Subordinate clauses with que: resultar que, faltar que, bastar que

Head verbs vs. heart verbs: what changes?

In Spanish, the verb in the main clause often decides the mood in the que-clause:

• Head verbs = information / perception / conclusions → you present the content as fact or likely fact → Indicative.
• Heart verbs = need / recommendation / desire / cause → you present the content as not a fact yet (goal, wish, requirement, effect) → Subjunctive.

Fast decision: “Am I reporting or influencing?”

1. Reporting / stating / noticing something → Indicative.

   • Resulta evidente que el problema es grave.

   • Creemos que la sequía es grave.

   • Imagino que ya pasó la tormenta.

2. Influencing what someone should do / what you want to happen → Subjunctive.

   • Falta que actuemos ahora.

   • Aconsejaron que redujéramos el consumo.

   • Queremos que se proteja la biosfera.

   • La sequía provocó que el río se secara.

The most common trap: negation flips “head verbs”

With creer / pensar / imaginar (and similar head verbs):

• Affirmative → you treat it as true → Indicative.

  Creo que él llega temprano.

• Negative → you don’t commit to it → Subjunctive.

  No creo que él llegue temprano.

Self-check: if you could translate it as “I don’t think that…”, Spanish usually treats the que-clause as uncertain → subjunctive.

Faltar / bastar: “que + subjunctive” vs. “infinitive”

These two verbs often confuse learners because Spanish offers two clean structures:

• So you avoid: Basta que separar… (mixed structures).

• Practical trick: if you can add someone (yo/tú/él/nosotros) as the doer, you probably need que + subjunctive.

Decir / preguntar: why sometimes indicative, sometimes subjunctive

These verbs don’t automatically mean “head” or “heart”. The key is: Are you reporting information, or transmitting a request/doubt?

• Reporting what was said / asked (information) → Indicative.

  Dijo que era obligatorio. (He stated it as information.)

• Not reporting as fact (often with negation, doubt, or implied uncertainty) → Subjunctive.

  No dijo que fuera peligroso. (He didn’t state that it was.)

Self-check: if the speaker is not confirming the content, Spanish often moves to subjunctive.

Mini checklist before you choose a mood

1. What is the main verb doing? Reporting (head) or influencing (heart)?
2. Is the main verb negated? Especially with creer/pensar/imaginar → negation usually triggers subjunctive.
3. With faltar/bastar: do you name a doer?
   • No doer → infinitive (Basta separar…)
   • Doer present → que + subjunctive (Basta con que separes…)
4. With decir/preguntar: are you treating it as confirmed information (indicative) or as unconfirmed/non-asserted (subjunctive)?