Expressing Fear: 'It Scares Me' (Dar miedo que)
me da miedo followed by the subjunctive when someone else's actions cause the feeling.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When you express fear about an action, the verb following 'que' must be in the subjunctive mood.
- Use 'dar miedo que' + subjunctive for external fears: 'Me da miedo que llueva.'
- Use 'tener miedo de que' + subjunctive for personal fears: 'Tengo miedo de que llegues tarde.'
- If the subject is the same, use the infinitive: 'Tengo miedo de perder el tren.'
Overview
Spanish, unlike English, frequently expresses emotions and sensations using verbs that describe something giving an experience to an individual, rather than the individual directly having that experience. The verb dar (to give) is central to this linguistic pattern. When expressing fear, this manifests in the structure dar miedo, literally meaning 'to give fear.' This construction is analogous to other common Spanish verbs like gustar (to like, lit.
'to please') or doler (to hurt, lit. 'to cause pain'). The underlying principle is that the emotion is an external force or consequence acting upon the person, rather than an internal state they possess.
This perspective frames emotions as reactions to external stimuli, which is a fundamental aspect of Spanish emotional expression.
This article specifically addresses dar miedo que, a complex structure used when the source of fear is a clause, typically involving an action or situation performed by a different subject. This construction necessitates the use of the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause, reflecting the subjective, emotional, and often non-factual nature of the feared event. Mastering dar miedo que is crucial for B1 learners to articulate nuanced emotional responses to potential or perceived realities, moving beyond simple statements of being afraid and engaging with the subtle intricacies of Spanish grammar.
Consider the distinction: La oscuridad me da miedo. (Darkness gives me fear) directly attributes the fear to a noun. However, Me da miedo que llegues tarde. (It scares me that you arrive late) uses the subjunctive verb llegues because the fear is about a potential action performed by you, not a factual statement about your tardiness. This shift to the subjunctive is driven by the emotional expression inherent in dar miedo.
How This Grammar Works
dar miedo operates on a structure akin to verbs like gustar, where the grammatical subject is the source of the emotion, and the person experiencing the emotion is the indirect object. In the context of dar miedo que, the que-clause itself functions as the singular subject that "gives" the fear.me (me), te (you informal), le (him/her/you formal singular), nos (us), os (you informal plural, primarily Spain), and les (them/you formal plural). These pronouns always precede the verb dar.dar is conjugated to agree with the grammatical subject. In the dar miedo que construction, the que-clause functions as a singular subject, always triggering the third-person singular form of dar, which is da. Thus, the pattern (Indirect Object Pronoun) + da + miedo + que... is invariable.las arañas, los fantasmas), dar would conjugate to dan. However, a que-clause is always treated as a singular entity.miedo (fear) always remains in its singular form. It is the abstract concept being "given." You do not say dan miedos.que clause introduces the specific action, situation, or possibility that causes the fear. The verb within this que clause must be in the subjunctive mood, provided there is a change of subject between the main clause (dar miedo) and the subordinate clause. The subjunctive here marks the content of the clause as subjective, desired, feared, or uncertain, rather than a statement of objective fact.Me da miedo que vengas tarde. Here, me is the indirect object, da is the verb, miedo is the noun, que introduces the subordinate clause, and vengas (from venir, subjunctive) refers to the action of you (a different subject) arriving late. The emotional trigger (dar miedo) dictates the subjunctive. Conversely, if you are scared of your own action, you use the infinitive without que: Me da miedo hablar en público. (It scares me to speak in public).Formation Pattern
dar miedo que requires careful attention to the specific components and their agreement. The core pattern involves an indirect object pronoun, the verb dar, the noun miedo, the conjunction que, and a verb in the subjunctive mood. This structure is employed when the fear is directed at an action or situation, particularly one performed by a different subject.
que clause)
miedo with the noun, pronoun, or infinitive.
Me | Le | Nos |
dar (conjugated) | da (singular subject) | da (singular subject) | dan (plural subject) |
miedo | miedo | miedo | miedo |
la oscuridad. (noun) | hablar en público. (infinitive)| las alturas. (plural noun) |
Me da miedo la oscuridad. (Darkness scares me.)
Le da miedo hablar en público. (Speaking in public scares him/her.)
Nos dan miedo las alturas. (Heights scare us.) – Note dan because las alturas is plural.
que + Subjunctive)
dar miedo is different from the subject of the que clause.
