This is not an English sentence, and why does the second verb take a subjunctive rather than an infinitive form?

allison h.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

This is not an English sentence, and why does the second verb take a subjunctive rather than an infinitive form?

No creo que ________ todos los deberes para el lunes. I don't believe to have done all my homework by Monday.HINT: Conjugate the yo form of "hacer" in El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo
Asked 6 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Allison

Sentences introduced by an opinion in "negative" are followed by the subjunctive. Have a look at this lesson that will clarify your doubt:

[competency id= "6184"]

The English typo has been corrected. 

Muchas gracias,

Inma

allison h.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks Inma, but I learned that if the same subject is in both clauses (No creo and hacer los deberes) it would trigger the infinitive in the second clause? 
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Allison

That is correct in certain cases, for example:

"Yo quiero estudiar más" (same subject in both, infinitive) but 

"Yo quiero que (tú) estudies más" (different subjects, needs subjunctive)

Also with "hope":

"Yo espero ganar la lotería" (same subject in both, infinitive) but

"Yo espero que ganes la lotería" (different subjects, needs subjunctive)

Notice the absence of "que" in the sentences with the same subject.

In order to be able to use an infinitive with "Yo no creo que..." you need to get rid of "que". For example:

Yo no creo haber hecho todos los deberes para el lunes. (although this sounds a bit formal)

With "que", the only option would be:

Yo no creo que haya hecho todos los deberes para el lunes.

Saludos

Inma

allison h.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

OK thanks!

So "Yo no creo haber hecho todos los deberes" or "Yo creo haber hecho todos los deberes" are correct, albeit formal?

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Allison

Sorry about this big delay on replying to your last query. The notification didn't come through back in October. 

So, yes, this is an option too but it would sound very formal:

"Yo no creo haber hecho/terminado todos los deberes para el lunes."

Un saludo

Inma

reynold g.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I am confused when " preterito " is appended to most of the tenses. This practice is not widely used in Spain or Latin countries. Why not use the tenses which are commonly used. I know that the preterite is used for past tense so when preterito perfecto subjuntivo is mentioned I expect that the past subjunctive is meant NOT the perfect subjunctive! I wonder whether other participants experience the same problem.

This is not an English sentence, and why does the second verb take a subjunctive rather than an infinitive form?

No creo que ________ todos los deberes para el lunes. I don't believe to have done all my homework by Monday.HINT: Conjugate the yo form of "hacer" in El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
Let me take a look at that...