Language/Italian/Grammar/Present-Subjunctive

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Italian → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Present Subjunctive

In the beautiful tapestry of the Italian language, the subjunctive mood plays a crucial role, allowing speakers to express desires, doubts, and emotions with finesse. While it may seem daunting to beginners, mastering the Present Subjunctive can elevate your Italian and help you communicate more nuanced thoughts. In this lesson, we’ll explore the formation and usage of the Present Subjunctive, along with cultural insights that enrich your understanding of this essential grammatical structure.

This lesson is structured as follows:

Introduction to the Present Subjunctive

The Present Subjunctive, or "Congiuntivo Presente," is used in Italian to express uncertain actions, wishes, emotions, and hypothetical situations. It's a mood that conveys a sense of possibility rather than certainty. For instance, when you say "I hope that he comes," you’re not asserting that he will come; rather, you’re expressing a wish about the possibility of it happening.

Understanding the Present Subjunctive is vital for engaging in conversations that involve feelings or opinions. It often surfaces in subordinate clauses introduced by certain conjunctions like "che" (that), and it is frequently used after specific verbs that express feelings, desires, or doubts.

Formation of the Present Subjunctive

To form the Present Subjunctive, you start with the present tense of the verb, then drop the ending and add the subjunctive endings. The endings vary depending on whether the verb is in the -are, -ere, or -ire group.

Regular Verbs

1. -are Verbs:

• Remove the -are ending and add:

• -i, -i, -i, -iamo, -iate, -ino

Example: parlare (to speak)

Italian	Pronunciation	English
parli	ˈpar.li	you (singular) speak
parli	ˈpar.li	he/she speaks
parliamo	parˈlja.mo	we speak
parliate	parˈlja.te	you (plural) speak
parlino	ˈpar.li.no	they speak

2. -ere Verbs:

• Remove the -ere ending and add:

• -a, -a, -a, -iamo, -iate, -ano

Example: credere (to believe)

Italian	Pronunciation	English
creda	ˈkre.da	you (singular) believe
creda	ˈkre.da	he/she believes
crediamo	kreˈdja.mo	we believe
crediate	kreˈdja.te	you (plural) believe
credano	ˈkre.da.no	they believe

3. -ire Verbs:

• Remove the -ire ending and add:

• -a, -a, -a, -iamo, -iate, -ano

Example: dormire (to sleep)

Italian	Pronunciation	English
dorma	ˈdor.ma	you (singular) sleep
dorma	ˈdor.ma	he/she sleeps
dormiamo	dorˈmja.mo	we sleep
dormiate	dorˈmja.te	you (plural) sleep
dormano	ˈdor.ma.no	they sleep

Irregular Verbs

Some Italian verbs are irregular in the subjunctive form. Here are the most common ones:

| Italian | Pronunciation | English |

|-------------|------------------|--------------------------|

| essere | ˈɛs.se.re | to be |

| abbia | ˈab.bja | I have |

| sia | ˈsi.a | he/she is |

| vada | ˈva.da | I go |

| venga | ˈven.ga | I come |

| faccia | ˈfat.tʃa | I do/make |

| possa | ˈpɔs.sa | I can |

Usage of the Present Subjunctive

The Present Subjunctive is typically used in several contexts:

Expressing Wishes and Desires

When you express a wish or a desire, the subjunctive is often required.

Example:

• Spero che tu venga. (I hope that you come.)

• Desidero che lui parli. (I wish that he speaks.)

Expressing Doubts and Uncertainty

The subjunctive mood is also used to express doubts or uncertainty.

Example:

• Non penso che sia vero. (I don't think that it's true.)

• Dubito che loro arrivino. (I doubt that they arrive.)

Expressing Emotions

When expressing emotions, such as joy, sadness, or fear, the subjunctive comes into play.

Example:

• Sono felice che tu sia qui. (I am happy that you are here.)

• Mi dispiace che lei non venga. (I am sorry that she is not coming.)

Conditional Sentences

In conditional sentences, the subjunctive mood is often utilized.

Example:

• Se avessi tempo, partirei. (If I had time, I would leave.)

Cultural Insights

In Italy, the use of the subjunctive can vary by region. For instance, in the more formal contexts of Tuscany, speakers might adhere strictly to subjunctive forms, whereas in some southern regions, you may encounter a more relaxed approach, with a tendency to use the indicative mood instead.

Here are some interesting cultural facts related to the subjunctive:

• Opera and Literature: The subjunctive is frequently found in Italian opera and poetry, where emotions run high. Composers and poets use it as a tool to convey deep feelings, making it an integral part of the artistic expression in Italy.

