Surprise & Disbelief: Using 'Es increíble que' with the Subjunctive
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When you express surprise or disbelief about an action, you must use the subjunctive mood in the following clause.
- Use 'Es increíble que' + Subjunctive to express shock: Es increíble que él venga.
- Use 'No es verdad que' + Subjunctive to express disbelief: No es verdad que ellos sepan la verdad.
- Always trigger the subjunctive when the main clause expresses an emotional reaction or doubt.
Overview
Have you ever scrolled through your TikTok FYP and seen something so wild you just had to comment? Maybe it’s a guy cooking a steak on an airplane or a cat playing the piano better than Mozart. In English, you might say, "It's unbelievable that he’s doing that!" In Spanish, we have a specific way to capture that "WTF" energy: es increíble que.
But here’s the kicker—this phrase is like a secret portal. Once you step through it, the rules of Spanish change. You leave behind the world of facts (the Indicative) and enter the world of feelings and vibes (the Subjunctive).
If you've been sticking to basic Present Tense, using es increíble que is like upgrading from a flip phone to the latest iPhone. It makes you sound more human, more expressive, and way more like a native speaker. It’s not just about what is happening; it’s about how you feel about what’s happening.
Whether you're reacting to a viral meme or just shocked that your roommate actually washed their dishes, this rule is your best friend. Just don't use it to describe something boring, like the fact that water is wet—unless you’re being incredibly sarcastic (which, let’s be honest, is a great use of Spanish too).
How This Grammar Works
tengo un perro (I have a dog). Zone B is the Subjunctive—this is for the messy stuff: emotions, doubts, wishes, and reactions.Es increíble que is a permanent resident of Zone B. Why? Because saying something is "incredible" is a subjective judgment.es increíble que as a trigger. As soon as you say it, your brain should automatically prepare to use those "flipped" endings we’ll talk about in the next section. It's like a warning light on your dashboard that says "Subjunctive Ahead!"Formation Pattern
es increíble que. You can also use other versions like era increíble que (past) or va a ser increíble que (future), but let’s stick to the basics for now.
Tú, ella, nosotros? This is the person doing the "incredible" thing.
yo form of the present tense, drop the -o, and add the opposite ending.
-ar verbs: Use -e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en.
-er and -ir verbs: Use -a, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an.
Es increíble que yo hable español. | It's incredible that I speak Spanish.
Es increíble que tú vivas aquí. | It's incredible that you live here.
Es increíble que él tenga un Tesla. | It's incredible that he has a Tesla.
Es increíble que estemos aquí. | It's incredible that we are here.
Es increíble que ellos no coman pizza. | It's incredible that they don't eat pizza.
yo form (like tengo, hago, pongo), the subjunctive keeps that irregularity. So tener becomes tenga, hacer becomes haga, and poner becomes ponga.
When To Use It
- Social Media: You see a photo of your friend in Bali while they’re supposed to be in class.
¡Es increíble que estés en Bali! - Texting: Your crush finally replies after three days.
Es increíble que me contestes ahora.(Sarcasm included for free!) - Gaming: Your teammate makes an impossible shot.
Es increíble que ganes esta partida. - Job Interviews: (Maybe don't say it's incredible they hired you, but...) You might talk about how
es increíble que esta empresa crezca tanto(It's incredible this company grows so much). - Streaming: Watching a show where the plot makes zero sense.
