Spanish grammar
No es que + subjunctive… es que / sino que
Explain a worry by ruling out one reason and giving the real one.
From the scene No es que no la quiera (It's not that I don't love her)
In short
No es que + subjunctive rejects a reason. Give the real one with es que or sino que + indicative.
Your turn
Which one goes with it's not that I doubt Marisa?
Options: …sino que dudo de mí mismo · no es que dude de Marisa · no es que no la quiera
Show answer
it's not that I doubt Marisa → no es que dude de Marisa
How it works
"No es que" (it's not that) is followed by the subjunctive, because you are rejecting that reason.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Nada. No es que (blank) mal, es que no duermo.
Options: estar · esté · estoy
Show answer
Nada. No es que esté mal, es que no duermo.
Nothing. It's not that I'm unwell, it's that I'm not sleeping.
Good to know
Then give the real reason with "es que" or "sino que" + the normal (indicative) verb. "No porque… sino porque…" works the same way.
it's not that I don't love her no es que no la quiera
Tomás
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
Options: No es que no la quiera · No es que dude de Marisa · Sino que dudo de mí mismo
Show answer
Tomás
No es que no la quiera, es que tengo miedo al compromiso.
It's not that I don't love her, it's that I'm scared of commitment.
it's not that I doubt Marisa no es que dude de Marisa
Tomás
No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), sino que dudo de mí mismo.
Options: No es que dude de Marisa · No es que no la quiera · No porque no la quieras
Show answer
Tomás
No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.
…it's that I doubt myself …sino que dudo de mí mismo
Tomás
No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No es que dude de Marisa, (blank).
Options: sino que dudo de mí mismo · no es que no la quiera · no porque no la quieras
Show answer
Tomás
No es que dude de Marisa, sino que dudo de mí mismo.
It's not that I doubt Marisa, it's that I doubt myself.
not because you don't love her no porque no la quieras
Your turn
What goes with no porque no la quieras?
Options: not because you don't love her · it's not that I don't love her · it's not that I doubt Marisa
Show answer
no porque no la quieras → not because you don't love her
it's not that the wedding is hard no es que la boda sea difícil
Javi
Tranquilo, parce. No es que la boda sea difícil... es que tu padrino soy yo.
Relax, mate. It's not that the wedding is hard... it's that your best man is me.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tranquilo, parce. (blank)... es que tu padrino soy yo.
Options: No es que la boda sea difícil · No es que no la quiera · No es que dude de Marisa
Show answer
Javi
Tranquilo, parce. No es que la boda sea difícil... es que tu padrino soy yo.
Relax, mate. It's not that the wedding is hard... it's that your best man is me.
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 not that I don't love her | no es que no la quiera |
|---|---|
| it's not that I doubt Marisa | no es que dude de Marisa |
| …it's that I doubt myself | …sino que dudo de mí mismo |
| not because you don't love her | no porque no la quieras |
| it's not that the wedding is hard | no es que la boda sea difícil |
More lines from the story
- TomásNada. No es que esté mal, es que no duermo.Nothing. It's not that I'm unwell, it's that I'm not sleeping.
- Nuria¿Miedo? ¿De la boda?Scared? Of the wedding?
- NuriaEso es muy normal, Tomás.That's very normal, Tomás.