Breakdown of El hecho de que la densidad sea baja es un problema.
ser
to be
de
from / of
un
a, an (masculine)
el problema
the problem
bajo
short (height) / low
que
that / than
el hecho
the fact (de hecho: in fact)
la densidad
the density
Questions & Answers about El hecho de que la densidad sea baja es un problema.
If we are talking about a "fact", why do we use the subjunctive (sea) instead of the indicative (es)?
This is one of the trickiest parts of Spanish! Even though it's a "fact," the phrase el hecho de que takes the subjunctive when you are commenting on that fact or reacting to it. Because the main goal of the sentence is to declare that the situation "is a problem" (es un problema), the low density is treated as background information. Spanish uses the subjunctive to signal that this clause is just the setup for the real point of the sentence.
Would it be completely wrong to use the indicative (es) here instead of sea?
In this specific sentence, yes, it would sound wrong. When el hecho de que... is the subject of a value judgment or emotional reaction (like "is a problem", "is sad", "is great"), the subjunctive is strictly required. You will mostly only see the indicative after el hecho de que when the speaker is aggressively asserting the fact as new information, usually following verbs of knowing or stating.
Why use a form of ser (sea) rather than estar (esté) for "is low"? Isn't a low density a condition that could change?
While density might fluctuate over time, Spanish treats measurements, levels, prices, and rates as inherent mathematical characteristics rather than temporary physical states. Therefore, adjectives like alto (high) and bajo (low) in these scientific or mathematical contexts always pair with ser.
Can I leave out the de and just say el hecho que?
No, you need the de. Leaving it out is a common grammatical error among native speakers (known as queísmo), but correct Spanish requires it. The noun hecho (fact) needs the preposition de to link it to the clause that explains what the fact actually is. It's best to memorize this structure as a single, unbreakable chunk: el hecho de que.
Learn El hecho de que la densidad sea baja es un problema and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free