B1 · Intermediate Chapter 4

Sharing Concerns, Fears, and Pity

7 Total Rules
71 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of empathy by sharing fears, worries, and pity using the Spanish Subjunctive.

  • Express personal fears and worries with verbs like temer and preocupar.
  • Use impersonal expressions to show sadness and regret about situations.
  • Convey annoyance and pity naturally in everyday Spanish conversations.
Connect deeper by sharing what's on your heart.

What You'll Learn

Hey there, friend! This chapter is going to be a huge leap forward in your Spanish conversations. You'll learn how to express your deepest emotions, like when you’re worried about a friend or scared of something happening. I know the word “Subjunctive” might sound a bit intimidating, but don't worry! In this chapter, you’ll learn step-by-step how to use this form easily when you're talking about your fears, expressing concern about something, or even when you feel pity for someone. For instance, you’ll be able to say, “I'm scared they’ll do that,” “I’m worried that this will happen,” or “It’s a shame that turned out this way.” You’ll get familiar with phrases like me da miedo que (it scares me that), me preocupa que (it worries me that), es triste que (it's sad that), and me da pena que (I feel bad that), and see how easily you can show your annoyance or disappointment with others' actions. These aren't just fancy words; they're going to turn you into a real Spanish speaker who can empathize with others, talk about their joys and sorrows, and actually use these expressions in daily life. Imagine telling a friend who has an exam, “I’m worried you won’t do well,” or expressing sympathy if someone has a problem, saying, “I’m sorry that happened.” By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to express your more complex emotions in Spanish more easily than ever before and build deeper connections with Spanish speakers. Ready? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Express personal fears using the verb 'temer' and the subjunctive.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'gustar-like' verbs to express worry and fear (preocupar/dar miedo).
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: React to bad news using impersonal expressions of sadness and pity.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: Politely express annoyance or frustration about the actions of others.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome to a pivotal chapter in your journey to mastering Spanish grammar at the B1 Spanish level! This guide is designed to empower you to express a range of deep emotions, moving beyond basic statements to truly connect with others. We’re talking about sharing your concerns in Spanish, articulating your fears in Spanish, and conveying genuine pity in Spanish. While the word "Subjunctive" might sound like a complex beast, don't worry! We’ll break down exactly how and when to use it with these emotional expressions, making it feel natural and intuitive.
By learning phrases like me da miedo que (it scares me that), me preocupa que (it worries me that), and es una lástima que (it's a shame that), you’ll unlock a new level of conversational fluency. This isn't just about memorizing rules; it's about gaining the tools to empathize, support, and communicate your feelings effectively, whether you're worried about a friend's exam or disappointed by a situation. Get ready to transform your Spanish into a vibrant, expressive language that truly reflects your personality and allows for deeper, more meaningful interactions.

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of expressing fear, worry, sadness, and pity in Spanish lies the subjunctive mood. These emotional expressions typically trigger the subjunctive in the subordinate clause when the subject feeling the emotion is different from the subject performing the action in the "that" clause. Let's break down the key phrases and see them in action.
Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive): When you say me da miedo que (it scares me that), you're indicating a fear about a separate action or state. For example, Me da miedo que no apruebes el examen (It scares me that you won't pass the exam).
Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar): Similar to fear, me preocupa que (it worries me that) uses the subjunctive. You might say, Me preocupa que lleguen tarde (It worries me that they will arrive late).
Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que): To convey general sadness about a situation, use es triste que. For instance, Es triste que no haya más oportunidades (It's sad that there aren't more opportunities).
Expressing Pity: I'm sorry that... (Dar pena que): This phrase, me da pena que, expresses sorrow or pity. You could say, Me da pena que no puedas venir (I feel bad that you can't come).
Expressing Pity: 'It's a Shame' (Ser Una Lástima): For situations that are truly regrettable, es una lástima que is perfect. Example: Es una lástima que hayan cancelado el concierto (It's a shame that they canceled the concert).
Expressing Annoyance: Me molesta que... (+ Subjunctive): When something bothers you, use me molesta que. For example, Me molesta que siempre llegues tarde (It annoys me that you always arrive late). Notice how the subjunctive is consistently used for the action that is feared, worried about, regretted, or annoying.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Me da miedo que no apruebas el examen."
✓ Correct: "Me da miedo que no apruebes el examen."
*Explanation:* After expressions of fear like me da miedo que, the verb in the dependent clause must be in the subjunctive mood, not the indicative. "Apruebes" is the correct subjunctive form of "aprobar" for "tú."
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Es una lástima no puedas venir."
✓ Correct: "Es una lástima que no puedas venir."
*Explanation:* It's crucial to include the conjunction que between the main emotional expression (e.g., es una lástima) and the subordinate clause that follows. Forgetting "que" is a common oversight.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Me molesta que él es tan ruidoso."
✓ Correct: "Me molesta que él sea tan ruidoso."
*Explanation:* When expressing annoyance with me molesta que, the following verb must be in the subjunctive. "Sea" is the correct present subjunctive form of "ser" for "él/ella/usted."