Me | Te | Les |
dar (conjugated) | da (because que clause is singular)| da (because que clause is singular) | da (because que clause is singular)|
miedo | miedo | miedo | miedo |\
que | que | que | que |\
no llegues a tiempo. | pierda su trabajo. | piensen mal de nosotros. |
Me da miedo que no llegues a tiempo. (It scares me that you won't arrive on time.)
Te da miedo que pierda su trabajo. (It scares you that he might lose his job.)
Les da miedo que piensen mal de nosotros. (It scares them that they might think badly of us.)
When To Use It
dar miedo que construction when you want to express fear, apprehension, or worry about a specific action, event, or situation that is either potential, uncertain, or performed by someone other than the speaker. This structure emphasizes the emotional reaction to a perceived threat or undesirable outcome, distinguishing it from simply stating a fear as a fact.dar miedo que in situations where:- You are afraid of someone else's actions or potential actions: This is the most common scenario for the subjunctive. You are not stating a fact about their action, but your emotional response to it.
Me da miedo que mi hermano conduzca tan rápido.(It scares me that my brother drives so fast.) – You fear his potential fast driving.Nos da miedo que no nos entiendan.(It scares us that they might not understand us.)
- You are concerned about a general situation or event that might occur: The
queclause describes a possibility or an anticipated negative outcome. Le da miedo que el examen sea muy difícil.(It scares him that the exam might be very difficult.) – The difficulty is not yet a fact.Me da miedo que la economía empeore.(It scares me that the economy might worsen.)
- You are expressing a subjective worry, rather than an objective fact: Even if the event is likely, the use of
dar miedo queframes it as your emotional perception rather than a mere report. Te da miedo que el avión se retrase.(It scares you that the plane might be delayed.) – The delay is a possibility, and your fear is a reaction to it.
Me da miedo que las futuras generaciones sufran las consecuencias. (It scares me that future generations will suffer the consequences), highlighting their emotional concern about a projected future event rather than simply stating that it will happen.dar miedo que allows for a more empathic connection, as it foregrounds the speaker's emotional state. It's less about courage or lack thereof, and more about honest emotional sharing. In many Spanish-speaking societies, open expression of feelings, including apprehension, is common and fosters social bonds, especially among close acquaintances.Common Mistakes
dar miedo que. Learners frequently make errors related to mood selection, pronoun usage, and distinguishing dar miedo from other expressions of fear. Being aware of these specific mistakes and their underlying grammatical reasons will significantly improve your fluency and accuracy.- 1Using the Indicative Instead of the Subjunctive: This is arguably the most prevalent error. When
dar miedointroduces aqueclause with a different subject, the verb in that clause must be in the subjunctive mood. The indicative mood conveys factual information, while the subjunctive expresses emotion, desire, doubt, or non-reality. Sincedar miedoinherently expresses an emotional reaction, it triggers the subjunctive.
- Incorrect:
Me da miedo que llegas tarde.(Incorrect:llegasis indicative) - Correct:
Me da miedo que llegues tarde.(Correct:lleguesis subjunctive) - Reason: The fear is about a potential or anticipated action, not a confirmed fact. Your emotional response requires the subjunctive.
- 1Forgetting or Misplacing the Indirect Object Pronoun: The pronoun (
me, te, le, nos, os, les) is indispensable because it specifies who is experiencing the fear. It always precedesda miedo.
- Incorrect:
Da miedo que llueva.(Who is scared? Unclear.) - Correct:
Nos da miedo que llueva.(It scares us that it might rain.) - Reason:
Dar miedois an emotion given to someone. Without the indirect object pronoun, the recipient of the fear is unspecified.
- 1Confusing
dar miedowithtener miedo: While both express fear, their structures and nuances differ significantly.Tener miedo(to have fear) is more direct and often uses the prepositionde.
dar miedo | tener miedo |Indirect Object Pronoun + da/dan + miedo + Noun| tener (conjugated) + miedo + de + Noun |\Me da miedo la oscuridad. | Tengo miedo de la oscuridad. |\que Clause)| Indirect Object Pronoun + da + miedo + que + Subjunctive| tener (conjugated) + miedo + de que + Subjunctive|\que Clause)| Me da miedo que viajes solo. | Tengo miedo de que viajes solo. |\Tengo miedo de que viajes solo is also grammatically correct and means essentially the same thing, Me da miedo que viajes solo sounds slightly more natural and idiomatic in many casual contexts, emphasizing the impact of the situation on your emotions.- 1Using the Subjunctive When the Subject is the Same: If the subject of the
dar miedoclause is the same as the subject of the action feared, use the infinitive, not the subjunctive. This aligns with the general rule for verbs of emotion that do not require a subject change to trigger the subjunctive.
