It's an important aspect of the language. Below there is an example with both affirmative and negative imperative. Ella duda que yo conozca al presidente. This means that you only need to delete the -IR ending from the infinitive form and add the appropriate endings to the stem dec. I'm not sure you're telling the truth. Use the endings underlined below for each person. Dudo que t cocines bien. Quiero que t arregles tu cuarto. He tells me that I play well. Como se dice, ms vale prevenir que lamentar.As they say, better safe than sorry. Es necesario que t hagas tu tarea. This stem is applied to all the subjects and you just need to add their corresponding endings. If there is any doubt about the dependent clause, we use the subjunctive. As the direct translation of to say, in Spanish, you can also use decirse when asking about a translation or how a word is pronounced. Note: It isn't necessary for the subject to be a person. Not: Quieren que sean abogadas. Est enojada que yo est aqu. (Part 2). Independent clauses (also known as main clauses) are clauses which can stand on their own when removed from the larger sentence: Dependent clauses usually begin with conjunctions like "therefore," "that," "so that," "before," etc. It bothers me that you are not listening. ), The first thing you need to know about the subjunctive is that it is a "mood.". [Subject] + [decir conjugated] + que + [information]. If there is no doubt, use the indicative: Est segura que conduce un coche verde. A mood has to do with the speaker's attitude toward the verb. They want that we leave. To learn how to conjugate in the present subjunctive, see The Present Subjunctive: How? Chicas, dganme qu quieren hacer.Girls, tell me what you want to eat. Not: Quiero que yo mire TV. Yo insisto en que t hagas tu tarea. We are sorry that you can't come. They want us to leave. l recomienda que comamos bien. If the subject doesn't change you can just use the infinitive: I want to watch TV. La maestra le ha dicho a los alumnos que guarden silencio.The teacher has told the students to be quiet. Cmo se dice perro en ingls?How do you say dog in English? Add the endings underlined below to complete your conjugation. Whether or not the dependent clause is actually true is irrelevant. someone else to do something. It doesnt necessarily imply the use of words, but it can also refer to signs as a way to communicate your thoughts, feelings or desires. Here, "a car" is a noun (which happens to be functioning as a direct object).

They want to be lawyers. Declarar: Translated as to declare or to state, this verb can be used as a synonym of decir when saying something in a solemn and emphatic manner. Me molesta que t no escuches. Decir is an irregular verb and like any Spanish irregular verb, youll find that the stem of this verb changes depending on both the tense and subject that youre conjugating. Additionally, Ill provide you with examples that you can use as guidance. Any verb that expresses a feeling, judgment, or opinion, even if it don't necessarily sound "emotional," requires the subjunctive. I know that you do your homework. We do this because the sentence isn't stating facts, but rather suggesting that something is not true. If decir is used to state a fact, the dependent clause should be in the indicative: Me dice que toco bien. Sentimos que no puedas venir. Opinar: In Spanish, this verb means to give or say an idea, judgment or concept that a person has or forms about something or someone. Impersonal expressions such as es necesario, es importante, es urgente, etc. Miguel dijo que maana iremos a desayunar con su abuela.Miguel said that tomorrow well have breakfast with his grandmother. Same thing with es posible and es imposible. Your teacher never bothered to tell you this, but all those verb conjugations you've been learning they've just been one of two ways of conjugating. The reason for this is that sentence is not simply stating a fact, but trying to influence an outcome (which may or may not happen). If referring to rumors, myths or common knowledge, When asking how a word is said, decirse means, When talking about rumors, myths or common knowledge. Soy Daniela Sanchez, Ive taught Spanish in Mexico to a wide array of foreigners. A mood is a special way of conjugating a verb in order to expresses your attitude toward the situation. Quiero mirar TV. For the first person (I in English or yo in Spanish), youll use dig. : Me gusta que no tengamos tarea esta noche. There are three reasons we would use the subjunctive in a noun clause: volition, doubt/negation, and emotion. Check the examples below, [Pronoun se] + [decir conjugated] + que + [rumor/saying]. Due to the fact that we take some shortcuts in English that we can't take in Spanish, sometimes we have to rewrite or reorder a sentence before we can translate it: I want you to clean your room. Ella duda que yo conozca al presidente. If the independent clause casts any doubt on (or negates) the dependent clause, we must use the subjunctive. link to 91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Tourists, link