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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn to use verbs expressing feelings like "Me irrita" and "Me alegra" with the subjunctive and indicative moods, applying different subjects for each mood in Spanish.
  1. Use the indicative mood when the subject is the same.
  2. Use the subjunctive mood when we have two different subjects.
ExpresiónModoEjemplo
Me irritaSubjuntivoMe irrita que el argumento sea tan controversial. (It irritates me that the argument is so controversial.)
Es intolerableEs intolerable que no defiendas tu punto de vista. (It is intolerable that you do not defend your point of view.)
Me entristeceMe entristece que nadie quiera decir su opinión.  (It saddens me that no one wants to express their opinion.)
Me alegraIndicativoMe alegra saber que mi perspectiva es relevante para el debate. (I am glad to know that my perspective is relevant to the debate.)
Me molestaMe molesta debatir cuando no se respetan las diferentes perspectivas. (It annoys me to debate when different perspectives are not respected.)
Me da (vergüenza)Me da vergüenza debatir cuando no tengo un buen argumento. (I am embarrassed to debate when I do not have a good argument.)

Exercise 1: Verbos para expresar sentimientos con el indicativo y subjuntivo

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

defienda, tengas, debatan, participe, escuchen, participes

1. Escuchar:
Me alegra que ... las opiniones de los participantes
(I'm glad that they listen to the participants' opinions)
2. Debatir:
Me entristece que ustedes no ... de forma cordial.
(It saddens me that you do not debate in a cordial manner.)
3. Escuchar:
Nos alegra que ... nuestros puntos de vista.
(We are glad that you listen to our points of view.)
4. Participar:
Es intolerable que ... en debates sin tener argumentos relevantes.
(It is intolerable that you participate in debates without having relevant arguments.)
5. Defender:
Me da vergüenza que mi novio no me ... durante el debate.
(I am ashamed that my boyfriend doesn’t stand up for me during the debate.)
6. Participar:
Me molesta que Juan no ... en el debate mañana.
(It bothers me that Juan does not participate in the debate tomorrow.)
7. Tener:
Me irrita que no tú ... suficientes pruebas relevantes.
(It annoys me that you don't have enough relevant evidence.)
8. Debatir:
Me molesta que ... sin argumentos claros en un tema tan controversial.
(It annoys me that they argue without clear arguments on such a controversial topic.)

Verbs to Express Feelings Using Indicative and Subjunctive Moods

This lesson focuses on using specific verbs in Spanish that express feelings and emotions. It details how to correctly use these verbs with either the indicative or subjunctive mood, depending on the relationship between subjects in the sentence.

Key Concepts

  • Indicative Mood: Used when the same subject performs both actions or states.
  • Subjunctive Mood: Applied when two different subjects exist within the sentence.

Examples of Verbs Expressing Feelings

  • Verbs triggering Subjunctive: Me irrita (It irritates me), Es intolerable (It is intolerable), Me entristece (It saddens me)
  • Verbs triggering Indicative: Me alegra (It makes me happy), Me molesta (It annoys me), Me da vergüenza (It embarrasses me)

Usage Highlights

When expressing feelings toward facts or actions involving the same subject, the indicative mood is appropriate. For example: Me alegra saber que mi perspectiva es relevante para el debate.

When emotions are directed toward actions or states involving different subjects, the subjunctive mood is used. For example: Me irrita que el argumento sea tan controversial.

Notable Differences With English

Unlike English, which generally uses the indicative mood regardless of subject changes in emotional expressions (e.g., "It irritates me that..."), Spanish distinguishes between the indicative and subjunctive based on whether there are one or two subjects in the clause.

Useful phrases to understand this difference include:

  • Same subject + indicative: Me alegra que estoy aquí. (I am happy that I am here.)
  • Different subjects + subjunctive: Me irrita que tú no vengas. (It irritates me that you are not coming.)

Grasping this distinction is vital for accurately expressing emotions and reactions in Spanish, helping your communication sound more natural and precise.

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