Real Conversations

A

A

Me preocupa que Laura no haya llegado todavía. (It worries me that Laura hasn't arrived yet.)
B

B

Sí, a mí también me da miedo que le haya pasado algo. (Yes, it also scares me that something might have happened to her.)
A

A

Es una lástima que no tengamos vacaciones este año. (It's a shame that we don't have a vacation this year.)
B

B

Lo sé, me da pena que no podamos ir a la playa. (I know, I feel bad that we can't go to the beach.)
A

A

Me molesta que la gente tire basura en la calle. (It annoys me that people throw trash in the street.)
B

B

Es triste que no piensen en el medio ambiente. (It's sad that they don't think about the environment.)

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use the subjunctive with expressions of emotion in Spanish?

You use the subjunctive when the main clause expresses an emotion (fear, worry, pity, annoyance, sadness) and the subordinate clause refers to an action or state performed by a *different* subject.

Q

What's the difference between me da pena and es triste?

Me da pena que often implies personal sorrow, pity, or regret felt by the speaker about a specific situation or person. Es triste que is more general, expressing that a situation itself is sad or unfortunate.

Q

Can I use these expressions without "que"?

Yes, if the subject of the emotional expression and the action are the same, you'd typically use an infinitive without "que." For example, Me da miedo volar (It scares me to fly), not Me da miedo que yo vuele.

Q

Are there other ways to express fear in Spanish besides dar miedo?

Absolutely! You can also use tener miedo de que (+ subjunctive), like Tengo miedo de que no llegue a tiempo (I'm afraid that he won't arrive on time), or simply temer que (+ subjunctive).

Cultural Context

In Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing emotions like concern, fear, and pity is very common and often seen as a sign of empathy and genuine connection. These phrases are not just grammatical structures; they are tools for building rapport and showing you care. Using expressions like me preocupa que or me da pena que allows you to navigate social interactions with greater sensitivity and authenticity, making your B1 Spanish sound much more natural and heartfelt. Don't shy away from using them; they're an integral part of daily communication.

Key Examples (8)

1

Tengo miedo de que mi madre vea mis notas.

I'm afraid that my mother will see my grades.

Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive)
2

Temo que el wifi no funcione durante la reunión.

I fear that the Wi-Fi won't work during the meeting.

Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive)
3

Me da miedo que mi móvil se quede sin batería.

I'm afraid my phone will run out of battery.

Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)
4

A mi madre le da miedo que yo viaje sola.

My mother is afraid of me traveling alone.

Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)
5

Me preocupa que no estudies para el examen.

It worries me that you aren't studying for the exam.

Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar)
6

A mi madre le preocupa que yo no coma bien.

It worries my mother that I don't eat well.

Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar)
7

Es triste que no estés aquí.

It is sad that you aren't here.

Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que)
8

Me pone triste que pierdas tu tiempo.

It makes me sad that you waste your time.

Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'Que' Rule

Always check for 'que'. If you don't have 'que', you probably don't need the subjunctive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive)
💡

The 'Que' Rule

Always look for 'que'. If you see it after an expression of fear, the next verb is almost certainly in the subjunctive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)
💡

Check the subject

Always check if the subject of the first and second verb is the same. If it is, use the infinitive!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar)
💡

The 'Que' Rule

Always include 'que' after the emotion. It is never optional in Spanish.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que)

Key Vocabulary (7)

el miedo fear la preocupación worry/concern la pena pity/sorrow la lástima shame/pity molesto/a annoying/bothersome temer to fear triste sad

Real-World Preview

plane

The Missed Flight

heart-pulse

Supporting a Sick Friend

Review Summary

  • Temo que + [Subjunctive]
  • Me da miedo que + [Subjunctive]
  • Me preocupa que + [Subjunctive]
  • Me molesta que + [Subjunctive]

Common Mistakes

Learners often use the indicative (está) instead of the subjunctive (esté). Emotional triggers always require subjunctive.

