Spanish grammar
Denying and doubting: negar que, no decir que, dudar que + subjunctive
Deny a rumour and report denials and doubts, using negar, desmentir, no decir que and dudar que.
From the scene Negó que fuera verdad (He denied it was true)
In short
After a denial or doubt (negar que, no dije que, dudo que), use the subjunctive: no dije que quisiera vender.
Your turn
Which one goes with he denied it was his mistake?
Options: no dije que quisiera vender · niego que esa vecina sea yo · negó que fuera un error suyo
Show answer
he denied it was his mistake → negó que fuera un error suyo
How it works
When you deny something, doubt it, or say someone did NOT say it, the verb after que goes into the subjunctive.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Yo niego rotundamente que esa vecina (blank) yo.
Options: es · será · sea
Show answer
Yo niego rotundamente que esa vecina sea yo.
I flatly deny that this resident is me.
Good to know
Niego que sea yo, negó que fuera un error, no dije que quisiera vender, dudo que haya otra (dudar de que is also correct).
Good to know
Desmentir (to deny a story officially) normally takes a direct object: desmentir la noticia, lo he desmentido.
I didn't say I wanted to sell no dije que quisiera vender
Ramón
Yo no dije que quisiera vender. Dije que tenía que pensarlo.
I didn't say I wanted to sell. I said I had to think about it.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yo (blank). Dije que tenía que pensarlo.
Options: no dije que quisiera vender · negó que fuera un error suyo · niego que esa vecina sea yo
Show answer
Ramón
Yo no dije que quisiera vender. Dije que tenía que pensarlo.
I didn't say I wanted to sell. I said I had to think about it.
he denied it was his mistake negó que fuera un error suyo
Ramón
Negó que fuera un error suyo. Dice que tiene una fuente.
He denied it was his mistake. He says he has a source.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Dice que tiene una fuente.
Options: Niego que esa vecina sea yo · Negó que fuera un error suyo · No dije que quisiera vender
Show answer
Ramón
Negó que fuera un error suyo. Dice que tiene una fuente.
He denied it was his mistake. He says he has a source.
I deny that the neighbour is me niego que esa vecina sea yo
I doubt there is another dudo que haya otra
Tomás
Pero dudo que haya otra vecina que hable tanto.
But I doubt there is another resident who talks that much.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pero (blank) vecina que hable tanto.
Options: negó que fuera un error suyo · dudo que haya otra · no dije que quisiera vender
Show answer
Tomás
Pero dudo que haya otra vecina que hable tanto.
But I doubt there is another resident who talks that much.
I've denied it (the story) lo he desmentido
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I didn't say I wanted to sell | no dije que quisiera vender |
|---|---|
| he denied it was his mistake | negó que fuera un error suyo |
| I deny that the neighbour is me | niego que esa vecina sea yo |
| I doubt there is another | dudo que haya otra |
| I've denied it (the story) | lo he desmentido |
More lines from the story
- ElenaYo niego rotundamente que esa vecina sea yo.I flatly deny that this resident is me.
- Elena¡Oiga! Además, solo hablé con él media hora.Excuse me! Besides, I only talked to him for half an hour.
- Tomás¿Y qué le contestó el periodista?And what did the journalist say?