No decir subjunctive?

Question

If I trying to say like "I'm not saying that's a good thing" would I use subjunctive because of the negativity of the sentence

For example: "no estoy deciendo que eso sea una cosa buena" Or is it indicative form?

good reasoning, you are quite right :) - 006595c6, Aug 3, 2017

Good well thought out question! - billygoat, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 1

Correct reasoning: "sea" is what native speakers would say most of the time.

However, if you ever hear a native speakers using "es", it might not necessarily be wrong, because indicative is possible, for example, if you are quoting something someone else said.

Lazarus!!!!!!!! Es un placer conocerte de nuevo! Bienvenido! - billygoat, Aug 3, 2017

billy cielo, has querido decir "verte" , jeje, conocerlo ya lo conoces - 006595c6, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 2

"no estoy diciendo que eso sea una cosa buena"

No estoy diciendo que esto necesariamente sea (algo) bueno.

You are actually right in your reasoning. Good job

The same sentence in affirmative would read:

Te digo que esto es (algo) bueno.

We would however not use "cosa buena" but just the adjective or something like algo.

Thank you. I learnt something there too! - billygoat, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 3

I would use sea.

Answer 4

Tozelton:

Yes, I would use sea, since it is a negative statement, although it seems to me that the following would be a more common way to express this idea in Spanish.

No quise decir que sea bueno.

I didn't mean (want to say) that is was good.

I could be wrong, since I am not a native speaker...perhaps your phrase "No estoy diciendo que" would also be a perfectly natural way of saying this in Spanish...and since Heidita didn't say that it wasn't it probably is.

In the affirmative you would use the indicative - es.

Was my reasoning correct? - Echoline, Aug 3, 2017

Yes Echo; I think so. - DilKen, Aug 3, 2017

his reasoning was spot on , ken. In affirmative we would not use the subjunctive - 006595c6, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 5

I am not a native speaker, so I am taking a stab at it to see if the people who really know what they are talking about agree with me.

I would use the subjunctive because you have a subordinated noun clause which acts like a large direct object that answers the question "what" posed by the verb at the end of the main clause....

I'm not saying (what?) that it's a good thing.

I think that the verb in the subordinate clause has to be subjunctive because there is a change of subject from the main clause to the subordinate clause and the condition of doubt is introduced in the main clause.