B2 · Unit 7 · 46 words, 2 texts with translation
Speak up about tourists in your city
Discuss tourism and city life: say what is important, necessary and fair, and back up your point of view.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
The subjunctive after judgments: es importante que, es una pena que
You already know that the subjunctive comes after wishes (quiero que vengas), doubt (no creo que venga) and feelings (me alegra que vengas) — B1, units 18 and 24; unit 5. Now it's judgments.
When you say that something is important, necessary, better, normal, a shame or unfair, you aren't reporting news — you're judging it. After a judgment + que, the verb is in the subjunctive. Common judgments: es importante, es necesario, es mejor, es normal, es una pena, es injusto, es absurdo.
- Es importante que hables con el dueño. — It's important that you talk to the landlord.
- Es normal que estés cansada. — It's normal that you're tired (to a woman).
- Es una pena que cierren esta tienda. — It's a shame they're closing this store.
The store really is closing, but the sentence doesn't report that — it judges it, so the verb is subjunctive. English uses the same verb form for news and for judgments ("they're closing"), and that's where the mistake comes from: not ✗ es una pena que cierran, but es una pena que cierren. English has a trace of this rule too, in careful speech: "It's important that he be on time" — not "he is".
A special case: "it's true". Es verdad, está claro and es evidente don't judge — they confirm a fact, so the normal form (indicative) follows. Add no, and the fact is in doubt: the subjunctive comes back (as after no creo que):
| Confirming a fact — normal form | Judging or denying — subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Es verdad que hay muchos turistas. (It's true that there are a lot of tourists.) | No es verdad que haya muchos turistas. (It's not true that there are a lot of tourists.) |
| Está claro que el piso es caro. (It's clear that the apartment is expensive.) | Es absurdo que el piso sea tan caro. (It's absurd that the apartment is so expensive.) |
When you mean people in general, not one particular person, you don't need que — use the infinitive, just like English "it's important to…":
- Es importante descansar — It's important to rest.
- Es importante que descanses — It's important that you rest.
Me parece + a judgment works the same way: Me parece mal que suban el alquiler (I think it's wrong that they're raising the rent). But me parece que without a judgment is just an opinion, and the form is normal: Me parece que suben el alquiler (I think they're raising the rent).
Lo importante es que… and lo malo es que…: wanted or already true
You already know lo + adjective: lo importante (the important thing), lo malo (the bad thing), lo mejor (the best thing) — B1, unit 15. Now: which verb form comes after lo … es que.
Ask yourself: is it already a fact, or is it only wanted?
It's wanted or needed — subjunctive. This is usual after lo importante es que, lo mejor es que, lo fundamental es que:
- Lo importante es que estés a gusto en el piso. — The important thing is that you're comfortable in the apartment.
- Lo mejor es que llames antes de ir. — The best thing is for you to call before you go.
It's already a fact — normal form. This is how it goes after lo malo es que, lo bueno es que, lo curioso es que: you don't want anything, you're telling the other person news.
- Lo malo es que el piso no tiene ascensor. — The bad thing is that the apartment doesn't have an elevator.
- Lo bueno es que está cerca del metro. — The good thing is that it's close to the metro.
A hint from English. If you could also say "for you to…" or "you should…", it's wanted: subjunctive ("the best thing is for you to call"). If the sentence just announces a fact ("the bad thing is that there's no elevator"), the form is normal.
The same sentence can go either way:
- Lo importante es que vengas. — The important thing is that you come (you aren't here yet).
- Lo importante es que has venido. — The important thing is that you've come (you're already here).
Don't mix this up with the judgments from the previous block.
- Es una pena que el piso no tenga ascensor — It's a shame that the apartment doesn't have an elevator. Here I'm judging something the other person already knows: subjunctive.
- Lo malo es que no tiene ascensor — The bad thing is that it doesn't have an elevator. Here I'm telling them this: normal form.
The words lo malo es que work like an announcement — "bad news coming" — and the news itself comes in the normal form.