to Spanish Gender 101: Feminine & Masculine Nouns in Spanish, Talking about rumors, myths or common knowledge, Whats the difference between hablar, decir and contar, When talking about information, decir means. If you want to mention to whom someone says or said something to, youll need to follow the next formula. Decir is an irregular verb in the conditional tense. Are you planning a well-deserved vacation? Nosotros and vosotros dont have spelling changes, as a result, use the stem dec. Mi abuela deca que, cuando era nia, no haba tantos carros en las calles.My grandmother said that, when she was a kid, there werent so many cars on the streets. I am handsome. require the subjunctive too. It's probable that Roberto knows the answer. Now consider this sentence: This time around the clause "that you respect me" is also functioning like a noun just as "a car" did in the previous sentence. Before you start complaining again about how needlessly complicated Spanish is, be aware that we use the subjunctive in English too. You haven't had to worry about the moods before because up until now, you've primarily been using simple sentences about factual situations: Me llamo Pepe. And don't get carried away and start conjugating every second verb in the subjunctive. Notice that, depending on the elements that you include in your sentence, you might need to use different phrase structures. (Part 1). It's necessary that she arrive on time. If there is no volition, use the indicative: Yo s que t haces tu tarea. Ill explain the proper stem to use for decir for each conjugation tense, mood and subject in the sections below. The subjunctive mood is used to convey desire, express doubt, or discuss non-concrete situations: Espero que me llamen hoy. Since the real message is not delivered at the same time that you repeat it, you need to combine different tenses in your sentences. As a result, this verb expresses that someone is giving or communicating certain information. Impersonal expressions such as es improbable, es imposible, es dudable, etc. In other words, you wont be working with the verb in its infinitive form like you would do with a regular verb, but rather with the irregular stem dir. Remember that there needs to be a different subject. Volition is a fancy word for "willing." The verbs pensar and creer indicate certainty: l cree que ella canta en el coro. To create the present subjunctive with decir, youll use the stem dig for all the subjects. vaya. She doubts that I know the president. It's sad that there are so many thefts. This includes gustar, sentir, sorprender, etc. Note: There are three moods (modos) in Spanish: the indicative (indicativo); the subjunctive (subjuntivo), and the imperative (imperativo). The formula is: subject + emotion verb + "que" + different subject + subjunctive verb. I am pleased that we don't have homework tonight. This is especially useful for students or people learning Spanish. En Mxico, tambin se dice qu onda para saludar entre amigosIn Mexico, people also say qu onda to greet friends. It's at this point that many Spanish students decide it's just not worth it and bail out. If so, you may want to take the time to learn some essential travel phrases in Spanish that can help you Spanish Gender 101: Feminine & Masculine Nouns in Spanish. Est enojada que yo est aqu. To conjugate decir in both forms of the imperfect subjunctive, it works with the same stem that you use in the preterite conjugation: dij. No estoy seguro que t digas la verdad. Decir tacos: This Castilian informal expression describes someone swearing or cursing. Nosotros and ustedes work with the stem dig while t is completely irregular. See The Present Subjunctive: How?). Everything you've learned about verbs to this point has been in something called the "indicative mood." It is necessary that you do your homework. In its pronominal form, decir is used to talk about rumors, beliefs or common knowledge. Which mood to use depends on the context. Decir pestes de: This phrase expresses that a person says bad or awful things about another person or thing. (Also, the people who make entrance exams and advanced placement exams love to test the subjunctive. Notice that decir in the imperative form uses the dec stem for the person vosotros. Related ResourcesWhats the difference between hablar, decir and contar.How to use the pronoun se in Spanish, Hola! Given that decir is the direct translation of to say, this Spanish verb is used when expressing that a person is talking or communicating certain information. Depending on the context, decir can have different meanings in Spanish. It is translated as to give an opinion. This means that, instead of conjugating based on the infinitive form, youll use the stem dir. Even optimistic sounding phrases like es probable and es posible require the subjunctive: Es probable que Roberto sepa la respuesta. Check example #3. It is impossible that she can sleep now. There are some common expressions that use the verb decir and that you could use to improve your communication.

