Portuguese conjugation explanation
Forming the present subjunctive verb forms
<p>To form the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>
, the general rule is to take the <strong>first-person singular (S/1)</strong> form of the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/1/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
, drop the final <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>, and add the subjunctive endings.</p><p>This rule is reliable even for many verbs that are irregular in the Present Indicative. If you try to form the subjunctive from the infinitive stem instead of the <span style="font-style: italic;">eu</span> form, you will often end up with an incorrect verb stem.</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Irregular <span style="font-style: italic;">Eu</span> Forms</div>
<p>Let's look at common meaningful verbs where the S/1 irregularity carries over to the subjunctive:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/fazer/" title="Click to see conjugations for fazer" target="_blank">FAZER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to do/make</span>)</div><p>S/1 Indicative: <span style="font-style: italic;">eu faço</span> → Drop <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> → Stem: <span class="green_emphasis">faç-</span></p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">É importante que você <span class="green_emphasis">faça</span> isso agora. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It is important that you do this now.</span>)</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">faç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ter/" title="Click to see conjugations for ter" target="_blank">TER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to have</span>)</div><p>S/1 Indicative: <span style="font-style: italic;">eu tenho</span> → Drop <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> → Stem: <span class="green_emphasis">tenh-</span></p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tomara que eles <span class="green_emphasis">tenham</span> sorte. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I hope they get lucky.</span>)</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">tenh<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/poder/" title="Click to see conjugations for poder" target="_blank">PODER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to be able to</span>)</div><p>S/1 Indicative: <span style="font-style: italic;">eu posso</span> → Drop <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> → Stem: <span class="green_emphasis">poss-</span></p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Duvido que ela <span class="green_emphasis">possa</span> vir hoje. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I doubt she can come today.</span>)</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">poss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dizer/" title="Click to see conjugations for dizer" target="_blank">DIZER</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to say</span>)</div><p>S/1 Indicative: <span style="font-style: italic;">eu digo</span> → Drop <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> → Stem: <span class="green_emphasis">dig-</span></p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ele quer que eu <span class="green_emphasis">diga</span> a verdade. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He wants me to tell the truth.</span>)</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">dig<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ouvir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ouvir" target="_blank">OUVIR</a>
</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to hear</span>)</div><p>S/1 Indicative: <span style="font-style: italic;">eu ouço</span> → Drop <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span> → Stem: <span class="green_emphasis">ouç-</span></p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Fale alto para que a avó <span class="green_emphasis">ouça</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Speak up so that grandma hears.</span>)</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/8/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente do Subjuntivo</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">as</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que ele
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">a</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">amos</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vós
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ouç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que eles
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">oiç<span style="text-decoration: underline;">am</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exceptions</div>
<p>Some highly frequent verbs do not follow this rule, usually because their first-person singular form does not end in <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>, or because they are completely irregular.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ser/" title="Click to see conjugations for ser" target="_blank">ser</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">seja, sejas, seja...</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/estar/" title="Click to see conjugations for estar" target="_blank">estar</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">esteja, estejas, esteja...</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/ir/" title="Click to see conjugations for ir" target="_blank">ir</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">vá, vás, vá...</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/dar/" title="Click to see conjugations for dar" target="_blank">dar</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">dê, dês, dê...</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/saber/" title="Click to see conjugations for saber" target="_blank">saber</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">saiba, saibas, saiba...</span></li><li>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/por/querer/" title="Click to see conjugations for querer" target="_blank">querer</a>
: <span style="font-style: italic;">queira, queiras, queira...</span> (irregular despite <span style="font-style: italic;">eu quero</span> ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>)</li></ul>