Spanish grammar
Reporting reactions: agradecer, lamentar, reprochar, echar en cara que
Report people's thanks, reproaches and regrets with the right subjunctive tense.
From the scene Me echó en cara que… (He threw it in my face that…)
In short
Agradecer and lamentar que take the subjunctive; reprochar and echar en cara usually do. After a past verb, use past subjunctive.
Your turn
Which one goes with she reproached me for not having married?
Options: me reprochó que no me hubiera casado · me agradeció que saliera · le echó en cara que no se pareciera
Show answer
she reproached me for not having married → me reprochó que no me hubiera casado
How it works
Verbs that react to a fact, like agradecer and lamentar, take the subjunctive: me agradeció que saliera, lamento que se haya enfadado.
Good to know
Reprochar and echar en cara (to throw something in someone's face) usually do too, although the indicative is also possible when they simply report an accusation.
Good to know
The tense follows the main verb: after a past, the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive; after a present, the present or perfect.
she thanked me for appearing me agradeció que saliera
Ramón
Una señora me agradeció que saliera en pijama en el capítulo tres.
One lady thanked me for appearing in pyjamas in chapter three.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Una señora (blank) en pijama en el capítulo tres.
Options: le echó en cara que no se pareciera · me agradeció que saliera · me reprochó que no me hubiera casado
Show answer
Ramón
Una señora me agradeció que saliera en pijama en el capítulo tres.
One lady thanked me for appearing in pyjamas in chapter three.
she reproached me for not having married me reprochó que no me hubiera casado
Ramón
Otra me reprochó que no me hubiera casado con usted.
Another one reproached me for not having married you.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Otra (blank) con usted.
Options: le echó en cara que no se pareciera · me reprochó que no me hubiera casado · me agradeció que saliera
Show answer
Ramón
Otra me reprochó que no me hubiera casado con usted.
Another one reproached me for not having married you.
he threw it in his face that he didn't look like le echó en cara que no se pareciera
Nuria
Y un niño le echó en cara que no se pareciera al dibujo.
And a little boy complained to his face that he didn't look like the drawing.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y un niño (blank) al dibujo.
Options: me reprochó que no me hubiera casado · le echó en cara que no se pareciera · me agradeció que saliera
Show answer
Nuria
Y un niño le echó en cara que no se pareciera al dibujo.
And a little boy complained to his face that he didn't look like the drawing.
I'm sorry you got upset lamento que se haya enfadado
Nuria
Lamento que se haya enfadado, Don Ramón. Lo dibujé con cariño.
I'm sorry you got upset, Don Ramón. I drew you with affection.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), Don Ramón. Lo dibujé con cariño.
Options: Me agradeció que saliera · Me reprochó que no me hubiera casado · Lamento que se haya enfadado
Show answer
Nuria
Lamento que se haya enfadado, Don Ramón. Lo dibujé con cariño.
I'm sorry you got upset, Don Ramón. I drew you with affection.
I'd appreciate it if you smiled le agradecería que sonriera
Elena
Ramón, le agradecería que sonriera. Hay cola.
Ramón, I'd appreciate it if you smiled. There's a queue.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ramón, (blank). Hay cola.
Options: le agradecería que sonriera · me agradeció que saliera · me reprochó que no me hubiera casado
Show answer
Elena
Ramón, le agradecería que sonriera. Hay cola.
Ramón, I'd appreciate it if you smiled. There's a queue.
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
| she thanked me for appearing | me agradeció que saliera |
|---|---|
| she reproached me for not having married | me reprochó que no me hubiera casado |
| he threw it in his face that he didn't look like | le echó en cara que no se pareciera |
| I'm sorry you got upset | lamento que se haya enfadado |
| I'd appreciate it if you smiled | le agradecería que sonriera |
More lines from the story
- RamónElena, llevo dos horas firmando. Y la gente me dice cada cosa...Elena, I've been signing for two hours. And people tell me the strangest things...