Certainty and Doubt in Embedded Claims
A doubt about something already finished takes the perfect subjunctive: شک دارم که او آمده باشد.
How It Works
Edited prose shows what the writer believes through the verb after که.
| Sure: ordinary verb | In doubt: subjunctive |
|---|---|
| مطمئنم که | شک دارم که |
| یقین دارم که | گمان نمی‌کنم که |
| معلوم است که | بعید است که |
| می‌دانم که | باور ندارم که |
| واضح است که | ممکن است که |
Compare two sentences: یقین دارم که او می‌آید (I am sure he is coming) and گمان نمی‌کنم که او بیاید (I do not think he is coming). The first states a fact. The second only holds an idea.
For something finished, the subjunctive is the perfect subjunctive: باور ندارم که او آن نامه را دیده باشد (I do not believe he has seen that letter). The verb forms follow the rules in The Present Subjunctive and The Perfect Subjunctive.
A positive sentence with فکر می‌کنم که takes an ordinary verb, and a negative one with فکر نمی‌کنم که takes the subjunctive.
Examples (5)
- یقین دارم که احمد امروز به دفتر رفته است.
I am sure that Ahmad has gone to the office today.
یقین دارم که is followed by an ordinary present perfect.
- گمان نمی‌کنم که این سرک تا فردا باز شود.
I do not think that this road will open by tomorrow.
گمان نمی‌کنم که is followed by the subjunctive باز شود.
- معلوم است که شاگردان برای امتحان خوب آماده شده‌اند.
It is clear that the students have prepared well for the exam.
معلوم است که states a fact, so the verb is ordinary.
- بعید است که مهمان‌ها پیش از شام برسند.
It is unlikely that the guests will arrive before dinner.
بعید است که is a word of doubt, so برسند is subjunctive.
- باور ندارم که او آن نامه را دیده باشد.
I do not believe that he has seen that letter.
A doubt about a finished event takes the perfect subjunctive: دیده باشد.
Common Mistakes
Using the ordinary present after a word of doubt.
شک دارم که او فردا می‌آید.شک دارم که او فردا بیاید.After شک دارم که the clause is an idea, so the verb is subjunctive.
Using the subjunctive after a word of certainty.
مطمئنم که او فردا بیاید.مطمئنم که او فردا می‌آید.After مطمئنم که the clause states a fact, so the verb is an ordinary present.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These words say how sure you are, and sit inside a report.
Related Patterns
- فکر می‌کنم کهSaying What You Think
It says what you think and takes an ordinary verb.
Level 3 - Maybe With شاید
شاید is a word of doubt that takes the subjunctive.
Level 3 - The Perfect Subjunctive
It shows how the perfect subjunctive is built.
Level 4 - باید … باشدSaying Something Must Be True
It makes a firm guess with the same perfect subjunctive.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Certainty and Doubt in Embedded Claims in Bubblegum
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