How to use the Italian subjunctive?

The Italian subjunctive is a verbal mood that is mainly used to express emotions, doubts, desires, and opinions. For example:

The subjunctive is very common in Italian, but it may take you some time to master, because there is no exact parallel to it in English. English does technically have a subjunctive mood, it is very rare and not used in everyday life.

In class, I use a famous quote in Latin by Descartes to introduce my students to the Italian subjunctive mood: Cogito, ergo sum (meaning I think, therefore I am). I tell them that “thinking” (among other things) allows us to enter the magic “realm” of a person and their personal universe, made of emotions, doubts, and desires, which in Italian is when we use the subjunctive.

Let’s dive into the matters of the mind, heart, and soul.

The subjunctive is an Italian mood that can be used in four different tenses (present, imperfect, past, and past perfect).

Below we’ll cover the general uses of the subjunctive. To learn about how to conjugate verbs in their subjunctive forms, have a look, instead, at our post, “How to form the present and past subjunctive in Italian?” However, you’ll find that these uses can be found in a range of tenses.

Why? Because the subjunctive is very important when we talk about our emotions ❤and our thoughts 💭. It lets us enrich our language with many nuances of meaning! We all have ideas, opinions, doubts, feelings, and emotions, right? Well, this is why we need the subjunctive!

The Italian subjunctive is usually used in a two-part sentence, and it is “triggered” by certain expressions. Let’s look at an example:

The sentence above has two main “parts” or “clauses” that are linked by a conjunction (linking word). Both clauses will contain a verb with a subject, but generally the subordinate clause is only there to complete or add to or complete the main clause. In the example above, the subordinate clause explains what I thought.

We use the subjunctive in the subordinate clause if the main clause contains some expression that “triggers” the subjunctive mood. In this case, the expression that triggers the subjunctive is the thinking verb credo.

Once you know that there are two clauses with two different subjects, you need to think about “what’s in the main clause?” For instance:

In this example, there are two subjects (I hope, you come). In the main clause, we have an expression of emotion, sperare (meaning to hope). This is an expression that “triggers” the subjunctive, so you need to use the subjunctive of venire (meaning to come) in the subordinate clause! Easy-peasy right?

To know when to use the subjunctive, we need to figure out what’s in the main clause, so let’s see some “triggering” expressions that need to be followed by the subjunctive! Ready?

Yes, in a few cases, the Italian subjunctive is used in the main clause of a sentence. Let’s see when the subjunctive can be used independently as exhortation:

• to give an order:

  subjunctive

  Mi dia i documenti.

  Translation: Give me (formal) your documents.

• to plead:

  subjunctive

  Mi aiuti per favore!

  Translation: Help me (formal), please!

• to invite:

  subjunctive

  Venga a trovarmi!

  Translation: Come (formal) to visit me!

• In the imperfect/past, it is used also for exclamations:

  subjunctive

  Sapessi quanto vorrei vederti!

  Translation: You have no idea how much I would like to see you!

You can use forse (meaning maybe) or secondo me/te/lui/... (meaning according to me/you/him/…) to avoid using the subjunctive in Italian! All you need to do is use one of these phrases instead of the main clause that would ordinarily trigger the subjunctive, and you can use the indicative instead! This is a great way to go If you don’t remember a subjunctive form of an irregular verb, like venire (meaning to come), or andare (meaning to go).

• forse (meaning maybe) + indicative

  • indicative

    Forse loro vengono domani.

    Translation: Maybe they will come tomorrow.
  • subjunctive triggersubjunctive

    Può darsi che loro vengano domani.

    Translation: It’s possible that they will arrive tomorrow.

• secondo me/te/lui… (meaning according to me/you/him/…) + indicative

  • indicative

    Secondo noi lui va in aereo.

    Translation: In our opinion, he will take a plane.
  • subjunctive triggersubjunctive

    Pensiamo che lui vada in aereo.

    Translation: We think he will take a plane.

The subjunctive is the key to expressing your mind, heart, and soul.

• It is mostly used in subordinate clauses, and its use depends on what’s in the main clause:

  • Is it a D.O.V.E. verb? → subjunctive

  • Is it an impersonal expression? → subjunctive

  • Is it essere + adjective? → subjunctive

  • Is it an indefinite expression? → subjunctive

  • Is there a superlative? → subjunctive

  • Does it refer to unknown people or things? → subjunctive

• Use forse or secondo me → indicative as a backup plan!

Adesso è meglio che facciate un po’ di pratica (meaning Now it is better that you practice), so click the link for activities to practice the use of the subjunctive in Italian!