- Incorrect:
Me da miedo que yo fracase. - Correct:
Me da miedo fracasar.(It scares me to fail.) - Reason: Since you are scared of your own failure, there is no need for a subordinate clause with a new subject.
- 1Incorrect Agreement of
dar: Remember thatdaragrees with the source of the fear, not the person feeling it. This meansdafor singular sources (includingqueclauses) anddanfor plural sources (nouns only).
- Incorrect:
Me dan miedo que me juzguen.(que me juzguenis a singular concept, even if multiple people judge) - Correct:
Me da miedo que me juzguen. - Incorrect:
Me da miedo las cucarachas.(las cucarachasis plural) - Correct:
Me dan miedo las cucarachas.
Real Conversations
Dar miedo que is a ubiquitous expression in authentic Spanish communication, spanning various registers from informal messaging to more formal discussions. Its naturalness reflects its integration into the emotional lexicon of native speakers. Observing its use in context illuminates its versatility and nuance.
1. Casual Conversations and Texting:
In informal settings, dar miedo que is common for expressing immediate or personal anxieties. It can be softened with diminutives like miedito.
- Friend A (text): ¿Vas a decirle la verdad a Juan? (Are you going to tell Juan the truth?)
Friend B (text): Sí, pero me da miedito que se enoje. (Yes, but it scares me a little that he might get angry.)
- Colleague: ¿Estás listo para la presentación? (Are you ready for the presentation?)
You
Casi. Me da miedo que se me olvide algo importante. (Almost. It scares me that I might forget something important.)2. Social Media and Online Interactions:
On platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram, dar miedo que conveys collective anxieties or personal reactions to news and events.
- Tweet: Cada día me da más miedo que el calentamiento global avance tan rápido. ¿Qué estamos haciendo? (Every day it scares me more that global warming is advancing so fast. What are we doing?)
- Comment on a news article: Nos da miedo que la nueva ley afecte a los pequeños negocios. (It scares us that the new law might affect small businesses.)
3. Formal or Semi-Formal Discussions:
While temer que is often preferred in highly formal written contexts, dar miedo que can still appear in spoken formal discussions or emails where a personal emotional impact is relevant.
- Manager (in a meeting): El equipo está bajo presión. Me da miedo que no cumplamos con la fecha límite si no recibimos más recursos. (The team is under pressure. It scares me that we won't meet the deadline if we don't get more resources.)
- Parent (to a teacher): Me da miedo que mi hijo no se adapte bien al nuevo colegio. (It scares me that my son might not adapt well to the new school.)
4. Cultural Observations:
In everyday Spanish, you might hear phrases reflecting common anxieties. For instance, in regions prone to natural disasters, Nos da miedo que vuelva a temblar. (It scares us that it might tremble again) is a poignant expression of collective fear. The use of dar miedo que often highlights shared vulnerabilities or concerns within a community, offering a genuine insight into local sentiments and emotional landscapes.
These examples demonstrate that dar miedo que is not confined to textbooks but is an active, living part of Spanish communication, allowing speakers to express complex fears with emotional depth and grammatical precision.
Quick FAQ
dar miedo que, reinforcing your understanding of this essential Spanish expression.- Q: Can
dar miedobe used for inanimate objects or general situations, not just actions by people?
Absolutely. When the source of fear is a noun (person, object, or concept), you omit que and the subjunctive, directly stating the object of fear. The verb dar will agree with the number of the noun.
El examen me da miedo.(The exam scares me.)Las películas de terror me dan miedo.(Horror movies scare me.)
da miedo que is used, as the clause itself is treated as a singular subject.Me da miedo que la situación empeore.(It scares me that the situation might worsen.)
- Q: Is the
quealways necessary?
No. The que conjunction is only necessary when introducing a subordinate clause that describes the feared action or situation, and crucially, when there is a change of subject between the main clause (dar miedo) and the subordinate clause. If the fear is about a direct object, a pronoun, or an infinitive (an action performed by the same subject), que is not used.