Es increíble que los personajes hagan eso.
es increíble que + subjunctive. It’s the perfect way to add flavor to your Spanish and show that you’re not just a robot translating words, but a person with opinions and feelings. In Latin America, you might hear people say es increíble que followed by a lot of local slang, while in Spain, it might be part of a fast-paced conversation over tapas.Common Mistakes
- Using the Indicative: This is the #1 mistake. People say
Es increíble que tú estás aquí. NOPE! It has to beestés. Remember: Emotion = Subjunctive. - Forgetting the "Que": You can't just say
Es increíble tú estés aquí. Thatqueis the bridge that connects your emotion to the action. Without the bridge, you're just yelling words in a vacuum. - Subject Agreement: Make sure the subjunctive verb matches the person you’re talking about. Don’t use the
yoform when you’re talking about your dog (unless your dog is a very talentedyo). - Gender Confusion: Since
increíbleends in-e, it stays the same for both masculine and feminine things. Don't try to make it "increíbla" or "increíblo." That’s not a thing, and you’ll get some very confused looks. - Thinking it's only for "Good" things: "Incredible" in Spanish can mean "awesome" or "totally ridiculous/bad." You can use it to complain too!
Es increíble que el metro siempre llegue tarde(It's incredible the subway always arrives late).
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Fact vs. Emotion:
Es verdad que ella tiene dinero(It’s true that she has money) → Indicative. Why? Because you’re stating a fact you believe is 100% true.Es increíble que ella tenga dinero(It’s incredible she has money) → Subjunctive. Why? Because you’re reacting to it. You’re shocked by it.
- Certainty vs. Disbelief:
Sé que vas a venir(I know you’re coming) → Indicative. You’re certain.Es increíble que vengas(It’s incredible you’re coming) → Subjunctive. Even if you know they are coming, the phrase focuses on your reaction, not the certainty of the event.
- No "Que" required:
Es increíble.(It's incredible.) → No verb follows, so no subjunctive needed. You only need the subjunctive when you have a "Target" (the subject after theque).
Quick FAQ
Does es increíble que always need the subjunctive?
Yes, 99.9% of the time. If you’re expressing a reaction to a situation, flip that verb!
Can I use this for things that happened in the past?
Yes, but you’d need the Imperfect Subjunctive (e.g., Es increíble que él viniera). Since we're keeping it simple for now, stick to the present!
Is it the same in Mexico and Spain?
The grammar is identical! You might notice different accents or slang in the examples, but the rule itself is universal Spanish.
What if I don't know the subjunctive form of a verb?
A good hack is to use the yo form of the present and just swap the vowel (a for e, e/i for a). It works for most verbs!
Can I use increíble to describe a person?
Sure! Eres increíble. But notice there's no que there, so no subjunctive needed. Only when you say Es increíble que [someone does something] do you need the special verb forms.
Subjunctive Conjugation Patterns
| Subject | AR Verb (Hablar) | ER Verb (Comer) | IR Verb (Vivir) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yo
|
hable
|
coma
|
viva
|
|
Tú
|
hables
|
comas
|
vivas
|
|
Él/Ella/Ud.
|
hable
|
coma
|
viva
|
|
Nosotros
|
hablemos
|
comamos
|
vivamos
|
|
Vosotros
|
habléis
|
comáis
|
viváis
|
|
Ellos/Ellas/Uds.
|
hablen
|
coman
|
vivan
|
Meanings
This rule dictates that when the main clause expresses a subjective reaction like surprise, disbelief, or doubt, the verb in the subordinate clause must be conjugated in the subjunctive mood.
Surprise
Expressing shock at an event.
“Es increíble que llueva hoy.”
“Me sorprende que llegues tan tarde.”
Disbelief
Expressing that something is not true or is unbelievable.
“No es verdad que ellos tengan dinero.”
“Es imposible que ella diga eso.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Es increíble que + Subj
|
Es increíble que venga.
|
|
Negative
|
No es verdad que + Subj
|
No es verdad que sepa.
|
|
Question
|
¿Es increíble que + Subj?
|
¿Es increíble que llegue?
|
|
Past Surprise
|
Es increíble que + Subj (Past)
|
Es increíble que haya venido.
|
|
Doubt
|
No creo que + Subj
|
No creo que sea verdad.
|
|
Impersonal
|
Es raro que + Subj
|
Es raro que llueva.
|
Formality Spectrum
Es increíble que él esté aquí. (Social gathering)
Es increíble que esté aquí. (Social gathering)
¡Increíble que esté aquí! (Social gathering)
¡No me lo creo, está aquí! (Social gathering)
Subjunctive Triggers
Emotion
- Es increíble que It's incredible that
Doubt
- No es verdad que It's not true that
Examples by Level
Es increíble que él coma mucho.