Ojal no les hubiera dicho nada.I wish I hadnt said anything to you. Most verb conjugations are actually a combination of tense (time) and mood (attitude). Finally, t, ella, l and their plural forms, will work with dic. I insist that she leave. Decir is a tricky verb in that it can signal both the indicative and the subjunctive. tu tarea. Advanced Spanish students should continue on to The Present Subjunctive: When? The independent clause tells us which mood to use: l piensa que el sol es un planeta. During the day Im a freelancer and marketer, while at night Im here writing for students of the world wide web looking to learn Spanish. She is angry that I am here. Si te haya dicho, no habras venido.If I had told you, you wouldnt have come. Quieren que salgamos. (This page only deals with when you should use the present subjunctive mood. He recommends that we eat well. In the preterite tense, decir changes its stem to dij. I want that you clean your room. He believes that she sings in the choir. Es necesario que t hagas Notice that in the imperfect tense, decir is regular. Se dice que cerca de ese parque, se escucha la voz de una nia.It is said that near that park, you can hear the voice of a little girl. The general formula we're looking for is: subject + doubt verb + "que" + different subject + subjunctive verb. If the independent clause includes any emotion, use the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Contar: If talking about telling a story or recounting a tale, we can use this verb instead of decir. Me molesta que t no escuches. This site also participates in other affiliate programs, including CJ and other sites, and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies, but in no way increases the cost to you if you opt to make a purchase from my links. Any time we see an instance of volition in the independent clause, we must use the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Notice that when conjugating decir in the present tense, youll use three different stems. In the following sections Ill explain to you how to use this verb and what elements you need to use in each context. Not: Te quiero arreglar tu cuarto. From students and tourists to doctors and soldiers whove moved and visited here over the years. The general formula we're looking for is: subject + volition verb + "que" + different subject + subjunctive verb. What's a mood? Most of the time, the subjunctive appears in dependent clauses (sometimes called subordinate clauses).

One of the first things youll find out when learning Spanish is that all nouns have a gender. Good. You can understand and speak enough Spanish to get by. [Pronoun se] + [decir conjugated] + [Spanish word/phrase]. Expresar: This verb also means to say. He tells me to play well. If decir is used more like a command, the dependent clause should be in the subjunctive: Me dice que toque bien. It carries the idea that someone is asking, hoping, insisting, demanding, suggesting, recommending, telling, requiring, etc. Cmo me dijiste que se dice dude en espaol de Mxico?How did you tell me to say dude in Mexican Spanish? Impersonal expressions such as es triste and es una lstima require the subjunctive too. She is sure that he drives a green car. Es triste que haya tantos robos. So, decir tacos means to swear or to curse. Notice that, in this context, you can also use this verb to explain how something is said in Spanish. The subjunctive can be a difficult, complicated, and non-intuitive concept for an English speaker. What's a clause? These irregularities include spelling changes such as: If that sounds complicated, dont worry. On the other hand, if the speaker is repeating the information that somebody else said, you can use this phrase structure. In Spanish, another common use of the verb decir is to express that the information that is being shared is a saying, rumor, common knowledge or something that hasnt been confirmed. Notice that, if were not completely sure about the person were referring to, you can introduce this information with the preposition a. I wish I were handsome. It can be translated as to bad mouth or to say nasty things about. That will be a good start for intermediate Spanish students. Es imposible que ella pueda dormir ahora. He cooks dinner. require the subjunctive too. It can be translated as to get an earful or to give a piece of your mind. Dice mi mam que le bajes a la tele.Mom says to turn the TV down. Soy Daniela Sanchez, Ive taught Spanish in Mexico to a wide array of foreigners. Es triste que haya tantos robos. Es imposible que ella pueda dormir ahora. The Present Subjunctive in Dependent Clauses, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Decir cuatro cosas: It means to say things in a clear and concise way, although perhaps with a certain aggressive tone. It is translated as to express. Generally speaking a clause includes a subject and a predicate (verb). As a result, its used when sharing or communicating something. Note: It isn't necessary for the subject to be a person. It is translated as to tell. Necesito un coche que sea ms seguro. No estoy seguro que t digas la verdad. Below are some of the most popular contexts where you can use this verb along with their corresponding translation. But all along a grammatical nightmare has been lurking in the shadows just waiting to jump out and make your life miserable: the subjunctive. Tengo un coche peligroso. In this context, this verb is translated as it is said, as they say or it is rumored. I demand that he cook dinner. Tell Me In Spanish (tellmeinspanish.