Me da miedo el perro.(Noque, direct object.)Me da miedo viajar solo.(Noque, infinitive, same subject.)Me da miedo que viajes solo.(Withque, subjunctive, different subject.)
- Q: Are there regional differences in how
dar miedo queis used in Latin America versus Spain?
The grammatical structure (Indirect Object Pronoun) + da + miedo + que + Subjunctive is standard across all Spanish-speaking regions. The main difference lies in the use of the second-person plural pronoun: os (and its corresponding verb conjugations) is used in Spain for informal plural 'you,' whereas in Latin America, les (for ustedes) is universally used for both formal and informal plural 'you.'
- Spain:
Os da miedo que lleguemos tarde.(It scares you all that we might arrive late.) - Latin America:
Les da miedo que lleguemos tarde.(It scares you all/them that we might arrive late.)
- Q: When do you use
dan miedoinstead ofda miedo?
You use dan miedo when the grammatical subject (the thing that "gives" the fear) is plural. This only occurs when the source of fear is a plural noun or pronoun. When the source of fear is a que clause, the clause itself is always treated as a singular conceptual subject, so da miedo is always used in that specific construction.
Los ruidos extraños me dan miedo.(The strange noises scare me.) –Los ruidos extrañosis plural.Las responsabilidades me dan miedo.(Responsibilities scare me.) –Las responsabilidadesis plural.- But:
Me da miedo que tengamos muchas responsabilidades.(It scares me that we might have many responsibilities.) – Thequeclause is singular subject.
- Q: How can I express a milder form of fear or apprehension?
You can soften the intensity by adding qualifiers before miedo:
Me da un poco de miedo que...(It gives me a little bit of fear that...)Me da algo de miedo que...(It gives me some fear that...)Me da miedito que...(It gives me a tiny bit of fear that... – using the diminutive for an informal, gentle expression of fear.)
- Q: Is
asustarinterchangeable withdar miedo?
Not entirely. While asustar (to frighten, to scare) can also express causing fear and sometimes triggers the subjunctive (Me asusta que...), it often carries a stronger connotation of a sudden fright or startle, like a "jump scare." Dar miedo can encompass a broader range of fear, from a sudden fright to a lingering sense of dread or worry. Asustar directly translates to "to scare," while dar miedo implies an internal feeling. Thus, Me asusta que hagas eso is more like "It startles/frightens me that you do that," whereas Me da miedo que hagas eso is "It makes me afraid that you do that," focusing on your internal emotional state.
- Q: Can I use
dar miedo queto directly tell someone they scare me?
No. Tú me das miedo (You scare me) is grammatically correct to say someone causes fear in you. However, Me da miedo que tú... implies your fear is about an action they might perform, not their inherent nature. If you mean to say someone's presence or character causes you fear, you would use (Él/Ella) me da miedo without que. Me da miedo que te vayas (It scares me that you might leave) expresses fear about their action of leaving, not their identity.
Present Subjunctive Endings
| Person | -AR Verbs | -ER/-IR Verbs |
|---|---|---|
|
Yo
|
-e
|
-a
|
|
Tú
|
-es
|
-as
|
|
Él/Ella/Ud
|
-e
|
-a
|
|
Nosotros
|
-emos
|
-amos
|
|
Vosotros
|
-éis
|
-áis
|
|
Ellos/Ellas/Uds
|
-en
|
-an
|
Meanings
This structure is used to express anxiety, fear, or apprehension regarding a future or hypothetical event involving another person or situation.
External Fear
Something external causes you fear.
“Me da miedo que el perro muerda.”
“Nos da miedo que la casa se caiga.”
Personal Apprehension
You possess a fear regarding a specific outcome.
“Tengo miedo de que no me llamen.”
“Tienen miedo de que el examen sea difícil.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Me da miedo que + Subjunctive
|
Me da miedo que llueva.
|
|
Negative
|
No me da miedo que + Subjunctive
|
No me da miedo que llueva.
|
|
Question
|
¿Te da miedo que + Subjunctive?
|
¿Te da miedo que llueva?
|
|
Same Subject
|
Tengo miedo de + Infinitive
|
Tengo miedo de ir.
|
|
Formal
|
Temo que + Subjunctive
|
Temo que lleguen tarde.
|
|
Past Fear
|
Me daba miedo que + Imperfect Subj.
|
Me daba miedo que llegaran tarde.
|
Formality Spectrum
Temo que llueva. (Weather)
Me da miedo que llueva. (Weather)
Me da miedo que llueva. (Weather)
Me da cosa que llueva. (Weather)
The Fear Trigger Map
Triggers
- Me da miedo que It scares me that
- Tengo miedo de que I am afraid that
Mood
- Subjunctive Required mood
Indicative vs Subjunctive
Examples by Level
Me da miedo el perro.