• Regional Dialects: In various Italian dialects, the use of the subjunctive can differ significantly. For instance, in Neapolitan dialect, speakers often simplify the subjunctive forms, reflecting the dialect's distinctive characteristics.

• Everyday Conversations: While formal education emphasizes the use of the subjunctive, in casual conversations, many Italians may use the indicative mood. It shows how language evolves with usage, and understanding when to use the subjunctive can enhance your fluency and authenticity in conversations.

Summary

• The Present Subjunctive is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations.

• Regular verbs follow specific patterns based on their endings (-are, -ere, -ire).

• Many common verbs are irregular in the subjunctive.

• Cultural context can influence the use and understanding of the subjunctive in Italy.

Practice Exercises

Now that you have learned about the Present Subjunctive, it’s time to practice!

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the subjunctive:

• Spero che (tu, venire) _______.

• È importante che noi (studiare) _______.

• Dubito che loro (arrivare) _______ in tempo.

2. Translate the following sentences into Italian:

• I hope that she is happy.

• I wish that you (plural) come to the party.

• It’s possible that he can help us.

3. Choose the correct form of the verb:

• Non credo che tu (essere) _______ stanco.

• È meglio che noi (fare) _______ attenzione.

• Temiamo che loro (partire) _______ senza di noi.

4. Create five sentences using the Present Subjunctive.

5. Match the verbs with their correct subjunctive forms:

• A: essere

• B: avere

• C: andare

• D: fare

| Italian Verb | Subjunctive Form |

|--------------|------------------|

| 1. essere | _______ |

| 2. avere | _______ |

| 3. andare | _______ |

| 4. fare | _______ |

Solutions to Exercises

1.

• Spero che tu venga.

• È importante che noi studiamo.

• Dubito che loro arrivino.

2.

• Spero che lei sia felice.

• Desidero che voi veniate alla festa.

• È possibile che lui possa aiutarci.

3.

• Non credo che tu sia stanco.

• È meglio che noi facciamo attenzione.

• Temiamo che loro partano senza di noi.

4.

• Example sentences could include:

• Spero che Maria sia felice.

• È possibile che noi vogliamo andare al cinema.

• Dubito che Marco venga alla festa.

5.

| Italian Verb | Subjunctive Form |

|--------------|------------------|

| 1. essere | sia |

| 2. avere | abbia |

| 3. andare | vada |

| 4. fare | faccia |

Congratulations! You’ve taken a significant step toward mastering the Present Subjunctive in Italian. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find it becomes second nature to express your wishes and emotions in this beautiful language!

Table of Contents - Italian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

Introduction to Italian Language

• Italian Alphabet
• Nouns and Articles
• Present Tense of Regular Verbs
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Present Tense of Irregular Verbs

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Daily Life Expressions

• Greetings and Introductions
• Foods and Drinks
• Transportation
• Numbers and Dates

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Italian Culture and Tradition

• Italian Regions and Cities
• Italian Cuisine and Wine
• Italian Art and Music
• Italian Festivals and Celebrations

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Past and Future Tenses

• Passato Prossimo
• Futuro Semplice
• Imperfect Tense
• Condizionale Presente

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Social and Work Life

• Family and Relationships
• Work and Employment
• Shopping and Services
• Tourism and Hospitality

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Italian Literature and Cinema

• Famous Italian Writers and Poets
• Italian Cinema Industry
• Italian Contemporary Art

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Subjunctive and Imperative Moods

• Present Subjunctive
• Imperative Form
• Simple Past Subjunctive
• Conditional Subjunctive

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Science and Technology

• Computer and Technology
• Science and Research
• Environment and Ecology

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Italian Politics and Society

• Contemporary Italian Politics
• Italian Society and Customs
• Religion and Believes

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Compound Tenses

• Trapassato Prossimo
• Trapassato Remoto
• Futuro Anteriore
• Congiuntivo Passato

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Arts and Design

• Fashion and Design
• Music and Performing Arts
• Visual Arts

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Italian Language and Dialects

• Italian Language Variations
• Italian Language in the World
• Italian Language as a Second Language

Sources

• Understanding the Italian Present Subjunctive Tense
• How do you form the present subjunctive in Italian? - Grammar
• The Infamous Italian Subjunctive: A User's Manual | FluentU Italian

Other Lessons

• Past Tense
• Nouns and Articles
• Accents
• Condizionale Presente
• Plural
• Future Tense
• Conditional Mood
• Negation
• Plurals
• Past Participle in Italian

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