Italian conjugation explanation

Subjunctive vs. indicative

<p>

The <strong>indicative</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">indicativo</span>) and <strong>subjunctive</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">congiuntivo</span>) moods are used to express different things in Italian. We usually use the indicative mood to talk about things that are considered to be <strong>facts or truths</strong>. In contrast, we use the subjunctive mood to talk about <strong>desires, doubts, emotions, and imaginary situations</strong>. It is also used after certain expressions followed by "che". Let's have a look at examples for the most common uses of the subjunctive mood.</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>DOUBT:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Dubito che</span> <strong>siamo</strong> meglio di loro. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I doubt we're better than them.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>EMOTION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Sono contento che</span> gli <strong>piaccia</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm glad they like it.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>EXPECTATION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Non mi aspetto che</span> <strong>aiuti</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I don't expect you to help.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>FEAR:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ho paura che</span> non <strong>accetti</strong> la mia spiegazione. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'm afraid she won't accept my explanation.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>HOPE:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io <span class="green_emphasis">spero che</span> voi <strong>miglioriate</strong> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I hope you get better soon.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>IMPROBABILITY:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">È improbabile che</span> <strong>si sposino</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They're unlikely to get married.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>NEED:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ho bisogno che</span> <strong>diate</strong> un'occhiata a questo. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I need you to take a look at this.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PERMISSION:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Perché non <span class="green_emphasis">lasci che</span> <strong>decidano</strong> loro? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Why don't you let them decide?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>POSSIBILITY:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Come <span class="green_emphasis">è possibile che</span> io la <strong>legga</strong>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">How is it possible for me to read it?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PROBABILITY:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">È probabile che</span> <strong>piova</strong> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It's likely to rain soon.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>WISH, DESIRE:</strong>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Voglio che</span> tu <strong>sia</strong> amato. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I want you to be loved.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjunctions</div>

<ul>

<li><strong>A MENO CHE</strong> (unless):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Non c'è bisogno che tu vada <span class="green_emphasis">a meno che</span> tu non lo <strong>voglia</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You don't need to go unless you want to.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>BASTA CHE / PURCHÉ / A PATTO CHE</strong> (as long as):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Può uscire, <span class="green_emphasis">basta che</span> <strong>torni</strong> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He can go out as long as he comes back early.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ti presterò il libro <span class="green_emphasis">purché</span> tu lo <strong>restituisca</strong> la prossima settimana. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will lend you the book as long as you return it next week.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Una banca è pronta a prestarti dei soldi <span class="green_emphasis">a patto che</span> tu <strong>possieda</strong> già dei soldi. (<span style="font-style: italic;">A bank is willing to lend you money as long as you already have money.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>CHE...</strong> (may..., let...):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Che</span> Dio <strong>salvi</strong> la regina. (<span style="font-style: italic;">God save the Queen.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Che</span> <strong>paghino</strong> loro! (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let them pay for it!</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>CHE + SABER</strong> (as far as I know):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Che</span> io <strong>sappia</strong>, è ancora nubile. (<span style="font-style: italic;">As far as I know, she is still unmarried.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>È IMPORTANTE CHE</strong> (it's important that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">È importante che</span> lo <strong>ricordiamo</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It's important that we remember that.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>IN MODO CHE</strong> (so that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Dovete fare <span class="green_emphasis">in modo che</span> lei <strong>ascolti</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You need to get her to listen.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>NEL CASO CHE</strong> (in case):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Nel caso che</span> <strong>piova</strong>, non andrò. (<span style="font-style: italic;">In case it rains, I won't go.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PERCHÉ</strong> (so that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Questa macchina è troppo cara <span class="green_emphasis">perché</span> io la <strong>compri</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">This car is too expensive for me to buy.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PRIMA CHE</strong> (before):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Andiamo <span class="green_emphasis">prima che</span> <strong>cambi</strong> idea. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Let's go before I change my mind.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>(MI) SEMBRA CHE / (MI) PARE CHE</strong> (it seems that):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Mi sembra che</span> <strong>siate</strong> onesti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It seems to me that you are honest.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Mi pare che</span> le cose <strong>siano</strong> andate diversamente. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It seems to me that things turned out differently.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">In relative clauses</div>

<p>We have to use the subjunctive in relative clauses where the word that the clause modifies is indefinite:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ho bisogno di <span class="green_emphasis">qualcuno che</span> mi <strong>capisca</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I need someone to understand me.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Non abbiamo <span class="green_emphasis">nessuno che</span> ci <strong>guidi</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We have no one to guide us.</span>)</div>

<p>Note the difference between the following two sentences (<span style="font-style: italic;">un uomo</span> as <strong>indefinite</strong> [+subjunctive] and <strong>definite</strong> [+indicative]):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Impiegheremo <span class="green_emphasis">un uomo che</span> <strong>sappia</strong> parlare inglese. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We will employ a man who can speak English.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Abbiamo assunto <span class="green_emphasis">un uomo che</span> <strong>parla</strong> inglese. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We hired a man who can speak English.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">When NOT to use the subjunctive</div>

<p>In the following cases, <strong>indicative should be used</strong> even though we are expressing uncertainty:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>FORSE</strong> (maybe):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Forse</span> non mi <strong>avete</strong> capito. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe you didn't understand me.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>PROBABILMENTE</strong> (probably):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Probabilmente</span> <strong>hai</strong> ragione. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You are probably right.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>ANCHE SE</strong> (even if):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ci andrò <span class="green_emphasis">anche se</span> <strong>piove</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I will go there even if it rains.</span>)</div>

<p>However, <strong>subjunctive should be used</strong> when talking about an <strong>unreal situation</strong>:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ci andrei <span class="green_emphasis">anche se</span> <strong>piovesse</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I would go there even if it rained.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li><strong>SECONDO ME</strong> (in my opinion):

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Secondo me</span> lo <strong>hanno</strong> fatto apposta. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I think they do that on purpose.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>when the <strong>subject</strong> of the main clause and the subject of the subordinate clause <strong>is the same</strong>:

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Pensi che <strong>puoi</strong> darci una mano? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Do you think you can help us out?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The subject of both clauses is "you", so the <strong>indicative</strong> should be used. A more common way of saying this would be "Pensa di poterci dare una mano?".</div>

<p>Compare with:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Pensi che lui <strong>possa</strong> darci una mano? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Do you think he can help us out?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">The subject of the clauses is different, so the <strong>subjunctive</strong> should be used.</div>

</li>

</ul>