The dog scares me.
Me da miedo la oscuridad.
The dark scares me.
Tengo miedo.
I am afraid.
Me da miedo volar.
Flying scares me.
Me da miedo que llueva.
I'm afraid it will rain.
Tengo miedo de que no vengas.
I'm afraid you won't come.
Me da miedo que se rompa.
I'm afraid it will break.
Tengo miedo de perder.
I'm afraid of losing.
Me da miedo que no nos entiendan.
I'm afraid they won't understand us.
Tengo miedo de que el examen sea muy difícil.
I'm afraid the exam will be very difficult.
Nos da miedo que la situación empeore.
We are afraid the situation will get worse.
Tengo miedo de que se olviden de nosotros.
I'm afraid they will forget about us.
Me da miedo que la decisión que tomen afecte a todos.
I'm afraid the decision they make will affect everyone.
Existe un miedo real de que el proyecto fracase.
There is a real fear that the project will fail.
Me da miedo que, al final, no tengamos otra opción.
I'm afraid that, in the end, we won't have another option.
Tengo miedo de que se haya cometido un error.
I'm afraid a mistake has been made.
Me da miedo que la incertidumbre que rodea al mercado desestabilice la economía.
I'm afraid the uncertainty surrounding the market will destabilize the economy.
Temo que la situación no sea tan sencilla como parece.
I fear the situation is not as simple as it seems.
Me da miedo que se pierda la esencia de nuestra cultura.
I'm afraid the essence of our culture will be lost.
Tengo miedo de que, por mucho que intentemos, no logremos el objetivo.
I'm afraid that, no matter how much we try, we won't achieve the goal.
Me da miedo que la imprudencia con la que actúan derive en consecuencias irreversibles.
I'm afraid the recklessness with which they act will lead to irreversible consequences.
Tengo miedo de que, habiendo tantas alternativas, elijamos la peor.
I'm afraid that, having so many alternatives, we will choose the worst one.
Me da miedo que el tiempo que hemos invertido no sea suficiente para compensar el daño.
I'm afraid the time we have invested will not be enough to compensate for the damage.
Temo que la realidad que percibimos sea solo una construcción de nuestra mente.
I fear the reality we perceive is only a construction of our mind.
Easily Confused
Both use 'que', but one takes indicative and the other subjunctive.
Learners forget the 'que' when the subject changes.
Learners mix up the prepositions.
Common Mistakes
Me da miedo que él viene.
Me da miedo que él venga.
Tengo miedo que llueve.
Tengo miedo de que llueva.
Me da miedo que yo voy.
Tengo miedo de ir.
Me da miedo que él es tarde.
Me da miedo que él llegue tarde.
Me da miedo que ellos tienen dinero.
Me da miedo que ellos tengan dinero.
Tengo miedo de que tú vienes.
Tengo miedo de que tú vengas.
Me da miedo que ella no quiere ir.
Me da miedo que ella no quiera ir.
Me da miedo que la gente no votan.
Me da miedo que la gente no vote.
Tengo miedo de que el coche se rompió.
Tengo miedo de que el coche se rompa.
Me da miedo que no podemos salir.
Me da miedo que no podamos salir.
Temo que la situación es grave.
Temo que la situación sea grave.
Me da miedo que ellos han olvidado.
Me da miedo que ellos hayan olvidado.
Tengo miedo de que la decisión fue tomada.
Tengo miedo de que la decisión sea tomada.
Me da miedo que no habríamos llegado.
Me da miedo que no hayamos llegado.
Sentence Patterns
Me da miedo que ___ (subjunctive verb).
Tengo miedo de que ___ (subject) ___ (subjunctive verb).
No me da miedo que ___ (subjunctive verb).
Tengo miedo de ___ (infinitive verb).
Real World Usage
Me da miedo que no te guste el regalo.
Tengo miedo de que no haya suficiente tiempo.
Me da miedo que perdamos el autobús.
Me da miedo que la gente no entienda el mensaje.
Me da miedo que la comida llegue fría.
Temo que los resultados no sean concluyentes.
