Spanish grammar
Es verdad / está claro / es obvio que + indicative
State facts and certainties about other people.
From the scene Está claro que… (It's clear that…)
In short
Facts keep the normal verb: es verdad, está claro, es obvio que + indicative. Judgements take the subjunctive.
Your turn
Which one goes with it's true the entrance is dirty?
Options: es verdad que el portal está sucio · está claro que dice lo que piensa · es obvio que estás de su lado
Show answer
it's true the entrance is dirty → es verdad que el portal está sucio
How it works
Judgements and feelings take the subjunctive (es normal que estés).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
¡Oye! Es obvio que tú (blank) de su lado.
Options: estés · estar · estás
Show answer
¡Oye! Es obvio que tú estás de su lado.
Hey! It's obvious that you're on her side.
Good to know
When you present something as a fact (es verdad que, está claro que, es obvio que, es evidente que), the verb keeps its normal form, called the indicative: está claro que dice lo que piensa.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Y es evidente que el edificio (blank) ascensor.
Options: necesita · necesite · necesitar
Show answer
Y es evidente que el edificio necesita ascensor.
And it's obvious that the building needs a lift.
it's clear she says what she thinks está claro que dice lo que piensa
it's true the entrance is dirty es verdad que el portal está sucio
Nuria
Bueno... es verdad que el portal está sucio.
Well... it's true that the entrance is dirty.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Bueno... (blank).
Options: es obvio que estás de su lado · es verdad que el portal está sucio · está claro que dice lo que piensa
Show answer
Nuria
Bueno... es verdad que el portal está sucio.
Well... it's true that the entrance is dirty.
it's obvious you're on her side es obvio que estás de su lado
it's clear the building needs a lift es evidente que necesita ascensor
Your turn
What goes with es evidente que necesita ascensor?
Options: it's true the entrance is dirty · it's clear the building needs a lift · it's clear she says what she thinks
Show answer
es evidente que necesita ascensor → it's clear the building needs a lift
it's clear you'll get along está claro que os vais a llevar bien
Common mistake
Not diga or decir here. A fact → indicative.
Está claro que la madre dice lo que piensa.
It's clear that the mother says what she thinks.
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
| it's clear she says what she thinks | está claro que dice lo que piensa |
|---|---|
| it's true the entrance is dirty | es verdad que el portal está sucio |
| it's obvious you're on her side | es obvio que estás de su lado |
| it's clear the building needs a lift | es evidente que necesita ascensor |
| it's clear you'll get along | está claro que os vais a llevar bien |
More lines from the story
- RamónEstá claro que la madre dice lo que piensa.It's clear that the mother says what she thinks.
- Ramón¡Oye! Es obvio que tú estás de su lado.Hey! It's obvious that you're on her side.
- NuriaY es evidente que el edificio necesita ascensor.And it's obvious that the building needs a lift.
- RamónNuria, ayer conocí a los padres de Javi.Nuria, yesterday I met Javi's parents.
- RamónQue el portal está sucio y que el edificio necesita ascensor.That the entrance is dirty and that the building needs a lift.