Understanding the Italian Present Subjunctive Tense

Understanding the Italian Present Subjunctive Tense Language is fluid, and its usage is constantly changing. A case in point is the subjunctive (il congiuntivo), which in English is rapidly becoming extinct. Phrases like I suggest you go home immediately and Robert wishes that you open the window are not frequently used anymore. In Italian, though, the subjunctive tense is alive and flourishing, both in speaking and writing. Rather than stating facts, it expresses doubt, possibility, uncertainty, or personal feelings. It can also express emotion, desire, or suggestions. Subjunctive Tense Phrases Typical phrases that call for the subjunctive tense include: Credo che... (I believe that...)Suppongo che... (I suppose that...)Immagino che... (I imagine that...)È necessario che... (It is necessary that...)Mi piace che... (Id like that...)Non vale la pena che... (Its not worth it that...)Non suggerisco che... (Im not suggesting that...)Puà ² darsi che... (Its possible that...)Penso che... (I think that...)Non sono certo che... (Im not sure that...)È probabile che... (It is probable that...)Ho limpressione che... (I have the impression that...) Certain verbs such as suggerire (to suggest), sperare (to hope), desiderare (to wish), and insistere (to insist) require use of the subjunctive. The table below provides examples of three regular Italian verbs (one of each class) conjugated in the present subjunctive tense. CONJUGATING ITALIAN VERBS IN THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE TENSE PARLARE FREMERE CAPIRE io parli frema capisca tu parli frema capisca lui, lei, Lei parli frema capisca noi parliamo fremiamo capiamo voi parliate fremiate capiate loro, Loro parlino fremano capiscano Conjugating the Present Subjunctive Tense The present subjunctive is the verb form of the Italian language in the phrase generally used to indicate secondary events seen as real or not objectives (Spero che voi siate sinceri) or not relevant. This verb form is combined by adding to the root of the verb endings provided in Italian grammar in the three conjugations. Since the subjunctive must generally after the conjunction that, this is often repeated. As with the conjugation of the present tense, some verbs of the third conjugation - such verbs incoativi - involving the use of the suffix -isc-: che io finisca, che tu finisca, che egli finisca, che noi finiamo, che voi finiate, che essi finiscano. Almost all irregular shapes can be, by way recipe, derived from the first person of the verb in the present tense: I am of the indication vengo can be formed subjunctive - che io venga (che tu venga, che egli venga, che noi veniamo, che voi veniate, che essi vengano); dallindicativo muoio puà ² essere formato il congiuntivo che io muoia (che tu muoia eccetera); dallindicativo faccio puà ² essere formato congiuntivo che io faccia; similmente: che io dica, vada, esca, voglia, possa eccete.