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Spanish (Latin America)

When you want to explain your actions by ruling out a false assumption, Spanish pairs the subjunctive and indicative moods to contrast the fake reason with the real one.

### Ruling out a reason with *no es que*

To say "It is not that [X], but rather that [Y]", use **no es que** followed by the subjunctive, and **sino que** followed by the indicative. 

The first reason takes the subjunctive because you are rejecting it. The second takes the indicative because you are declaring the actual truth.

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### Using *no porque*

You can also use **no porque** (not because) and **sino porque** (but because). The rule remains the same: the rejected reason takes the subjunctive, and the real reason takes the indicative.

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### Clarifying motives and feelings

This structure is especially common when clearing up misunderstandings about your intentions, character, or feelings.

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Rejected reasons (no es que... sino que)

adjective

adverb

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

expression

interjection

noun

numeral

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Subject pronouns and the verb to be (yo soy)

Noun gender and definite articles (el, la)

Basic sentences and negation (no)

Indefinite articles (un, una)

Formal and informal you (tú vs. usted)

Plural pronouns and the verb to be (somos, son)

Making nouns plural (-s, -es)

Plural articles (los, las, unos, unas)

Noun gender exceptions

Adjective agreement

Invariable adjectives

State and location (estar)

Ser vs. estar

There is / there are (hay)

Hay vs. estar

To have (tener)

Possession (de)

Possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su)

Regular -ar verbs

Yes/No questions

What and who (qué, quién)

Regular -er verbs

Regular -ir verbs

Asking where (dónde, adónde)

How, when, and why (cómo, cuándo, por qué)

How much and how many (cuánto)

Days of the week

Going to a place (ir a)

Preposition contractions (al, del)

In and by (en)

With me and with you (conmigo, contigo)

Prepositional pronouns (mí, ti)

Conjunctions (y, o, pero)

Giving reasons (porque)

Stem-changing verbs (e to ie)

Stem-changing verbs (o to ue)

Stem-changing verbs (e to i)

Irregular yo forms (hago, salgo)

To know (saber vs. conocer)

Weather expressions (hace, está)

Desires and plans (querer)

Ability and requests (poder)

Obligations (tener que)

Expressing likes (me gusta)

Plural likes (me gustan)

Verbs like gustar (encantar, doler)

Very vs. a lot (muy, mucho)

Numbers 0 to 15 (cero, uno, dos…)

Numbers 16 to 31 (dieciséis, veinte…)

Numbers 30 to 1000 (treinta, cien, mil)

Months of the year (enero, febrero, marzo)

Seasons and dates (el dos de mayo)

Telling time (es la..., son las...)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero, segundo, tercero)

Reflexive pronouns and verbs (me, te, se, nos)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

The present continuous (estar + -ando, -iendo)

Near demonstrative adjectives (este, esta, estos, estas)

Medium demonstrative adjectives (ese, esa, esos, esas)

Comparatives of inequality (más / menos ... que)

Comparatives of equality (tan ... como)

Indefinite and negative pronouns (algo, nada, alguien, nadie)

Affirmative commands

Far demonstratives (aquel, aquella)

Possessive pronouns (el mío, el tuyo)

Shortened indefinite adjectives (algún, ningún)

Adverbs of quantity (demasiado, bastante)

Adverbs of frequency (a menudo, a veces)

Adverb formation (-mente)

Exclamations (¡Qué...!)

Irregular comparatives (mejor, peor, mayor, menor)

Relative superlatives (el más... de)

Adjective intensification (-ísimo)

Indirect object pronouns

Pronoun placement with infinitives

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

The 'se lo' rule (se lo, se la)

Impersonal statements (se)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Personal obligation (deber)

Starting actions (empezar a)

Finishing and quitting actions (terminar de, dejar de)

Repeating actions (volver a)

Continuing actions (seguir + gerundio)

Question	Answer
excuse	la excusa
laziness	la pereza
It is not that I am looking for an excuse, but rather that I am feeling lazy.	No es que busque una excusa, sino que tengo pereza.
to reject	rechazar
It is not that I reject the project out of laziness, but rather that I don't have time.	No es que rechace el proyecto por pereza, sino que no tengo tiempo.
pretext	el pretexto
I am calling you not because I am looking for a pretext, but because I want to help you.	Te llamo no porque busque un pretexto, sino porque quiero ayudarte.
distrust	la desconfianza
It is not that I feel distrust, but rather that yesterday I couldn't go.	No es que sienta desconfianza, sino que ayer no pude ir.
selfishness	el egoísmo
priority	la prioridad
It is not that I act out of selfishness, but rather that my health is the priority.	No es que actúe por egoísmo, sino que mi salud es la prioridad.
It is not that I am shy, but rather that I prefer to listen.	No es que sea tímido, sino que prefiero escuchar.
It is not that I need an excuse, but rather that that pretext is very bad.	No es que necesite una excusa, sino que ese pretexto es muy malo.
intentional	intencional
malice	la maldad
It is not that it is intentional, but rather that I put it there without malice.	No es que sea intencional, sino que lo puse allí sin maldad.
It is not that I reject the trip, but rather that my priority is to save money.	No es que rechace el viaje, sino que mi prioridad es ahorrar.
It is not that I will feel distrust when you speak with him tomorrow, but rather that I worry.	No es que sienta desconfianza cuando hables con él mañana, sino que me preocupo.
shyness	la timidez
It is not that shyness controls me, but rather that I would like to be alone.	No es que la timidez me controle, sino que me gustaría estar solo.
It is not that his selfishness is intentional, but rather that he acts without malice.	No es que su egoísmo sea intencional, sino que actúa sin maldad.
It is not that I feel shyness, but rather that I do not know them.	No es que yo sienta timidez, sino que no los conozco.