Using Alegrarse

Question

If I want to say, "I'm glad you're taking it" (referring to a test), which would be correct:

Me alegro de que vas a tomarlo.

or

Me alegro de vas a tomarlo.

Do I need the "que"?

Answer 1

I would say that you would need que to act as a relative pronoun to connect the two clauses (or some other type of conjunction).

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In English it is possible to infer the relative pronoun:

I am glad you are going to take it. [correct]

I am glad that you are going to take it [correct]

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In Spanish, the relative pronoun is never omitted.

Me alegro de que vas a tomarlo. [correct]

Me alegro de vas a tomarlo. [incorrect]

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If the subject were to remain the same between the two clauses then you could simply use the infinitive.

Me alegro de tomarlo - I am glad to take it (that I am taking it) [correct]

but could not use the relative clause:

Me alegro de que tomarlo - I am glad that to take it [incorrect]

Thanks, guys! That's what I thought, but it I started to overthink it and it looked weird. :-) - katielyn921, Oct 7, 2009

You should pay attention to what Quentin noticed and Heidita confirmed about the use of the subjunctive verb. I was so focussed on the question of relative pronoun that I did not correctly recognize that the verb "ir" is in the wrong mood. - Izanoni1, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 2

I am sorry I did not see this before:

Quentin, you are getting better by the day, still not posting in Spanish but ...(sigh)

Subjunctive is used : verbos que expresan una reacción emotiva;

Me alegro de que....

ej: Me alegro de que haga sol hoy. (even though you are actually seeing the sun, so the "probability" rule does not apply.)

The correct sentence is: Me alegro de que vayas a tomarlo.

You will see this often without the "de", frequent mistake by natives.

Answer 3

I know you are right...but I didn't learn spanish in that fashion. I learned by speaking.

I understand what you are saying Chris, and I agree that listening and speaking should be practiced from the very beginning, but I think that you may be misunderstanding what I am saying.

Each one these

Pasame esto

me puedes da esto

desculpame

quiero esto

me gustaria tener la de ahi.

No me gusta esta,

dame la otra

Is a separate clause and would not require a relative pronoun (or conjunction) because none of these is joined to another clause.

But if you were to combine any of these clauses (and especially if you were to write them) then you would need to combine them correctly. For example, combining the last two clauses could be done in several ways.

1. No me gusta ésta. Dame la otra. [two separate sentences]
2. No me gusta ésta así que dame la otra [subordinating conjunction]
3. Como no me gusta ésta, dame la otra. [subordinating conjunction]
4. Dame la otra porque no me gusta ésta. [subordinating conjunction]

Using different ways to say the same thing (i.e. dame la otra; pasame esto, etc) still requires that you at least combine words in a meaningful fashion. If I were to say:

No gusta está me la porque dame otra

You would not understand that I meant to say

Dame la otra porque no me gusta ésta.

Grammar rules and conventions are there for a reason. They are there so that we can be understood and understand people better. Speaking in your own style is important....But so is trying to learn proper grammar.

An old English professor once told me once that to be an effective writer or speaker, you must first learn the rules of the language. That way you will know when and why to break these rules to create your own style.

Let's not put the cart before the horse, eh

Picasso could paint traditional pictures very well before he started breaking all the rules. - ian-hill, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 4

There is no This Is Right and Everything Else Is Wrong...you express yourself. Sometimes it's poetic, sometimes not. Just do your thing...

While I understand your point. Notice that in each of your sentences in which you have included more than one clause, you have used the relative pronoun la que to join the two clauses.

There are rules and conventions that are followed no matter what language or what manner of speech you employ. In this case, the use of relative pronouns is one of those grammatical rules that is not employed "as an option."

Very good point, Izanoni. - --Mariana--, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 5

Me alegro de que vas a tomarlo

Correct

No subjunctive? - 0074b507, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 6

Izanoni said:

Grammar rules and conventions are there for a reason. They are there so that we can be understood and understand people better. Speaking in your own style is important....But so is trying to learn proper grammar.

This is why we are here. Let's first learn to read, write, and speak proper Spanish.

I agree. :-) - --Mariana--, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 7

Me alegro de que... seems to me to be a phrase that would require the subjuncitive in the subordinate clause.

Me alegro de que vayas a tomarlo.

great catch Q - Izanoni1, Oct 7, 2009

Answer 8

Me alegro de que... seems to me to be a phrase that would require the subjuncitive in the subordinate clause.

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Me alegro de que vayas a tomarlo. [subjunctive]

I am glad that you go (to) take it.

Me alegro de que vas a tomarlo. [indicative]

I am glad that you are going to take it

Answer 9

I know you are right...but I didn't learn spanish in that fashion. I learned by speaking. If I want that then I say Pasame esto, me puedes da esto, desculpame, quiero esto, me gustaria tener la de ahi. No me gusta esta, dame la otra, etc. I'm just sharing who I am. Maybe it gives to the students a different view.

Answer 10

Me alegro la que te vas a tomar. See how many different ways you can say a thing? Otra manera: Me ponga feliz (feliz and alegro son los dos igual) la que te tomas. La que tomas me da alegria. I am forever saying how many ways there are to say a thing. There is no This Is Right and Everything Else Is Wrong...you express yourself. Sometimes it's poetic, sometimes not. Just do your thing...