Ser Raro Que: Subjunctive

Think of this grammar point like a two-part puzzle. The first part is your opinion. You start with Es raro que. This means "It is rare that" or "It is strange that." The second part is the action that feels weird. Because Es raro que expresses an emotion or a judgment, the Spanish language demands the subjunctive mood for the second verb. You aren't just saying something happened. You are saying it is odd that it happened. It is like putting on "weirdness glasses." Everything you see through them changes slightly. If you use the normal indicative mood here, it sounds flat. It sounds like a robot reporting a fact without feeling. Spanish speakers love to express how they feel about the world.

1. 1Building this sentence is like following a simple recipe. You don't need a PhD in linguistics. Just follow these four steps:
2. 2Start with the main clause: Es raro. You can add words like muy (very) for extra drama: Es muy raro.
3. 3Add the word que. This is the bridge. It connects your judgment to the action.
4. 4Introduce a new subject. This is someone or something else. For example: Juan, mi perro, or tú.
5. 5Use the subjunctive form of the verb. For most -ar verbs, change the a to e. For -er and -ir verbs, change the e or i to a.
6. 6Example: Es raro + que + tú + bebas (from beber) + té.
7. 7Result: Es raro que tú bebas té. (It is strange that you drink tea).

You use this pattern whenever something feels out of place. Think of it as your "unusual behavior" alert. Use it when ordering food if your friend usually hates spicy stuff: Es raro que pidas chile. Use it when checking the weather: Es raro que nieve en mayo. Use it at work if the boss is actually early for once. It covers anything that breaks a pattern. It is perfect for gossip, sharing surprises, or just making conversation about the world around you. If it makes you raise an eyebrow, you probably need Es raro que + subjunctive.

Don't use the subjunctive if there is no que. If you just want to say "It is rare to see him," you use the infinitive: Es raro verlo. Also, don't use this if you are stating a 100% boring, objective fact without judgment. Phrases like Es verdad que or Es cierto que do NOT use the subjunctive. They use the indicative. Why? Because there is no "weirdness" there. It is just the truth. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Red light (truth/certainty) means indicative. Yellow light (weirdness/judgment) means subjunctive. Also, if you are talking about yourself in both parts, you usually stick to the infinitive: Es raro no dormir (It's weird not to sleep) instead of Es raro que yo no duerma.

The biggest trap is using the regular "present tense" (indicative). Many learners say Es raro que Juan *está* aquí. ✗ Wrong! You need Es raro que Juan *esté* aquí. ✓ Correct! Another mistake is forgetting the que. Without que, the sentence falls apart. It’s like a sandwich with no bread. Also, watch out for the spelling. Subjunctive can be tricky. Some people try to use the subjunctive with facts. Don't say Es verdad que él *venga*. Since it's a fact (Es verdad), use viene. Save your subjunctive energy for the weird stuff! Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired, but you'll be sharper than that.

Let’s compare two different worlds.

World 1: Certainty. Es verdad que Juan llega tarde. (It is true that Juan arrives late). Here, we use the indicative llega. We are just stating a fact.

World 2: Judgment. Es raro que Juan llegue tarde. (It is strange that Juan arrives late). Here, we use the subjunctive llegue. We are reacting to the fact.

See the difference? The first is a news report. The second is a conversation at a cafe. Other phrases that act like Es raro que include Es extraño que and Es poco común que. They all love the subjunctive. On the other hand, phrases like Es obvio que stay in the indicative world.