# Emotion triggers: me alegra que, siento que

> id: grammar.subjunctive.emotions · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: B1 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Emotional reactions to facts take the subjunctive: me alegra que estés aquí, siento que no puedas venir, me molesta que llegue tarde.

When a main clause expresses an emotional reaction to something, the subordinate clause takes the subjunctive: me alegra que estés aquí, siento que no puedas venir, me molesta que llegue tarde. The fact may well be true — the subjunctive marks it as something reacted to, not asserted.

The trigger family is broad: alegrarse de que, sentir que ('to regret'), me gusta/encanta/molesta/fastidia que, temer que, sorprender que, dar pena/rabia que, and es una lástima/pena que.

When the two clauses share a subject, Spanish collapses to the infinitive instead — adding de where the verb requires it: me alegro de verte (not *me alegro de que yo te vea), siento molestarte.

## Examples
- Me alegra que el negocio funcione. — I'm glad the business is working.
- Es una lástima que no puedas quedarte. — It's a pity you can't stay.
- Me alegra que el negocio funcione, pero temo que crezca demasiado rápido. — I'm glad the business is working, but I fear it's growing too fast.

Related: grammar.subjunctive.overview, grammar.subjunctive.impersonal-expressions

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