It is incredible that he eats a lot.
Es increíble que tú hables español.
It is incredible that you speak Spanish.
Es increíble que ellos vivan aquí.
It is incredible that they live here.
Es increíble que sea tarde.
It is incredible that it is late.
No es verdad que ellos tengan dinero.
It is not true that they have money.
Es increíble que no sepas la verdad.
It is incredible that you don't know the truth.
Es imposible que ella diga eso.
It is impossible that she says that.
Es raro que no haya nadie.
It is strange that there is no one.
Es increíble que el gobierno tome estas decisiones.
It is incredible that the government makes these decisions.
No es verdad que ellos hayan terminado el proyecto.
It is not true that they have finished the project.
Me sorprende que tú quieras ir solo.
It surprises me that you want to go alone.
Es increíble que no se hayan visto en años.
It is incredible that they haven't seen each other in years.
Resulta increíble que la situación haya cambiado tanto.
It is incredible that the situation has changed so much.
No es creíble que ellos no supieran nada del asunto.
It is not credible that they knew nothing about the matter.
Es asombroso que el equipo haya ganado el campeonato.
It is astonishing that the team won the championship.
Es inaudito que se permitan tales comportamientos.
It is unheard of that such behaviors are allowed.
Es del todo increíble que el autor haya omitido tales detalles.
It is completely incredible that the author omitted such details.
No es admisible que ellos sigan ignorando las advertencias.
It is not admissible that they continue ignoring the warnings.
Resulta pasmoso que nadie haya alzado la voz.
It is astonishing that no one has raised their voice.
Es inverosímil que la propuesta haya sido aceptada sin cambios.
It is implausible that the proposal was accepted without changes.
Es sobremanera sorprendente que el consenso se haya fracturado tan pronto.
It is extremely surprising that the consensus has fractured so soon.
No es de recibo que se pretenda ocultar la verdad de esta manera.
It is unacceptable that one intends to hide the truth this way.
Es un hecho insólito que la comunidad haya reaccionado con tanta apatía.
It is an unusual fact that the community has reacted with such apathy.
Resulta incomprensible que la evidencia haya sido desestimada por el tribunal.
It is incomprehensible that the evidence was dismissed by the court.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up certainty and doubt.
Learners use the infinitive after 'que'.
Learners use the same mood for both.
Common Mistakes
Es increíble que él viene.
Es increíble que él venga.
Es increíble que él comer.
Es increíble que él coma.
Es increíble que él ven.
Es increíble que él venga.
Es increíble que él es.
Es increíble que él sea.
No es verdad que él tiene dinero.
No es verdad que él tenga dinero.
Es increíble que ellos saben.
Es increíble que ellos sepan.
Es increíble que yo voy.
Es increíble que yo vaya.
Es increíble que ellos han venido.
Es increíble que ellos hayan venido.
Es increíble que él vendría.
Es increíble que él venga.
Es increíble que no se dice.
Es increíble que no se diga.
Es increíble que el gobierno ha tomado la decisión.
Es increíble que el gobierno haya tomado la decisión.
Es increíble que ellos no sabían nada.
Es increíble que ellos no supieran nada.
Es increíble que la ley se permite.
Es increíble que la ley se permita.
Es increíble que él ha sido elegido.
Es increíble que él haya sido elegido.
Sentence Patterns
Es increíble que ___ (tú) ___ (hacer) eso.
No es verdad que ellos ___ (saber) la verdad.
Es raro que ella no ___ (venir) hoy.
Es imposible que nosotros ___ (terminar) tan pronto.
