si que
Emphatic Si Que
Si que + verb means really or definitely: Iso si que é bo (that really is good).
How It Works
What si que does
A plain sentence states a fact: Chove (it is raining). With si que, the speaker insists on it: Agora si que chove! (now it is really raining!). English uses really, definitely or a stressed do: I did see it.
Typical uses
- Contrast with another person or thing: Ela non vén, pero eu si que vou (she is not coming, but I definitely am).
- Answering a doubt: —Non vés á festa? —Si que vou! (Aren't you coming to the party? Yes, I am!). This is an emphatic form of answering with the verb.
- Praise or surprise after something is pointed out: Isto si que me gusta (this I really like).
Word order. The pattern is: topic + si que + verb. The topic often comes first, as in Iso si que é bo or Agora si que....
Pronouns go before the verb. After que, an unstressed pronoun moves in front of the verb, as in subordinate clauses: si que o sei, si que me gusta.
No accent on si. Galician si (yes) has no written accent, unlike Spanish sí.
The fixed phrase iso si que non. It means absolutely not: Pagar eu? Iso si que non!
Examples (6)
- Iso si que é bo.
That really is good.
Si que stresses that the speaker truly means it.
- Agora si que chove!
Now it is really raining!
The rain before was light; now it is heavy. Si que marks the contrast with before.
- Ti non o cres, pero eu si que o vin.
You do not believe it, but I really did see it.
After si que, the pronoun o goes before the verb vin.
- Isto si que me gusta.
This I really like.
Me goes before gusta because que comes first.
- —Non vés á festa? —Si que vou!
"Aren't you coming to the party?" "Yes, I am coming!"
Si que answers a doubt with a firm yes.
- Pagar eu? Iso si que non!
Me, pay? Absolutely not!
Iso si que non is a fixed phrase for a strong refusal.
Common Mistakes
Writing si with an accent, as in Spanish.
Iso sí que é bo.Iso si que é bo.Galician si (yes) never carries a written accent.
Putting the pronoun after the verb.
Isto si que gústame.Isto si que me gusta.Que pulls the pronoun in front of the verb, so me comes before gusta.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Si que emphasizes an assertion and places a clitic before the verb.
Related Patterns
- Answering With the Verb
Answering with the verb is the plain answer; si que adds emphasis to it.
Level 2 - Yes/No Questions
Si que often answers a yes/no question with a firm yes.
Level 1 - ben + AdjectiveBen as an Intensifier
Another way to add emphasis, this time to an adjective.
Level 4 - Diacritic Accent
Shows which short words carry an accent; si is not one of them.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice si que in Bubblegum
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