Words in this unit
el turismo — tourism, tourists
El turismo es importante para mi ciudad. — Tourism is important for my city.
el/la residente — resident
Soy residente en Valencia desde hace tres años. — I've been a resident of Valencia for three years.
el/la visitante — visitor
Cada año llegan miles de visitantes a la ciudad. — Every year thousands of visitors come to the city.
el apartamento — small apartment, tourist apartment
Alquilo un apartamento pequeño en el centro. — I rent a small apartment downtown.
la importancia — importance
Esto tiene mucha importancia para mí. — This is of great importance to me.
la necesidad — need, necessity
Hay necesidad de más viviendas baratas. — There's a need for more cheap housing.
el efecto — effect, result
Esta medida tiene un efecto positivo. — This measure has a positive effect.
el impacto — impact
El impacto del turismo en el barrio es grande. — The impact of tourism on the neighborhood is big.
social — social
Hay un problema social en el barrio. — There's a social problem in the neighborhood.
tradicional — traditional
Esta es una tienda tradicional del barrio. — This is a traditional store in the neighborhood.
histórico — historic, historical
El centro histórico es muy bonito. — The historic center is very pretty.
auténtico — authentic, real, genuine
Quiero comer en un bar auténtico. — I want to eat at an authentic bar.
ilegal — illegal
Alquilar sin licencia es ilegal. — Renting without a license is illegal.
sostenible — sustainable
Queremos un turismo más sostenible. — We want more sustainable tourism.
injusto — unfair, unjust
Es injusto que los vecinos paguen más. — It's unfair that the locals pay more.
fundamental — essential, fundamental, key
Es fundamental hablar con los vecinos. — It's essential to talk to the neighbors.
evidente — obvious, clear
Es evidente que hay demasiados turistas. — It's obvious that there are too many tourists.
absurdo — absurd, ridiculous
Es absurdo pagar tanto por una habitación pequeña. — It's absurd to pay so much for a small room.
inaceptable — unacceptable
Este ruido por la noche es inaceptable. — This noise at night is unacceptable.
preocupante — worrying, alarming
La situación es preocupante. — The situation is worrying.
conveniente — advisable, appropriate, a good idea
Es conveniente llegar con tiempo. — It's advisable to arrive early.
tener en cuenta — to take into account, to keep in mind
Tenemos que tener en cuenta a los vecinos. — We have to take the neighbors into account.
ganarse la vida — to make a living, to earn a living
Me gano la vida con el turismo. — I make a living from tourism.
calidad de vida — quality of life
La calidad de vida en este barrio ha bajado. — The quality of life in this neighborhood has gone down.
a costa de — at the expense of, at the cost of
Algunos ganan dinero a costa de los vecinos. — Some people make money at the expense of the locals.
convertir — to turn into, to convert
Quieren convertir el hotel en un edificio de viviendas. — They want to turn the hotel into an apartment building.
limitar — to limit, to restrict
La ciudad quiere limitar el número de turistas. — The city wants to limit the number of tourists.
el límite — limit
Hay un límite de diez personas. — There's a limit of ten people.
defender — to defend, to stand up for
Los vecinos defienden su barrio. — The locals defend their neighborhood.
invertir — to invest
Muchas empresas invierten en pisos turísticos. — Many companies invest in tourist apartments.
conservar — to preserve, to keep
Quieren conservar los edificios antiguos. — They want to preserve the old buildings.
expulsar — to drive out, to force out, to expel
Los alquileres altos expulsan a los vecinos del centro. — High rents drive the locals out of the city center.
perjudicar — to harm, to hurt, to damage
El ruido perjudica a los vecinos. — Noise harms the neighbors.
la economía — economy, economics
El turismo ayuda a la economía de la ciudad. — Tourism helps the city's economy.
la industria — industry
La industria del turismo da trabajo a mucha gente. — The tourism industry gives work to a lot of people.
el beneficio — benefit, profit
El turismo trae beneficios a la ciudad. — Tourism brings benefits to the city.
la demanda — demand
Hay mucha demanda de pisos en el centro. — There's a lot of demand for apartments downtown.
la autoridad — authority
Las autoridades quieren limitar los pisos turísticos. — The authorities want to limit tourist apartments.
la campaña — campaign
La ciudad hace una campaña para el turismo sostenible. — The city is running a campaign for sustainable tourism.
el puerto — port, harbor
El puerto de Valencia es muy grande. — The port of Valencia is very big.
el palacio — palace
El palacio está en el centro de la ciudad. — The palace is in the center of the city.
la torre — tower
Subimos a la torre para ver la ciudad. — We're going up the tower to see the city.
prácticamente — practically, almost
Prácticamente todos los vecinos están de acuerdo. — Practically all the neighbors agree.
hacer la vista gorda — to turn a blind eye, to look the other way
El profesor hizo la vista gorda y no dijo nada. — The teacher turned a blind eye and didn't say anything.
el político — politician
Mi tío es político y habla muy bien. — My uncle is a politician, and he speaks very well.
votar — to vote
Mañana voto por primera vez en mi vida. — Tomorrow I'm voting for the first time in my life.
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