decatarse de que

Keeping De Before Que

Level 5

If a verb takes de, keep de before que: Decateime de que era tarde (I realised that it was late). If it takes a direct object, use que alone: Penso que é tarde.

How It Works

The test

Replace the que clause with a noun or iso:

  • Decateime diso → Decateime de que era tarde.
  • Estou seguro diso → Estou seguro de que vén.
  • Penso iso → Penso que é tarde.

Other prepositions work the same way: Insistiu en que viñésemos cedo (she insisted that we come early).

Two opposite errors

  • Dropping a needed preposition: estar seguro que, decatarse que. You will hear this in relaxed speech, but the written standard keeps the preposition.
  • Adding de where the verb has none: penso de que, creo de que. Avoid this in both speech and writing.

Similar verbs. Acordarse takes de, while lembrar without se takes a direct object: Acórdome de que me chamaches, Lembro que me chamaches. The pronominal lembrarse takes de as well: Lémbrome de que me chamaches. See lembrar and acordarse de and verbs with fixed prepositions.

Examples (6)

  1. Decateime de que era tarde.

    I realised that it was late.

  2. Estou seguro de que vén.

    I am sure that he is coming.

    Seguro takes de: estar seguro de algo.

  3. Penso que é tarde.

    I think that it is late.

    Meaning believe, pensar takes a direct object, so que stands alone.

  4. Acórdome de que me chamaches.

    I remember that you called me.

  5. Lembro que me chamaches.

    I remember that you called me.

    Used without se, lembrar takes a direct object, so there is no de.

  6. Insistiu en que viñésemos cedo.

    She insisted that we come early.

    Insistir takes en, which stays before que.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the de that the verb needs.

    Decateime que era tarde.
    Decateime de que era tarde.

    You say decatarse de algo, so the written standard keeps de before que.

  • Adding de after a verb that takes a direct object.

    Penso de que é tarde.
    Penso que é tarde.

    You say pensar algo, with no preposition, so que stands alone.

  • Dropping de after an adjective that needs it.

    Estou seguro que vén.
    Estou seguro de que vén.

    You say estar seguro de algo, so keep de before que.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

decatarse de queLevel 5Keeping De Before Que

Learn This First

A verb's selected preposition remains before a following que clause.

Words in This Pattern

decatar