No estoy seguro de si/no estoy seguro si

Question

No estoy seguro si esta frase es correcta

Esta frase no se puede decir así. Many natives even forget the de after seguro...

Corrected form:

No estoy seguro de si esta frase es correcta

What is the significance of the de following seguro?

More specifically, how would this translate if the de were omitted?

Answer 1

dequeísmo/queísmo

I'm not sure whether this article on dequísmo/queísmo will help you, but it mentions the little "eso" test that I have seen mentioned in other articles before. Perhaps studying the question of que or de que might throw some light on your specific question about ** si o de si**.

Anyway, since Lazarus wrote a lot of this article perhaps it will keep you mind busy until he comes to answer your question.

Thanks for the link qfreed. - Izanoni1, Aug 29, 2009

That was a GREAT article; I swear--I don't know how you've come by so many of these little nuggets of gold, but thanks so much for sharing. - Izanoni1, Aug 29, 2009

Answer 2

The word "seguro" need not have a de after it in all cases. In the sentence you mentioned, the de is needed. Why? This is due to the quality in that sentence of uncertainty. This uncertainty is introduced when the speaker says 'no seguro,' or not certain. Because of this, the subjunctive mood must be used.

So, in actuality, your second sentence is also incorrect; it uses the indicative form of estar with the subjunctive mood. Other than the reason that the Spanish expression of "no estar seguro de" includes the de, I have no idea why the de should be included. If the de were omitted, it would probably be incorrect, although I'm not certain that this is the case.

Thanks. That didn't exactly answer my question, but it was helpful nonetheless - Izanoni1, Aug 29, 2009

Answer 3

The word "seguro" need not have a de after it in all cases. In the sentence you mentioned, the de is needed. Why? This is due to the quality in that sentence of uncertainty. This uncertainty is introduced when the speaker says 'no seguro,' or not certain. Because of this, the subjunctive mood must be used.

I am assuming, then, that the corrected form (using the subjunctive) would be

No estoy seguro de si esta frase sea correcta

and could possibly be said

No estoy seguro de si esta frase tenga razón

The only problem that I see with this construction, however, is that there is no relative pronoun. I was under the impression that in order to signal the subjunctive mood, a relative pronoun was required.

"No estoy seguro de si esta frase sea correcta" wouldn't be correct since estar must be conjugated in the subjunctive tense: so, it would be No esté... - idahorsegirl, Aug 29, 2009

Shouldn't the clause that expresses the doubt be in the indicative as it signals that the other clause be in the subjunctive? - Izanoni1, Aug 29, 2009