Which of these phrases is correct and why?

Question

1. Es una lástima que estés enfermo.
2. Es una lástima que estás enfermo.
3. Es una lástima que tú estar enfermo.

Answer 1

It's a shame that you are sick...

That "you are sick" is a fact, but that "it's a shame" is subjective, so I think this requires the subjunctive:

Es una lástima que estés enfermo.

So I guess the "you are sick" part is the new subject in the second clause to make it subjunctive? - chillwill, Dec 13, 2011

Answer 2

So I guess the "you are sick" part is the new subject in the second clause to make it subjunctive?

No... "you are sick" is a fact, regardless of what people think about it.

What makes it a subjective statement, and therefore subjunctive, is the part of the sentence that says "It's a shame that".

You may think it is a shame that someone is sick... but somebody else may think it is funny that the person is sick.

This statement is all factual, and therefore does not need the subjunctive:

It's a fact that you are sick. -- Es un hecho que estás enfermo.

Answer 3

The first and second ones are correct! The third one is the way an American would try to say it in Spanish. In other words, the third one is wrong!

What A L L of them? :) - ian-hill, Dec 13, 2011

I've never heard A N Y American say "Es una lástima que tú estar enfermo" - Jack-OBrien, Dec 13, 2011

Answer 4

Is this correct? I don't understand the subjunctive