Understanding Verbs of Emotion in Spanish Subjunctive
Expressing emotions in Spanish requires careful use of the subjunctive mood, especially at the DELE B1 level. Verbs of emotion create scenarios where we express feelings about situations that may or may not be certain, making the subjunctive essential.
Key Emotion Verbs That Trigger Subjunctive
1. Alegrarse de que (To be happy that)
This expression always triggers the subjunctive because it expresses emotional reaction to a situation.
Examples:
- Me alegro de que estés aquí. (I’m happy that you’re here.)
- Nos alegramos de que hayan llegado bien. (We’re happy that they arrived safely.)
- Se alegra de que haga sol. (He’s happy that it’s sunny.)
2. Temer que (To fear that)
Expressing fear or concern about potential situations requires the subjunctive.
Examples:
- Temo que llueva mañana. (I fear it might rain tomorrow.)
- Temen que el proyecto fracase. (They fear the project might fail.)
- Temía que no vinieras. (I was afraid you wouldn’t come.)
Other Common Emotion Verbs Requiring Subjunctive
Expressing Happiness and Joy
- Encantar que (To love that)
- Me encanta que vengas a visitarme. (I love that you’re coming to visit me.)
- Gustar que (To like that)
- Nos gusta que seas honesto. (We like that you’re honest.)
Expressing Sadness and Regret
- Sentir que (To regret/be sorry that)
- Siento que no puedas venir. (I’m sorry you can’t come.)
- Lamentar que (To regret that)
- Lamento que tengas problemas. (I regret that you’re having problems.)
Expressing Surprise and Amazement
- Sorprender que (To surprise that)
- Me sorprende que sepas chino. (It surprises me that you know Chinese.)
- Extrañar que (To find it strange that)
- Me extraña que no haya llamado. (I find it strange that he hasn’t called.)
When Subjunctive is Required with Emotion Verbs
Different Subjects Rule
The subjunctive is required when:
- The subject experiencing the emotion is different from the subject of the subjunctive verb
- You’re expressing emotion about someone else’s actions or situations
Correct: Me alegro de que estés bien. (I’m happy that you’re well.)
Correct: Temen que lleguemos tarde. (They fear we’ll arrive late.)
Same Subject Exception
When the subject is the same, use the infinitive instead:
Correct: Me alegro de estar bien. (I’m happy to be well.)
Correct: Temo llegar tarde. (I fear arriving late.)
DELE B1 Exam Focus Areas
The DELE B1 exam specifically tests your ability to:
- Correctly use subjunctive with common emotion verbs
- Distinguish between same-subject and different-subject scenarios
- Use emotion verbs in appropriate contexts
- Conjugate irregular verbs in subjunctive form
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error 1: Using Indicative with Emotion Verbs
- ❌ Incorrect: Me alegro de que estás aquí.
- ✅ Correct: Me alegro de que estés aquí.
Error 2: Forgetting “de” with Alegrarse
- ❌ Incorrect: Me alegro que vengas.
- ✅ Correct: Me alegro de que vengas.
Error 3: Incorrect Conjugation Patterns
- ❌ Incorrect: Temo que ellos viene tarde.
- ✅ Correct: Temo que ellos vengan tarde.
Practical Usage in Real Conversations
Expressing Shared Emotions
- Nos alegramos de que + subjunctive (We’re happy that…)
- Nos alegramos de que todo saliera bien. (We’re happy that everything went well.)
Expressing Personal Concerns
- Me temo que + subjunctive (I’m afraid that…)
- Me temo que no podamos ayudarte. (I’m afraid we can’t help you.)
Formal vs Informal Expressions
- Lamento que (more formal) vs Siento que (more personal)
- Me preocupa que (I’m worried that) vs Temo que (I fear that)
Conjugation Patterns for Common Verbs
Regular -AR verbs (llegar)
- llegue, llegues, llegue, lleguemos, lleguéis, lleguen
- Temo que llegues tarde. (I fear you’ll arrive late.)
Regular -ER verbs (tener)
- tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan
- Me alegro de que tengas éxito. (I’m happy that you’re successful.)
Regular -IR verbs (salir)
- salga, salgas, salga, salgamos, salgáis, salgan
- Temen que salgamos sin ellos. (They fear we’ll leave without them.)
Related Emotion Expressions
- Es una lástima que (It’s a pity that)
- Es bueno/malo que (It’s good/bad that)
- Es triste que (It’s sad that)
- Es increíble que (It’s incredible that)
Practice Tips for DELE Success
- Identify emotion triggers – Recognize verbs that require subjunctive
- Check subject changes – Always verify if subjects are different
- Practice common combinations – Master frequently used emotion expressions
- Listen for patterns – Notice how native speakers express emotions
- Create emotional scenarios – Write sentences expressing different feelings
Ready to Test Your Knowledge?
Now that you understand how to use the subjunctive with verbs of emotion, it’s time to practice! We’ve created a specialized quiz focusing specifically on “Alegrarse de que” and “Temer que” expressions.
Take our DELE B1 Subjunctive Quiz to test your understanding:
DELE B1 Subjunctive Practice: Verbs of Emotion
The quiz includes 15 targeted questions with immediate feedback and detailed explanations – perfect for DELE B1 exam preparation!
Final Exam Strategy
Remember these key points for your DELE B1 exam:
- Emotion verbs = Almost always require subjunctive
- Different subjects = Subjunctive required
- Same subject = Use infinitive instead
- Alegrarse de que = Don’t forget the “de”
- Practice emotional contexts = Build vocabulary for different feelings
With consistent practice, you’ll be able to express emotions naturally and correctly in your DELE B1 exam and everyday Spanish conversations.
Looking for more DELE B1 preparation resources? Explore our complete collection of Spanish practice tests at SpanishGrammar.net