Real World Usage
¡Es increíble que ya sea viernes!
No es verdad que no vengas.
Es increíble que su empresa tenga tanto éxito.
Es increíble que este lugar sea tan hermoso.
Es increíble que la comida llegue tan rápido.
Es inaudito que el caso no se resuelva.
Check the 'que'
Don't use indicative
Practice with 'No es verdad'
Listen to natives
Smart Tips
Stop and think: is this a fact or a feeling?
Use 'No es verdad que' to trigger the subjunctive.
Use 'Es raro que' to show your surprise.
Remember to use the imperfect subjunctive.
Pronunciation
Subjunctive endings
Ensure the final vowel is clear.
Surprise
¡Es increíble que... ↑ venga!
Rising intonation on the verb conveys shock.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Surprise and doubt make the verb shout, 'I'm not a fact, I'm a feeling!'
Visual Association
Imagine a person looking at a magic trick with their jaw dropped. The word 'INCREÍBLE' is floating above them, and the verb in the bubble is wearing a 'Subjunctive' hat.
Rhyme
When you are shocked or in doubt, the subjunctive is what you shout.
Story
Maria saw a dog flying. She said, 'Es increíble que un perro vuele.' Her friend didn't believe her and said, 'No es verdad que un perro vuele.' Both used the subjunctive because they were expressing shock and doubt.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences today about things that surprise you using 'Es increíble que'.
Cultural Notes
Spaniards often use '¡Qué raro!' instead of 'Es raro que'.
Mexicans frequently use 'Qué increíble' to express surprise.
Argentines use the 'vos' form, so the subjunctive changes slightly.
The subjunctive mood comes from the Latin 'subjunctivus', meaning 'subjoined'.
Conversation Starters
¿Qué te parece increíble que pase en el mundo?
¿Hay algo que no creas que sea verdad?
¿Te sorprende que la gente viaje tanto?
¿Es verdad que tu amigo habla chino?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Es increíble que él ___ (ir) al cine.
No es verdad que ellos ___ (saber) la verdad.
Find and fix the mistake:
Es increíble que ella viene.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
It is incredible that you are here.
Answer starts with: Es ...
Es increíble que ellos ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Use 'No es verdad que' and 'tener dinero'.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEs increíble que él ___ (ir) al cine.
No es verdad que ellos ___ (saber) la verdad.
Find and fix the mistake:
Es increíble que ella viene.
que / increíble / venga / es / él
It is incredible that you are here.
Es increíble que ellos ___.
Es verdad que... vs Es increíble que...
Use 'No es verdad que' and 'tener dinero'.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesEs increíble que nosotros ___ (vivir) en esta ciudad.
It's incredible that you (informal) study so much.
Es increíble que mi gato ___ (dormir) todo el día.
que / increíble / Es / hables / francés / tú
Es increíble que tú *sabes* la verdad.
Match the following:
Your friend just won the lottery. What do you say?
Es increíble que esta app ___ (funcionar) tan mal.
It's incredible that they are here.
increíble / Es / el / que / no / trabaje / Wi-Fi
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Because you are expressing a subjective reaction, not a fact.
No, it is grammatically incorrect.
You use the infinitive, e.g., 'Es increíble comer aquí'.
Yes, it is very common in formal and informal contexts.
Yes, you use the imperfect subjunctive.
Yes, like 'Espero que' or 'Dudo que'.
The grammar is the same, but the 'vos' form changes the conjugation.
Write sentences about your daily life.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Le subjonctif
French subjunctive forms are often identical to the indicative for many verbs.
Konjunktiv I/II
German uses it for indirect speech, not just emotional triggers.
None
Japanese relies on particles, not verb conjugation.
Mansub
Arabic mood is triggered by particles, not emotional states.
None
Chinese uses adverbs to express doubt or surprise.
Subjunctive
English rarely uses the subjunctive in everyday speech.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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