Dropping Prepositions before Que

Level 5

In formal writing, many governed a, de and en prepositions disappear before que plus a finite clause.

How It Works

A verb or adjective may require a preposition before a noun but lose it before a finite que clause. Compare confio en la seva resposta with confio que respondrà, and estic segur de la resposta with estic segur que respondrà.

In a formal report, contrast the nominal and clausal complements side by side: tenim confiança en el resultat but tenim confiança que funcionarà. A noun such as el fet can preserve the preposition by giving it an actual nominal complement. Do not add an accent to conjunction que or mistake a prepositional relative for this dropping rule. Its relative preposition represents a function within another clause and must be analyzed separately.

Examples (3)

  1. Tenim confiança que funcionarà.

    We are confident that it will work.

  2. S'han adonat que hi havia un error.

    They have realized that there was an error.

  3. Estava convençuda que arribaria a temps.

    She was convinced that she would arrive on time.

How It Connects

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Dropping Prepositions before QueLevel 5

Learn This First

Distinguish a nominal complement from a finite que clause before editing longer complements.

Words in This Pattern