"Dudo que yo sepa la respuesta. "

Question

Pensé que cuando la persona es igua (i.e. "yo"), no deberías usar subjuntivo.

¿Alguien puede aclarar?

I thought that when the person is the same (i.e. yo), you shouldn't use subjuntive.

Can someone clarify?

Tim

Answer 1

Dudo que takes the subjunctive. It would be awkward to say: "Dudo que yo sé la respuesta." To avoid the subjunctive you can say "Dudo saber la respuesta."

No. Sorry. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

Could one say "Dudo sabiendo la respuesta"? - PeterRS, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 2

There are also cases where the subjuctive is used with the same subject,

p. ej. Ojalá (que) gane la lotería algún día.

I´ve seen similar a few times with Ojalá. Not sure if that´s a unique exception.

I also wonder about sentences showing doubt like the below.

We´re not sure if we can meet.

No estamos seguros que podemos reunirnos.

O.

No estamos seguros que podamos reunirnos.

Which is correct?

Also, in Franco´s comments above, he wrote.

It would be awkward to say: "Dudo que yo sé la respuesta." To avoid the subjunctive you can say "Dudo saber la respuesta."

What about? "Dudo que sepa la respuesta."

Does that not work? Or sound awkward?

This all seems quite tricky.

Answer 3

From what I read if the subject is the same in both parts of the setence you use the infintive or haber particple. But that doesn't make sense here., for example if I wanted to say sorry I am missed you Siento/lamento haberte perdido.

Siento no haberte encontrado (to miss is difficult to translate here). Siento que no nos hayamos visto could also work. - francobollo, Dec 21, 2012

Thanks. I usually hear perder but this more exact . - BellaMargarita, Dec 21, 2012

Answer 4

Francobollo is the expert. And yes there are two different subjects when using the subjunctive. It helps avoid the "awkwardness" referred to.