Dequeísmo is the improper use of the preposition “de “ before the conjunction “que “ when the conjunction is not required by any of the words in the sentence. For example: ” Me alegría que estás bien” ( I’m glad you’re okay) . In this case, the correct form would be: ” Me alegría que estás bien” (I’m glad you’re okay ).
It’s a linguistic flaw , like queísmo , which consists of not using the preposition “de” when it is correct to use it. For example: Estoy seguro que venir ( I’m sure they will come).
- See also: Vices of diction
When is there dequeísmo?
- From +verbs of speech ( to communicate, to say, to announce, to expose) , of thought ( to consider, to think, to believe, to give an opinion), of perception (to hear, to see, to listen), and of fear (to fear). For example: I thought you would come later . Correct: I thought you would come later.
- Of + subordinate noun clause(which is never preceded by a preposition). For example: He’s worried that you haven’t called yet . Correct: He’s worried that you haven’t called yet.
- De + conjunctive phrasesthat do not include this preposition. For example: As people arrive, we will offer canapés . Correct: As people arrive, we will offer canapés .
- Of +subordinate clause that performs attribute functions in copulative clauses with the verb “to be.” For example: ” His intention is that we all go out to dinner . ” Correct: “His intention is that we all go out to dinner.”
- Deinstead of the preposition the verb requires. For example: I noticed that the light was left off . Correct: I noticed that the light was left off.
Examples of sentences with dequeísmo
- Incorrect: I always think Ishould go live in another country, but I don’t have the courage.
Correct: I always think I should go live in another country, but I don’t have the courage. - Incorrect: I think weneed to tell him the truth before he finds out from somewhere else.
Correct: I think we need to tell him the truth before he finds out from somewhere else. - Incorrect: I think weshould call his parents, he’s not feeling well at all.
Correct: I think we should call his parents, he’s not feeling well at all. - Incorrect: I told him thatif he continued behaving that way, we would take action.
Correct: I told him that if he continued behaving that way, we would take action. - Incorrect: The language teacher told us thatFranco had changed schools.
Correct: The language teacher told us that Franco had changed schools. - Incorrect: I’m very worried thatMario won’t work with us anymore. Correct: I’m very worried that Mario won’t work with us anymore.
- Incorrect: My intention was forthings to turn out differently.
Correct: My intention was for things to turn out differently. - Incorrect: We’ll go sunbathing in the morning, unless it
Correct: We’ll go sunbathing in the morning, unless itrains. - Incorrect: I was told thatmy hometown has improved a lot in recent years.
Correct: I was told that my hometown has improved a lot in recent years. - Incorrect: He assured me thathe would take care of changing the leather. Correct: He assured me that he would take care of changing the leather.
- Incorrect: He claimed thatthis is the best film of the year.
Correct: He claimed that this is the best film of the year. - Incorrect: I’ve always thought thatrugby is a very violent game.
Correct: I’ve always thought that rugby is a very violent game. - Incorrect: I told him wewere working on a film based on his novel.
Correct: I told him we were working on a film based on his novel. - Incorrect: I’m sad thatmy boss quit; we worked together for many years.
Correct: I’m sad that my boss quit; we worked together for many years. - Incorrect: He always told me hedidn’t like living in that neighborhood.
Correct: He always told me he didn’t like living in that neighborhood. - Incorrect: I’m just saying thatwe have to behave like a team, which is what we are.
Correct: I’m just saying that we have to behave like a team, which is what we are. - Incorrect: It would be better for me ifyou came to work in the morning next week.
Correct: It would be better for me if you came to work in the morning next week. - Incorrect: It’s urgent thatwe repair this window because there’s a leak. Correct: It’s urgent that we repair this window because there’s a leak.
- Incorrect: I suggest you don’t speak badly of your classmates. Correct: I suggest you do n’t speak badly of your classmates.
- Incorrect: I like thatmy bedroom window has a view of the sea. Correct: I like that my bedroom window has a view of the sea.
