Qué bueno que

Question

I remember that "Qué bueno que" is usually followed by subjunctive verbs. However, in some cases indicative verbs comes after "Qué bueno que" in certain sentences. Can anyone explain the difference for me? Gracias

Answer 1

I just happened to review this myself:

As you know, this structure is used to express value or opinion, for example:

¡Qué bueno que estés aquí!

¡Qué triste que se haya muerto el perro!

At times one employs a noun instead of an adjective, for example:

¡Qué felicidad que mi hija se haya casado!

¡Lástima que sea demasiado tarde!

However, you can use the indicative and not the subjunctive in cases which are not speculative but real, such as:

¡Qué bueno que vienes!

¡Qué lástima que ganas tan poco dinero!

Thank you for that generous comment G. Lo aprecio. - Jeremias, Jun 9, 2011

Jeremias, is it just the whim or the mood of the moment that determines the mood of the verb in these two? ¡Qué bueno que estés aquí! = my opinion although you are really here. ¡Qué bueno que vienes! = my opinion although you really came. - Sabor, Jun 9, 2011

Glad that you made a reply, so that I could vote it up. Nice answer. - 0074b507, Jun 9, 2011

Good point, the example que bueno que estés aquí Could well be que bueno que estás aquí… I believe the use of the indicative here is optional but not mandatory. It depends on the place on the spectrum of opinion to fact that you wish to express. - Jeremias, Jun 9, 2011

Answer 2

¡Qué bueno que estés aquí!

¡Qué bueno que vienes!

Both are statements of fact and neither one is informing the person--they know that they are there and they know that they came--therefore they both should properly be in the subjunctive. However, exclamations like this often use the indicative instead. . .breaking certain grammatical rules is part of informal speech.

I hate answers like that (even if you are correct).. Don't share the bad news! - 0074b507, Jun 9, 2011

There are rules stating this, but everyone ignores them. Sounds like English grammar. - 0074b507, Jun 9, 2011

Ain't it the truth! :) - Sabor, Jun 9, 2011

Answer 3

I would tend to go with the subjunctive as you are not declaring what is in the subordinate clause (que....), but rather expressing your subjective evaluation of what is in the clause. You may already know the information contained in the clause.

If someone used the indicative mood in the subordinate clause, I would suspect that they thought that you were ignorant of the contents of the clause and that they were informing you of its contents.

It is a question of whether the person is making the statement to inform you of something or just commenting about the something. And this may be a perceived reality and not valid. The person may think that you are (un)/aware of the information, whether you are or are not, in fact,

The indicative is used when the opinon one expresses is not at all speculative, but fact: ¡Qué bueno que vienes! - Jeremias, Jun 9, 2011

Best answer. Wish I could vote it up. - 0074b507, Jun 9, 2011