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. In this context, the word tacos refers to blasphemous or insulting words. Is your destination a Spanish-speaking country? The reason for this is that even though the sentence may be stating a fact, it is also expressing a judgment or personal reaction to the situation. (Now that you know one of the reasons when to use the present subunctive, why not review how? Te estoy diciendo que no has eso.Im telling you not to do that. I hope you find what youre looking for here during your journey into Espaol . A clause can be a complete sentence all by itself: Or clauses can be combined to form larger sentences: Rene Descartes, author of the most famous independent / dependent clause combination. Note: Because neither is definite, the phrases es probable and es improbable both signal the subjunctive. Consider the differences in the following sentence pairs: She arrives on time. Quieren ser abogadas. As its name implies, the indicative mood indicates reality or concrete facts. Jorge y Naila dijeron que la casa estaba muy sucia.Jorge and Natalia said that the house was very dirty. There are many situations in which the subjunctive is required but in this lesson we'll focus on noun clauses. In this short guide, we will cover the following topics for decir in Spanish: Definition In Spanish, decir means to say or to tell. But stick with it.

Se dice que esa casa est embrujada.It is said that this house is haunted. I hope you find what youre looking here during your journey into Espaol Read More About Me, 91 Top Spanish Travel Phrases & Words for Tourists. Le estbamos diciendo a Harry que nos vamos a ir de vacaciones.We were telling Harry that we are going on vacation. From students and tourists to doctors and soldiers whove moved and visited here over the years. Now we're going to look at our first type of dependent clause, the noun clause, to see when we should use the subjunctive. Once you have the proper stem, make sure to add the corresponding endings for each subject. l recomienda que comamos bien. T cocinas bien. Mi mam nos haba dicho que no hablramos con extraos.My mom had told us not to speak to strangers. Dependent clauses depend on or expand on independent clauses and don't make sense on their own: Got it so far? Therefore it's known as a noun clause. This means that every time you use a noun, you must express whether its a feminine or masculine Hola! Yo insisto en que ella se But as you progress, you'll begin using more complex sentence structures and the more likely it is you'll need to use another mood, the subjunctive. Note: It isn't necessary for the subject to be a person. ), The Present Subjunctive in Spanish: When? (Person) + [indirect object pronoun] + [decir conjugated] + [information], Adrin me dijo que vendra a las 5 pmAdrian told me he would come at 5 pm, Julin nos dijo que no era necesario hacer la llamadaJulian told us that it was not necessary to make the call, Gina le dijo a su prima que cerrara la puertaGina told her cousin to close the door. They said that she works at McDonalds. While a mood may look a lot like a tense, they're not the same thing. During the day Im a freelancer and online marketer, while at night Im here writing for students of the world wide web looking to learn Spanish. You've learned a lot of vocabulary and know how to conjugate in the past, present, and future. If there is no emotion, use the indicative: Dijeron que ella trabaja en McDonalds. Not: Nos quieren salir. A tense has to do with the time frame of the verb. Hablar: Being the translation of to talk or to speak, this verb can be used when we are referring to communicating information to someone else. Remember that to build the negative imperative well use the conjugations of the present subjunctive. It's not done well, or consistently, but there are situations in English in which we should use a different verb conjugation. Notice that, in order to use this meaning, youll need to work with the pronominal form decirse. In the future tense, decir is an irregular verb. Take Note: Repeating what other people say is grammatically known as indirect or reported speech. He thinks that the sun is a planet. If you've made it this far, you're probably feeling pretty good about Spanish.