que, me encanta que, me molesta que, me importa que, me sorprende que.
- Me molesta que decidas por mí. — It bothers me that you decide for me.
- No me gusta que llegues tarde. — I don't like it when you're late.
- A Carmen le encanta que la visitemos. — Carmen loves it when we visit her.
- ¿Te importa que abra la ventana? — Do you mind if I open the window?
The first verb is always in the él form — gusta, molesta, not gustan: what pleases or bothers you is the whole clause.
A common mistake. English "I like that you call me" uses the normal form, so it's tempting to write ✗ me gusta que me llamas. In Spanish it can only be me gusta que me llames. There's no doubt here — you really do call. But after me gusta que and me molesta que the subjunctive is always used: just learn it.
Words in this unit
imaginar — to imagine, to suppose
Imagino que Marta ya lo sabe. — I imagine Marta already knows.
puede que — maybe, it may be that
Puede que llueva esta tarde. — It may rain this afternoon.
real — real, true
Es una historia real. — It's a true story.
ni hablar — no way, out of the question
¿Trabajar el domingo? ¡Ni hablar! — Work on Sunday? No way!
proponer — to propose, to suggest
Te propongo un plan: cenamos en mi casa. — I propose a plan: we have dinner at my place.
la propuesta — proposal, suggestion
Tengo una propuesta para ti. — I have a proposal for you.
lógico — logical, natural
Es lógico: si no estudias, no apruebas. — It's logical: if you don't study, you don't pass.
tener sentido — to make sense
Eso no tiene sentido. — That doesn't make sense.
convencido — convinced, sure
Estoy convencido de que ha sido un error. — I'm convinced it was a mistake (man speaking).
convencer — to convince, to persuade
Tus palabras no me convencen. — Your words don't convince me.
confirmar — to confirm
¿Puedes confirmar la hora? — Can you confirm the time?
demostrar — to prove, to show
Mis fotos demuestran que estuve allí. — My photos prove I was there.
creíble — believable, credible
Tu excusa no es creíble. — Your excuse isn't believable.
que yo sepa — as far as I know
Que yo sepa, la tienda abre a las diez. — As far as I know, the store opens at ten.
más vale que — had better
Más vale que lo dejemos aquí. — We'd better stop here.
rechazar — to reject, to turn down
Rechazo el trabajo porque está muy lejos. — I'm turning down the job because it's very far away.
sugerir — to suggest, to recommend
Te sugiero esperar un poco. — I suggest you wait a little.
las condiciones — conditions, terms
Las condiciones del trabajo son buenas. — The working conditions are good.
el traslado — transfer, relocation
Mi empresa me propone un traslado a Sevilla. — My company is proposing a transfer to Seville.
a largo plazo — in the long run, long-term
A largo plazo, es mejor ahorrar. — In the long run, it's better to save.
arriesgado — risky, daring
Es un plan muy arriesgado. — It's a very risky plan.
estable — stable, steady
Busco un trabajo estable. — I'm looking for a stable job.
la presión — pressure
Mi jefe me pone mucha presión. — My boss puts a lot of pressure on me.
absolutamente — absolutely, completely
Estoy absolutamente seguro. — I'm absolutely sure (man speaking).
la causa — cause, reason
¿Cuál es la causa del problema? — What's the cause of the problem?
el bulo — hoax, fake news
Eso es un bulo, no es verdad. — That's a hoax, it's not true.
fiable — reliable, trustworthy
Mi coche es viejo, pero muy fiable. — My car is old, but very reliable.
de fiar — trustworthy
Ese vendedor no es de fiar. — That salesman can't be trusted.
desmentir — to deny, to debunk
El gobierno desmiente la noticia. — The government denies the news.
difundir — to spread, to share
Alguien difunde un bulo en las redes sociales. — Someone is spreading a hoax on social media.
redes sociales — social media, social networks
Paso mucho tiempo en las redes sociales. — I spend a lot of time on social media.
el/la periodista — journalist
Mi prima es periodista. — My cousin (female) is a journalist.
la prensa — press, newspapers
Leo la prensa por la mañana. — I read the newspapers in the morning.
el gobierno — government
El gobierno cambia la ley. — The government is changing the law.
el presidente — president, chair
El presidente habla esta noche en la tele. — The president is speaking on TV tonight.
la política — politics, policy
No me gusta hablar de política. — I don't like talking about politics.
la ley — law
Hay una ley nueva sobre alquileres. — There's a new law on rentals.
nacional — national
El 12 de octubre es la fiesta nacional. — October 12 is the national holiday.
la base — basis, base, foundation
El arroz es la base de la paella. — Rice is the base of paella.
el aumento — increase, raise
Quiero pedir un aumento de sueldo. — I want to ask for a raise.
el cerebro — brain
El cerebro necesita dormir. — The brain needs sleep.
más bien — rather, more like
No es tímido; es más bien callado. — He isn't shy; he's rather quiet.
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