tengo miedo de que + Subjunctive
Subjunctive with Fear
Use 'tengo miedo de que' followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood to say you are afraid that something will happen.
How It Works
The expression 'tener miedo de que' is a classic trigger for the subjunctive mood in Spanish. It falls under the 'E' for Emotion in the WEIRDO acronym for subjunctive triggers.
The structure is as follows:[Subject 1] + tener (conjugated) + miedo de que + [Subject 2] + [Verb in Subjunctive]
Key points to remember:
- Change of Subject: This structure is only used when the subject of the main verb (the person feeling fear) is different from the subject of the verb in the subjunctive clause.
- Emotion Trigger: Fear is a subjective emotion, not a certainty. The subjunctive mood is used to express this subjectivity and uncertainty about the outcome.
- Contrast with Infinitive: If there is no change of subject, you use 'tener miedo de' followed by an infinitive. For example: 'Tengo miedo de caer.' (I am afraid of falling.) Here, 'I' am afraid and 'I' am the one who might fall.
Let's see the contrast:
Different subjects: Yo tengo miedo de que tú te caigas. (I am afraid that you will fall.) -> Subjunctive needed.
Same subject: Yo tengo miedo de caerme. (I am afraid of falling.) -> Infinitive needed.
Examples (4)
- Tengo miedo de que no llegues a tiempo.
I'm afraid that you won't arrive on time.
Word by Word: I have fear of that not you-arrive on time.
The speaker ('yo') is afraid of what another person ('tú') might do. 'Llegues' is the present subjunctive of 'llegar'.
- Mi madre tiene miedo de que su perro se enferme.
My mother is afraid that her dog will get sick.
Word by Word: My mother has fear of that her dog itself gets-sick.
The subject changes from 'mi madre' to 'su perro'. 'Enferme' is the present subjunctive of 'enfermarse'.
- Tenemos miedo de que llueva durante el viaje.
We are afraid that it will rain during the trip.
Word by Word: We have fear of that it-rains during the trip.
The subject changes from 'nosotros' to the impersonal 'it' (implied in 'llueva'). 'Llueva' is the present subjunctive of 'llover'.
- ¿No tienes miedo de que la gente piense mal de ti?
Aren't you afraid that people will think badly of you?
Word by Word: Not you-have fear of that the people think badly of you?
A question where the subject changes from 'tú' to 'la gente' (people). 'Piense' is the present subjunctive of 'pensar'.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative mood instead of the subjunctive.
Tengo miedo de que ella no viene a la fiesta.Tengo miedo de que ella no venga a la fiesta.Expressions of emotion like 'tener miedo de que' require the subjunctive when there is a change of subject. 'Viene' is indicative; the correct form is the subjunctive 'venga'.
Using 'de que + subjunctive' when the infinitive is simpler.
Tengo miedo de que yo repruebe el examen.Tengo miedo de reprobar el examen.When the person feeling fear is also the person doing the second action, 'de + infinitive' is the usual choice. 'De que yo repruebe' is possible when the subject is stressed, but it sounds heavier.
Related Patterns
- me alegra que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Joy
Similar to expressing fear, expressing joy with 'me alegra que' is an emotional trigger that also requires the subjunctive when the subject changes. It follows the exact same grammatical pattern.
Level 3 - espero que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Hope
Both express a feeling (hope vs. fear) about a future event involving another subject. They are both common triggers for the present subjunctive.
Level 3 - dudo que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Doubt
Like fear, doubt expresses uncertainty. 'Dudo que' (I doubt that) is another classic trigger that introduces a clause in the subjunctive to show that the speaker does not believe it to be a fact.
Level 3 - -e/-es/-e/-emos/-éis/-enPresent Subjunctive -AR
This is the pattern for conjugating regular -AR verbs in the present subjunctive, which is the verb form you must use after 'tengo miedo de que' if the verb is an -AR verb (e.g., pensar -> piense).
Level 3 - -a/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anPresent Subjunctive -ER/-IR
This is the pattern for conjugating regular -ER and -IR verbs in the present subjunctive. You'll need these endings for verbs like 'venir' (venga) or 'perder' (pierda) in this structure.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice tengo miedo de que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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