Spanish Que and De Que: Verb Complements and Avoiding Queísmo and Dequeísmo

In this lesson, you will choose or from the construction selected by the governing verb, noun, or adjective. You will use a substitution test with when it helps, but you will also check meaning because some related constructions change their complement when the verb itself changes meaning or form. is not inherently wrong; the problem is adding or deleting where the governing expression does not select it.

Verb that takes que without de

— I think the report needs another review.

Test with :

— I think that.

Because pensar in this meaning does not require before the object, the clause uses , not .

Dequeísmo

Nonstandard in the target construction:

— I think that the report needs another review.

The added is not selected by pensar with this meaning.

Verb that requires de

— I remember that the meeting starts at nine.

Test:

— I remember that.

The pronominal verb selects , so the clause uses .

Queísmo

Nonstandard in the target construction:

— I remember that the meeting starts at nine.

The required has been omitted.

More common patterns with de que

— I am glad that you came.

— He / she realized that one page was missing.

— We are convinced that the change is necessary.

— There is a possibility that the deadline will change.

In each case, the governing expression contains before a nominal complement:

— I am glad about that.

— He / she realized that.

— We are convinced of that.

— There is a possibility of that. Grammatically useful as a test, although the full noun phrase may sound more natural in real discourse.

Patterns with another preposition

— I insist that we review the figure.

— I trust that the team will finish today.

The choice is not only versus . The governing construction may require , , in specific patterns, or another complement entirely.

Noun complements

— the idea that the system can improve.

— the fact that the sample is small.

— the possibility that demand will increase.

The noun selects before the subordinate clause.

Adjective complements

— I am sure that he / she will arrive on time.

— We are aware that data are missing.

— She is convinced that the measure will work.

Meaning can change the construction

Compare:

— I remember that Marta called.

— We agreed that Marta would call.

means to remember and selects . , meaning to agree or decide, takes a direct clause with .

Another meaning contrast

— I noticed that a signature was missing.

— I warned him / her that the deadline could be missed.

The first advertir means to notice. The second is the warning construction . The complement pattern reflects the meaning and participant structure.

The eso test is a diagnostic, not a machine

Useful:

— I am glad about that.

Therefore:

— I am glad that you came.

Useful:

— I believe that.

Therefore:

— I believe it will work.

But always test the same meaning and the same construction. A different meaning of the verb can select a different complement.

Do not add de out of fear

Correct:

— I consider the proposal viable.

Do not write:

— I consider that the proposal is viable.

Do not delete de out of fear

Correct:

— I made sure that the door was closed.

The is part of .

A practical que / de que method

Identify the governing verb, noun, or adjective.
Ask what complement that expression takes in the intended meaning.
Replace the subordinate clause with when the substitution preserves the same meaning.
If the natural pattern is , use before a clause.
If the natural pattern is a direct object such as , use without .
Check other required prepositions such as .
Distinguish from , but do not treat itself as an error.
Recheck the construction when a verb changes meaning or becomes pronominal.

From Complement Choice to Clear Event Chains

You can now select , , and related clause complements from the governing construction rather than from fear of making an error. The next lesson is Speaking Task: Explain a Complex Chain of Events with Clear Reference in Spanish.