- Incorrect: It hurts me thathe distrusts me after so many years of friendship. Correct: It hurts me that he distrusts me after so many years of friendship.
- Incorrect: I need everyoneto start tidying up, because the guests will be arriving shortly.
Correct: I need everyone to start tidying up, because the guests will be arriving shortly. - Incorrect: It is possible thatnext week Congress will debate the law on environmental education in schools.
Correct: It is possible that next week Congress will debate the law on environmental education in schools. - Incorrect: I don’t expect you towork all day, just to stick to the schedule. Correct: I don’t expect you to work all day, just to stick to the schedule.
- Incorrect: It’s in their best interest toresolve the case as quickly as possible, or they’ll spend a fortune on lawyers.
Correct: It’s in their best interest to resolve the case as quickly as possible, or they’ll spend a fortune on lawyers. - Incorrect: I think weshould go help them move.
Correct: I think we should go help them move. - Incorrect: There’s a lot of traffic, I hope wearrive on time. Correct: There’s a lot of traffic, I hope we arrive on time.
- Incorrect: I wish you awonderful vacation.
Correct: I wish you a wonderful vacation. - Incorrect: He told me thatmy salary would be increased for my good performance.
Correct: He told me that my salary would be increased for my good performance. - Incorrect: The teacher wants us toread the entire book by next week.
Correct: The teacher wants us to read the entire book by next week. - Incorrect: My boss hinted to him thatif he continued to be late, he would be fired. Correct: My boss hinted to him that if he continued to be late, he would be fired.
- Incorrect: It is very possible thatthe governor will make an announcement tomorrow with the Minister of Education. Correct: It is very possible that the governor will make an announcement tomorrow with the Minister of Education.
- Incorrect: The soccer player commented thatthe training had been very hard. Correct: The soccer player commented that the training had been very hard.
- Incorrect: I think weshould invite your cousins over this weekend; they haven’t seen each other in a while.
Correct: I think we should invite your cousins over this weekend; they haven’t seen each other in a while. - Incorrect: I suspect thiswill be a very difficult match.
Correct: I suspect this will be a very difficult match. - Incorrect: He told me he‘d be a little late.
Correct: He told me he ‘d be a little late. - Incorrect: I thought I heard thatnext year, the company will begin exporting to France.
Correct: I thought I heard that next year, the company will begin exporting to France. - Incorrect: Unless itrains, we’ll go running in the park tomorrow. Correct: Unless it rains, we’ll go running in the park tomorrow.
- Incorrect: I want usto go on vacation to the beach this year.
Correct: I want us to go on vacation to the beach this year. - Incorrect: I always try to makemy patients feel supported. Correct: I always try to make my patients feel supported.
- Incorrect: It’s almost certain thatthe president will travel to China next month.
Correct: It’s almost certain that the president will travel to China next month. - Incorrect: The local guard prevented the thieves from
Correct: The local guard prevented the thieves fromescaping. - Incorrect: My boss seemed confident thatwe would achieve the goals set at the beginning of the year.
Correct: My boss seemed confident that we would achieve the goals set at the beginning of the year. - Incorrect: I asked them tolet me know as soon as they had any news about it.
Correct: I asked them to let me know as soon as they had any news about it. - Incorrect: Thank goodness my mother reminded me Ihad an appointment with the dentist.
Correct: Thank goodness my mother reminded me I had an appointment with the dentist. - Incorrect: I’m afraid thatthe food won’t be enough for all the guests.
Correct: I’m afraid that the food won’t be enough for all the guests. - Incorrect: The candidate stated thathe would lower taxes if elected president.
Correct: The candidate stated that he would lower taxes if elected president. - Incorrect: The candidate stated thathe would lower taxes if elected president. Correct: The candidate stated that he would lower taxes if elected president.
- Incorrect: I told him thatif he needed help, he could count on me.
Correct: I told him that if he needed help, he could count on me. - Incorrect: They warned me thatthe flight could be delayed because of the storm.
Correct: They warned me that the flight could be delayed because of the storm.