The 'Que' Rule
Same Subject Trap
Practice with 'Tengo miedo de'
Regional Variations
Smart Tips
Check if the subject changes. If yes, use 'que' + subjunctive.
Use the infinitive instead of 'que' + subjunctive.
Ask yourself: is this a fact or a feeling? If it's a feeling, use the subjunctive.
Use 'temer que' instead of 'tener miedo de que'.
Pronunciation
Stress on 'miedo'
The 'ie' is a diphthong, so the stress is on the 'e'.
Rising intonation for fear
Me da miedo que... ↗
Conveys anxiety or uncertainty.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Miedo is a 'moody' word—it always demands the Subjunctive mood.
Visual Association
Imagine a giant, scary monster (the Subjunctive) appearing every time you say 'Me da miedo'. The monster only appears if the subject changes!
Rhyme
When 'miedo' is the start, the subjunctive plays its part.
Story
I was walking in the woods. I felt fear. I said, 'Me da miedo que aparezca un oso' (I'm afraid a bear appears). But then I realized I was alone. So I said, 'Tengo miedo de caminar solo' (I'm afraid of walking alone).
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about things you are afraid might happen tomorrow using 'Me da miedo que...'.
Cultural Notes
In Spain, 'dar miedo' is very common, but 'temer' is also used in formal contexts.
Mexicans often use 'Me da miedo que' very frequently in daily speech.
Argentines might use 'Me da cosa' as a colloquial synonym for 'Me da miedo'.
The subjunctive mood in Spanish evolved from the Latin subjunctive, which was used to express non-factual or subjective states.
Conversation Starters
¿Qué te da miedo que pase en el futuro?
¿Tienes miedo de que la tecnología cambie nuestras vidas?
¿Qué te da miedo que tus amigos piensen de ti?
¿Te da miedo que el mundo sea un lugar peligroso?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Me da miedo que él ___ (llegar) tarde.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Me da miedo que ellos no tienen dinero.
Tengo miedo de que yo pierda el tren.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: ¿Vas a ir a la fiesta? B: No, ___.
Order: que / miedo / me / llueva / da
Which takes Subjunctive?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesMe da miedo que él ___ (llegar) tarde.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Me da miedo que ellos no tienen dinero.
Tengo miedo de que yo pierda el tren.
Match the fear.
A: ¿Vas a ir a la fiesta? B: No, ___.
Order: que / miedo / me / llueva / da
Which takes Subjunctive?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesmiedo / que / me / da / mientas / me
I am afraid that you are angry.
Match the pairs:
A nosotros ___ da miedo que el avión se caiga.
Me ___ miedo las arañas.
Nos da miedo que el profesor nos ve.
It scares them that we talk.
que / te / ¿ / da / miedo / pase / nada / ?
Me da miedo que no _____ (haber) comida.
Which word indicates fear in this rule?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
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.
Use the infinitive. E.g., 'Tengo miedo de ir'.
Yes, but 'temer que' is more formal.
Yes, unless you use the infinitive construction.
Yes, the grammar rule is universal.
You would use the imperfect subjunctive. E.g., 'Me daba miedo que llegaras tarde'.
Try writing sentences about your daily worries.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
J'ai peur que + Subjonctif
French uses 'ne explétif' in some formal contexts, which Spanish does not.
Ich habe Angst, dass...
German relies on indicative, whereas Spanish requires the subjunctive.
〜のが怖い (no ga kowai)
Japanese uses noun phrases, while Spanish uses a subordinate clause.
أخاف أن (Akhafu an...)
Arabic uses a specific particle 'an' instead of 'que'.
我怕... (Wǒ pà...)
Chinese lacks the grammatical mood system found in Spanish.
I'm afraid that...
English uses indicative; Spanish uses subjunctive.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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Overview The Spanish **Present Perfect Subjunctive** (`Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo`) is a sophisticated verbal tens...
Past Regrets: Past Perfect Subjunctive (hubiera)
Overview The **Past Perfect Subjunctive** in Spanish, formally known as `el Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo`, i...
Wishing with Ojalá: If only... (Imperfect & Pluperfect)
Overview The word `ojalá` is one of the most powerful and evocative tools in Spanish for expressing wishes, hopes, and...
Spanish Subjunctive: Searching for the Unknown (Uncertainty)
Have you ever scrolled through Netflix for forty minutes looking for a show that doesn't actually exist? Maybe you want...