Wrong: Me preocupa que él está enfermo.
Correct: Me preocupa que él esté enfermo.

In English, we can omit 'that', but in Spanish, the 'que' is mandatory to connect the emotion to the action.

Wrong: Es triste tú no vengas.
Correct: Es triste QUE tú no vengas.

Using 'lo' instead of 'le'. Verbs like 'dar pena' or 'preocupar' use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les).

Wrong: Lo da pena que él llore.
Correct: Le da pena que él llore.

Rules in This Chapter (7)

1

Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive)

B1
When expressing fear about someone else's actions, always use the Subjunctive mood after the connector que.
Tengo miedo de que mi madre vea mis notas.
10 examples
2

Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)

B1
Express fear using me da miedo followed by the subjunctive when someone else's actions cause the feeling.
Me da miedo que mi móvil se quede sin batería.
11 examples
3

Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar)

B1
Express concern by using an indirect pronoun + preocupa que followed by a verb in the Subjunctive mood.
Me preocupa que no estudies para el examen.
10 examples
4

Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que)

B1
When expressing sadness about a situation involving others, always use the Subjunctive mood after the word que.
Es triste que no estés aquí.
10 examples
5

Expressing Pity: I'm sorry that... (Dar pena que)

B1
Use me da pena que + subjunctive to show you care about someone's bad situation or disappointment.
Me da pena que no puedas venir a la fiesta.
10 examples
6

Expressing Regret: 'It's a Shame' (Ser Una Lástima)

B1
Always use the subjunctive after es una lástima que to express subjective feelings about a situation.
Es una lástima que no puedas venir a la fiesta est...
10 examples
7

Expressing Annoyance: Me molesta que... (+ Subjunctive)

B1
When one person's feeling (Me molesta) reacts to another person's action (que...), swap the second verb's vowel to the Subjunctive.
Me molesta que leas mis mensajes y no contestes.
10 examples

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a huge part of your personality in Spanish. Being able to share your fears and pity makes you a much more empathetic and real communicator. Keep practicing these heart-centered expressions!

Write 3 things that annoy you about modern technology using 'Me molesta que'.

Call a friend and practice saying 'Es una lástima que...' about a recent news event.

Continue to: Doubt, Denial, and Uncertainty

Quick Practice (10)

Conjugate the verb in the subjunctive.

Es triste que él no (venir) a la fiesta.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Subjunctive after emotion.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Sadness with Subjunctive (Es triste que)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me da pena que él sea triste.
Subjunctive required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Pity: I'm sorry that... (Dar pena que)

Fill in the blank.

Me molesta que tú (llegar) tarde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: llegues
Subjunctive required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Annoyance: Me molesta que... (+ Subjunctive)

Correct the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Me da miedo que ellos no tienen dinero.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Subjunctive is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Temo que llueva.
Requires 'que' and subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Fear in Spanish (Subjunctive)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.

Me preocupa que tú ___ (llegar) tarde.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Subjunctive required after 'Me preocupa que'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Worry: It Worries Me That... (Preocupar)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Me molesta que él viene.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: venga
Subjunctive required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Annoyance: Me molesta que... (+ Subjunctive)

Choose the correct sentence.

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: b
Subjunctive is required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)

Find and fix the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Es una lástima que ellos no tienen dinero.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es una lástima que ellos no tengan dinero.
The verb 'tener' must be in the subjunctive form 'tengan' because it follows the trigger 'es una lástima que'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Regret: 'It's a Shame' (Ser Una Lástima)

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the correct expression of pity:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Es una lástima que el café esté frío.
We need the subjunctive mood. Since the temperature of coffee is a state, we use 'esté' (from estar) rather than 'sea' (from ser).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Regret: 'It's a Shame' (Ser Una Lástima)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

Because fear implies uncertainty about the future outcome.
Only if you are stating a fact, not an emotion.
Because it expresses an emotional reaction to an uncertain event, not a fact.
No, using the indicative would imply you are stating a fact, which sounds unnatural.
Because the thing that worries you is the subject. 'It worries me' = 'Me preocupa'.
No, when expressing emotion, the subjunctive is mandatory.
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Expressing Feelings and Reactions
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Doubt, Denial, and Uncertainty
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