C1 Spanish grammar
Factive and Evaluative Clauses in Spanish
A clause can describe an accepted fact and still use the subjunctive. Spanish distinguishes frames that contribute information—knowing, noticing, demonstrating—from frames that evaluate or react to information already treated as given.
Factive and Evaluative Clauses in Spanish decision map
1. Use indicative for knowledge, recognition, and evidence → 2. Use subjunctive for an emotional evaluation of an accepted event → 3. Distinguish evidence-based assessment from value judgment
Work through these meaning and discourse decisions in order before choosing the final structure.
Factive and Evaluative Clauses in Spanish: choices and models
| Decision | Guidance | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Use indicative for knowledge, recognition, and evidence | Frames such as sé que, me doy cuenta de que, está claro que, and se ha demostrado que present the complement as known or established information and normally take the indicative. | Nos damos cuenta de que el plazo era insuficiente. |
| Use subjunctive for an emotional evaluation of an accepted event | Expressions such as me alegra que, lamento que, and es una pena que evaluate a proposition rather than present it as new information. The subjunctive can therefore coexist with the speaker's acceptance that the event is real. | Lamento que hayan cancelado la reunión. |
| Distinguish evidence-based assessment from value judgment | Es evidente que and está comprobado que assert a conclusion supported by evidence. Es extraño que, es lógico que, and es preocupante que assess or evaluate a situation and normally select the subjunctive. | Es evidente que funciona, pero es extraño que nadie lo use. |
The model illustrates the decision; preserve its meaning and discourse effect when adapting it.
Spanish factive and evaluative clauses: Use indicative for knowledge, recognition, and evidence
Frames such as sé que, me doy cuenta de que, está claro que, and se ha demostrado que present the complement as known or established information and normally take the indicative.
Nos damos cuenta de que el plazo era insuficiente.Quick check
Complete: Es evidente que la situación ___.
Use subjunctive for an emotional evaluation of an accepted event
Expressions such as me alegra que, lamento que, and es una pena que evaluate a proposition rather than present it as new information. The subjunctive can therefore coexist with the speaker's acceptance that the event is real.
Lamento que hayan cancelado la reunión.Distinguish evidence-based assessment from value judgment
Es evidente que and está comprobado que assert a conclusion supported by evidence. Es extraño que, es lógico que, and es preocupante que assess or evaluate a situation and normally select the subjunctive.
Es evidente que funciona, pero es extraño que nadie lo use.Common mistakes
Está demostrado que el método sea eficaz.
Está demostrado que el método es eficaz.
A positive evidence frame asserts the effectiveness and selects indicative.
If the event is true, Spanish must use indicative.
An emotive evaluation can use subjunctive for an accepted fact.
Mood reflects the clause's discourse role, not truth value alone.
Es preocupante que el problema empeora.
Es preocupante que el problema empeore.
The frame contributes an evaluation rather than asserting the deterioration as new evidence.
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Factive and evaluative clauses FAQ
What does factive and evaluative clauses cover?
A clause can describe an accepted fact and still use the subjunctive. Spanish distinguishes frames that contribute information—knowing, noticing, demonstrating—from frames that evaluate or react to information already treated as given.
What is the first rule to remember?
Frames such as sé que, me doy cuenta de que, está claro que, and se ha demostrado que present the complement as known or established information and normally take the indicative.
What is another important C1 pattern?
Expressions such as me alegra que, lamento que, and es una pena que evaluate a proposition rather than present it as new information. The subjunctive can therefore coexist with the speaker's acceptance that the event is real.
How can I practise Spanish factive and evaluative clauses?
Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.