Expressing Worry: Preocupar

The verb preocupar is a bit of a rebel. It doesn't follow the standard "I do an action" pattern. Instead, it follows the "backwards" logic of gustar. In English, we say "I worry about the exam." In Spanish, we say "The exam worries me." The thing causing the worry is the actual subject. You are the one receiving the feeling. Because of this, you need to use Indirect Object Pronouns. These are me, te, le, nos, os, and les. When you add a second action, like "It worries me that you drive fast," you need a bridge. That bridge is the word que. After que, the second verb must change into the Subjunctive Mood. This mood is used because you aren't stating a hard fact. You are expressing a subjective feeling or a reaction. It is like a grammar traffic light turning yellow to signal a change in tone.

1. 1To build this sentence, follow these five simple steps:
2. 2Start with the Indirect Object Pronoun (e.g., me, te, le).
3. 3Add the verb preocupar. Usually, it stays in the third person: preocupa.
4. 4Add the word que to connect your thoughts.
5. 5Choose your second subject (e.g., tú, él, mis amigos).
6. 6Use the Subjunctive form of the second verb.
7. 7For example: Me (to me) + preocupa (it worries) + que (that) + no + comas (you eat - subjunctive).
8. 8Result: Me preocupa que no comas. (It worries me that you don't eat.)

Use this pattern whenever you react to someone else's situation. It is perfect for showing empathy or concern. Imagine you are at a cafe with a friend. They look exhausted. You can say, Me preocupa que trabajes mucho. (It worries me that you work a lot.) This shows you are paying attention. You can also use it in more formal settings. Perhaps you are in a job interview. You might say, Me preocupa que la oficina esté lejos. (It worries me that the office is far.) It is also common in family settings. Parents use this constantly! Nos preocupa que no estudies. (It worries us that you don't study.) It is the ultimate "I care about you" grammar tool. Use it when the outcome is uncertain or when you are expressing an emotional response to a fact.

There is one big trap to avoid. Do not use the Subjunctive if the subject doesn't change. If you are worried about your own actions, use the infinitive. For example, "I worry about arriving late" is Me preocupa llegar tarde. You don't need que and you don't need the Subjunctive. Why? Because there is only one person involved: you. Also, don't use this for simple facts where no emotion is involved. If you are just saying "The dog is sick," use El perro está enfermo. Only bring out preocupar when you want to highlight the emotional impact on yourself. Think of the Subjunctive as a "feeling filter." If there is no feeling and no change of person, keep the filter off.

Even native speakers might slip up, but you can stay ahead of the curve. The most common mistake is using yo instead of me. Remember, you aren't "doing" the worrying; the situation is "doing" it to you. Never say Yo preocupo que... (✗). Another classic error is forgetting the que. Without que, the sentence falls apart like a sandwich without bread. Many learners also stick to the Indicative mood. They might say Me preocupa que tú estás enfermo (✗). It should be estés (✓). Using the Indicative makes it sound like a cold statement of fact rather than a heartfelt concern. Finally, don't forget that preocupar must match the thing causing the worry. If multiple things worry you, use preocupan. Me preocupan tus notas. (Your grades worry me.)

This pattern is a sibling to Me gusta que... and Me molesta que.... All these "verbs of emotion" trigger the Subjunctive.

• Me gusta que vengas. (I like that you are coming.)
• Me molesta que grites. (It bothers me that you shout.)
• Me preocupa que llegues tarde. (It worries me that you arrive late.)

Notice the family resemblance? They all use a pronoun, a third-person verb, que, and the Subjunctive. You can also contrast this with Estar preocupado por. This is a simpler way to express worry: Estoy preocupado por mi perro. (I am worried about my dog.) This version uses a preposition (por) and a noun. It doesn't require the Subjunctive because there is no second verb. Use preocupar que when you want to be more specific about an action.