The Subjunctive with Doubt, Disbelief or

Denial 13.2

13.2 Subjunctive with verbs of doubt or denial

Whenever a sentence express doubt or denial in the main clause, the subjunctive will be used the subordinate clause because it implies uncertainty.

However, if a sentence express certainty in the main clause, the indicative will also be used in the subordinate clause

Doubt / Denial = Subjunctive

No es cierto que vengan muchas personas a la fiesta

Certainty = Indicative

Es cierto que vienen muchas personas a la fiesta.

Expressions of doubt

*Dudar

*Negar (e-ie)

*No creer / pensar

*No estar seguro/a de

*No es cierto

*No es verdad

*No es obvio

Es (im)posible

Es (im)probable

To doubt

To deny

To not believe / think

To not be sure

To not be certain

To not be true

It is obvious

To be (im)possible

To be (im)probable

Important notice

The following verbs in their opposite form represent certainty and are followed by the indicative:

SUBJUNCTIVE*Dudar*Negar (e-ie)*No creer*No estar seguro/a de*No es cierto*No es verdad

INDICATIVENo dudarNo negar (e-ie)CreerEstar seguro/a deEs cierto queEs verdad que

Wrap your mind around it

If you think or believe it is certain, so PENSAR and CREER in the affirmative form are followed by the

Indicative.

Pienso que es una buena idea ir al cine el Viernes.

Expressions involving possibility or probability are always uncertain, so (No) es (im)posible and (No) es (im)probable are followed by the

Subjunctive.

Es imposible que yo reciba un coche de Navidad.