THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD — IL MODO CONGIUNTIVO

All the tenses of the verb which are listed under the verbs on the Grammar Index Page, apart from the conditional tenses, are in a mood called the INDICATIVE. This is the form of the verb which is used for making statements of fact. Now meet the subjunctive:

This is a mood of the verb which no longer exists in English, except in one structure with the verb "to be", so English speakers usually find it difficult to grasp the subjunctive. Many other languages still have there subjunctive mood but it has vanished from English.
It is a form of the verb which is used in Italian quite commonly in certain situations.
The subjunctive mood is available in only four tenses: present, imperfect, perfect and pluperfect.

Firstly you have to get to know what the subjunctive looks like; here are some verbs to illustrate how the present and imperfect are formed:

N.B. You will see that in the present tense, the first three persons of the verb are identical and this is one occasion when you will probably have to use the personal pronouns in order to avoid confusion. Similarly, in the imperfect tense, you cannot distinguish the first and second persons without using pronouns.

You know that in the present tense there are two types of verb in the Third Conjugation (those whose infinitive ends in -ire). If you are not sure of this, go back and look again at how you form the present tense by clicking here. Both these types of verb form there imperfect in the same way.

Here are the subjunctives of essere and avere. You need these as verbs in their own right but they are also the auxiliary verbs which make the perfect and pluperfect subjunctives for all the other verbs in the language.

Again you need to use pronouns to distinguish the persons of the verb which are identical.

The tables above show you how to make the subjunctive, now you need to learn when and when not to use it.
I have divided the rest of this page into eight sections to illustrate the uses of the subjunctive. In Higher Grade Writing, I would expect you to be able to use a few clauses and structures which require the subjunctive.

SECTION 1: Use it : after impersonal verbs and expressions like:

But DON'T USE IT when you use an infinitive, e.g.:

1. It is difficult to understand all this = E' difficile capire tutto questo.
2. You need to book the tickets = Bisogna prenotare i biglietti.

SECTION 2: Use it : after verbs expressing hope, want, expect, prefer, fear, think, e.g.

1. I hope that you understand all this = Spero che tu capisca tutto questo.
2. The boss wanted us all to work hard = Il padrone voleva che lavorassimo sodo.
3. My parents prefer me to go with them = I miei genitori preferiscono che io li accompagni.
4. I thought Angelina was very sweet = Pensavo che Angelina fosse molto simpatica.

But DON'T USE IT when you use an infinitive, e.g.:

1. I hope to go to university = Spero di andare all'università.
2. I would like to study law = Vorrei studiare legge.
3. I would prefer to continue to study Spanish = Preferirei continuare a studiare lo spagnolo.
4. I am thinking of looking for a job = Penso di cercare un lavoro.

SECTION 3: It must be used in clauses introduced by the following conjunctions:

For example:

1. We enjoyed ourselves although the weather was terrible
   = Ci siamo divertiti benché il tempo fosse terribile
2. I'll buy him a present for his birthday provided it doesn't cost too much
   = Gli comprerò un regalo per il suo compleanno purché non costi troppo
3. I'll take an umbrella in case it rains.
   = Porterò un ombrello nel caso che piova.

SECTION 4: USE IT to express purpose after the following conjunctions BUT only if the subjects of the main and dependent clauses are different/

For example:

1. We hired bikes so that the children could go into the countryside.
   = Abbiamo noleggiato delle biciclette affinché i bambini vadano in campagna.
2. Let's wait a little for the wine to get cooler.
   = Aspettiamo un po' cosicche il vino sia più freddo.

But DON'T USE IT if the subjects in the two clauses are the same; instead, use per + infinitive, e.g.:

1. I would like to go to university to study foreign languages.
   = Vorrei andare all'università per studiare lingue straniere.
2. If I had the money, I would go to Italy to improve my Italian.
   = Se io avessi i soldi, andrei in Italia per migliorare il mio italiano.
3. I went to the bank in order to change money.
   = Sono andato alla banca per cambiare soldi.

SECTION 5: USE IT after the conjunction “prima che”to translate “before” if the subjects of the two clauses are different, e.g.:

1. I'll leave before your parents come back home.
   = Partirò prima che i tuoi genitori tornino a casa.
2. The house had been burning for half an hour before the firemen arrived.
   = La casa brucciava da una mezz'ora prima che i pompieri arrivassero.

But DON'T USE IT if the subjects in the two clauses are the same; instead, use prima di + infinitive, e.g.:

1. We played cards before going to bed.
   = Abbiamo giocato a carte prima di andare a letto.
2. I would like to have a gap year before going to university.
   = Vorrei avere un anno sabatico prima di andare all'università.

SECTION 6: USE IT after the conjunction “senza che”to translate “without” if the subjects of the two clauses are different, e.g.:

1. The boys used to smoke without their parents being aware of it.
   = I ragazzi fumavano senza che i loro genitori se ne accorgessero.
2. I can't do anything without my family knowing about it.
   = Non posso fare niente senza che la mia famiglia lo sappia.

But DON'T USE IT if the subjects in the two clauses are the same; instead, use senza + infinitive, e.g.:

1. I didn't want to come back without buying some presents.
   = Non volevo tornare senza comprare qualche regalo.
2. Breakfast is important. It's not a good idea to leave home without having something to eat.
   = La colazione è importante. Non è una buona idea uscire di casa senza mangiare qualcosa.

SECTION 7: USE IT with the structure“non vedo l'ora che”to translate “I can't wait; I am looking forward to” if the subjects of the two clauses are different, e.g.:

1. I can't wait for the holidays to arrive.
   = Non vedo l'ora che le vacanze arrivino.
2. I couldn't wait for the phone to ring.
   = Non vedevo l'ora che il telefono squillasse.

But DON'T USE IT if you want an infinitive; instead, use non vedo l'ora + infinitive, e.g.:

1. I can't wait to go back to Rome.
   = non vedo l'ora di tornare a Roma.
2. My partner was looking forward to visiting Scotland.
   = La mia corrispondente non vedeva l'ora di visitare la Scozia.

SECTION 8: Commonest mistakes when using the subjunctive.

These are:

1. Using the subjunctive when you don't need it. Look at the sections above and note when it is not required; it is usually only needed after certain conjunctions when the subjects in the two clauses are different.

2. Using the wrong tense.
   There are only four tenses which have a subjunctive: present, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect.

Rule: If the verb in the main clause is present, future, or imperative, use the present or perfect subjunctive.
     If the verb in the main clause is past, or conditional, use the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive.

Exercise 1: Here is a short passage in English; after it you will find that most of it has been translated but you have to change the verbs given from the infinitive into the correct tense of the subjunctive. In the passage someone is telling of their dreams and wishes when he was younger and this is a situation where the subjunctive is needed.

To check your answer click here.

Exercise 2: Translate these sentences into Italian:

1. I used to think that life in America was exciting.
2. I doubt that Anna is happy.
3. I suppose that teachers in Italy don't earn much.
4. My mother hoped that we were spending our holiday quietly.
5. I always imagined that the beaches were crowded in summer.
6. Our grandmother always wished that we had gone to university.
7. It is possible that someone has found the wallet.
8. It was necessary for the children to get dressed in a hurry.
9. I had bought a house in the country because I thought that the air was cleaner there.
10. My parents would have liked me to stay at home.

To check your answer click here.