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The Italian Subjunctive

Lesson forty-five

The Italian subjunctive mood, il congiuntivo, is often considered one of the trickiest areas of Italian grammar. It is essential for expressing nuance, as it conveys doubt, desire, opinion, emotion, or uncertainty. While its use has decreased in everyday spoken Italian, especially in casual conversations, it remains crucial in written Italian, formal speech, literature, and professional contexts.

What Is the Subjunctive Mood?

The congiuntivo is used to describe actions, thoughts, or feelings that are uncertain, hypothetical, subjective, or influenced by personal perception. Unlike the indicative, which expresses facts or certainty, the subjunctive highlights doubt, possibility, or desire. It often appears after verbs such as:

pensare – to think
credere – to believe
sperare – to hope
sembrare – to seem
volere – to want

It can also follow impersonal expressions or conjunctions that indicate necessity, possibility, or judgment.

Examples

Penso che Roma sia una bella città.

I think that Rome is a beautiful city.

Credo che tu abbia fatto la scelta giusta.

I believe that you made the right choice.

Spero che tu guarisca presto.

I hope you recover soon.

Mi sembra che Tiziana sia simpatica.

It seems to me that Tiziana is nice.

Ho l’impressione che stia per piovere.

I have the impression that it’s about to rain.

Common Uses of the Subjunctive

After Expressions of Desire or Emotion

The subjunctive is often used to express what someone wishes, hopes, or wants. These sentences usually involve a main clause followed by che + subjunctive:

Desidero che tu stia bene.

I wish that you are well.

Vorrei che tu mi aiutassi a risolvere questo problema.

I would like you to help me solve this problem.

Il mio capo vuole che lavori di sabato.

My boss wants you to work on Saturday.

After Impersonal Expressions

Impersonal expressions often require the subjunctive to indicate uncertainty or evaluation, rather than stating facts:

È bello che tu sia venuto.

It’s nice that you came.

È impossibile che io finisca prima delle due.

It’s impossible for me to finish before two o’clock.

When Not to Use the Subjunctive

If the subject of both clauses is the same, it’s common to use di + infinitive instead of che + subjunctive:

Spero di stare bene.

I hope to be well.

Spero di avere successo nella vita.

I hope to have success in life.

Present Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Presente)

The present subjunctive expresses doubt, desire, opinion, or emotion in the present or future. It is often introduced by che (that), se (if), or expressions of judgment, hope, or necessity.

-ARE Verbs

Regular -ARE verbs follow these endings in the present subjunctive: -i, -i, -i, -iamo, -iate, -ino.

Pronoun	Sognare (to dream)	Iniziare (to begin)
Io	sogni	inizi
Tu	sogni	inizi
Lui/Lei	sogni	inizi
Noi	sogniamo	iniziamo
Voi	sognate	iniziate
Loro	sognino	inizino

-ERE Verbs

Regular -ERE verbs use the endings: -a, -a, -a, -iamo, -iate, -ano.

Pronoun	Scrivere (to write)	Vivere (to live)
Io	scriva	viva
Tu	scriva	viva
Lui/Lei	scriva	viva
Noi	scriviamo	viviamo
Voi	scriviate	viviate
Loro	scrivano	vivano

-IRE Verbs

Regular -IRE verbs follow the same pattern as -ERE verbs: -a, -a, -a, -iamo, -iate, -ano.

Pronoun	Dormire (to sleep)	Partire (to leave)
Io	dorma	parta
Tu	dorma	parta
Lui/Lei	dorma	parta
Noi	dormiamo	partiamo
Voi	dormiate	partiate
Loro	dormano	partano

-ISC Verbs

Some -IRE verbs insert -isc- in the present indicative. In the present subjunctive, they also insert -isc- except in the noi and voi forms, which follow the standard -IRE endings:

Pronoun	Finire (to finish)
Io	finisca
Tu	finisca
Lui/Lei	finisca
Noi	finiamo
Voi	finiate
Loro	finiscano

Irregular Verbs

Many common Italian verbs are irregular in the subjunctive. Here are some important examples:

Essere: che io sia, che loro siano
Avere: che io abbia, che loro abbiano
Andare: che io vada, che loro vadano
Fare: che io faccia, che loro facciano
Dire: che io dica, che loro dicano
Bere: che io beva, che loro bevano
Volere: che io voglia, che loro vogliano
Stare: che io stia, che loro stiano
Sapere: che io sappia, che loro sappiano
Venire: che io venga, che loro vengano
Uscire: che io esca, che loro escano
Scegliere: che io scelga, che loro scelgano
Rimanere: che io rimanga, che loro rimangano
Tenere: che io tenga, che loro tengano

Past Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Passato)

The past subjunctive is formed using the present subjunctive of essere or avere plus the past participle of the main verb. It expresses an action that is completed or has relevance in the present:

Penso che Sara abbia visto un film.

I think that Sara saw a movie.

Spero che il colloquio sia andato bene.

I hope the interview went well.

Imperfect Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Imperfetto)

Used when the main verb is in the past and the action is simultaneous or ongoing in relation to it:

Pensavo che tu parlassi bene italiano.

I thought that you spoke Italian well.

Volevo che tu venissi con me.

I wanted you to come with me.

Pluperfect Subjunctive (Congiuntivo Trapassato)

Formed using the imperfect subjunctive of essere or avere plus the past participle. It refers to actions that were completed before another past action:

Speravo che tu fossi venuto.

I hoped that you had come.

Non sapevo che tu avessi vissuto a Londra.

I didn’t know that you had lived in London.

Summary

The Italian subjunctive il congiuntivo is a powerful tool for expressing uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, or desire. It is essential after certain verbs, impersonal expressions, and conjunctions, but is avoided when the subject is the same in both clauses, using di + infinitive instead. There are four main tenses: present, past, imperfect, and pluperfect. Mastering both regular and irregular verbs in these forms allows you to convey subtlety and nuance in Italian writing and speech. While challenging at first, consistent practice with examples, tables, and real-life contexts makes the subjunctive manageable and a rewarding part of Italian grammar.