Subjunctive in Italian: The Ultimate Beginners Guide (FREE PDF & Quiz)

1.8K

Feeling lost when it comes to the Italian subjunctive (il congiuntivo)? If phrases like “Penso che sia“ or “Se avessi“ leave you scratching your head, you’re not alone. But don’t worry—by the time you finish reading this guide, you’ll be ready to tackle this essential part of Italian grammar like a pro! 

I’ll guide you through everything you need to know about the subjunctive, from when to use it to how to conjugate it. You’ll learn practical examples and common triggers, so you can start using it naturally in conversations. 

But here’s the thing: mastering the subjunctive isn’t just about memorizing rules—it’s about learning when not to use it too!. Make sure to stick around, so you can avoid this common pitfall and truly elevate your Italian. 

I’ve broken everything down using my signature 80/20 method – focusing on the parts of the congiuntivo you’ll actually use in real conversations. So, let’s take a look! Make sure you stick around until the end for a quiz to put your newfound skills to the test! 

But first, make sure to download your free PDF cheat-sheet, which includes all the key points we’ll cover in this guide. Just enter your email below and I’ll send it to you straight away.

---

Table to Contents

Here’s what we’ll cover in this guide. Click on any title to jump to each section.

• • What is the subjunctive in Italian?
  • Is the Italian subjunctive really that difficult to learn?
  • How and when to use the subjunctive in Italian
  • How to conjugate verbs in the Present subjunctive
  • When to use the Present subjunctive
  • How to conjugate verbs in the Past subjunctive
  • When to use the Past subjunctive 
  • How to conjugate verbs in the Imperfect subjunctive
  • When to use the Imperfect subjunctive
  • How to conjugate verbs in the Past perfect subjunctive
  • When to use the Past perfect subjunctive
  • Common mistakes: When NOT to use the subjunctive in Italian
  • Subjunctive vs Imperfetto: When do you use them?
  • Test your skills! Take the quiz!

---

What is the subjunctive in Italian?

The subjunctive (or congiuntivo) is one of the most intriguing verb moods in Italian. By the way, if you’re not familiar with what a mood is, here’s a quick recap: while tenses tell us when an action takes place (like the past, present, or future), a mood expresses how we feel about that action (is it a fact or rather a wish?).

While the indicative mood is used to express certainty, the Italian subjunctive is what we use to express personal opinions, doubts, wishes, and all those “what if” moments – the times when we’re imagining what might have happened, like when we sigh and say Se avessi preso quel treno, sarei con loro adesso (If I had taken that train, I would be with them now). 

Let’s look at these examples:

• So che tuo fratello è sincero — I know your brother is honest → Here, the present indicative è (is) expresses certainty. 
• Credo che tuo fratello sia sincero — I think your brother is honest → Here, the  present subjunctive sia (is) expresses a personal opinion, so there’s uncertainty.

The term congiuntivo (subjunctive) comes from the verb congiungere, which means “to join” or “connect.” This is fitting because the subjunctive mood is often found in subordinate clauses, that is, phrases that can’t stand alone and need to be “joined” to a main clause to make sense.

Some people say that the subjunctive is disappearing from everyday Italian. But don’t be fooled! The subjunctive is very much alive in modern Italian. You’ll hear it constantly in conversations, especially when Italians express their opinions, emotions, or uncertainties. Native speakers use it naturally in phrases like “Penso che sia importante” (I think it’s important) or “Voglio che tu venga.” (I want you to come).

While some informal contexts might skip the subjunctive, you’ll still need it for clear, effective communication in Italian. It’s not about sounding sophisticated – it’s about expressing yourself accurately. When you master the subjunctive, you’ll be able to share your thoughts and feelings the way Italians actually do, whether you’re chatting with friends at a café or speaking with your Italian relatives.

The key is knowing when the subjunctive is truly necessary and when it’s optional. I’ll show you the difference, so you can communicate naturally without overthinking every verb.

Is the Italian subjunctive really that difficult to learn?

The Italian subjunctive mood often gets a bad rap, as many people believe it is complex, confusing, and a bit intimidating. Sure, there are some rules to follow, a few exceptions to remember, and more verb conjugations to learn, but it’s not as complicated as it sounds!

One reason the Italian subjunctive can feel challenging is that, although English has a subjunctive mood, we rarely use it in everyday conversation. Consequently, when speaking Italian and attempting to translate directly from English, it can feel like you’re chasing your tail. 

However, once you become familiar with the “triggers” (which we’ll explore soon), you’ll know exactly when to switch from the indicative mood to the subjunctive mood. In fact, it all starts to feel quite logical once you break it down!

How and when to use the subjunctive in Italian

In Italian, the subjunctive mood has four tenses: two simple tenses (the present and the imperfect) and two compound tenses (the past and the past perfect).

How to conjugate verbs in the Present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente)

Just like the present indicative, the present subjunctive in Italian is formed by taking the root of the verb and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings, depending on whether the verb ends in -are, -ere, or -ire:

As you can see, when it comes to -ire verbs, there are two main patterns:

• Some verbs stick to the pattern of sentire (to hear, to feel), including partire (to leave), like aprire (to open), dormire (to sleep), and scoprire (to discover), servire (to be necessary).
• Others follow the conjugation of finire (to finish), which add isc- between the root and the ending for the three singular subjects and the third plural. Similar verbs include pulire (to clean), unire (to unite), capire (to understand), and distribuire (to distribute)

Attenzione! One interesting feature of the present subjunctive in Italian is that the verb endings are the same for all singular subjects. Because of this, we often need to explicitly state the subject pronoun to avoid confusion:

• Che io parli o lei parli, l’importante è essere chiari! – Whether I speak or she speaks, the important thing is to be clear!

Additionally, the first person plural form (noi – we) is exactly the same in both the present indicative and the present subjunctive. For example:

• Noi andiamo al cinema stasera – We go to the cinema tonight (indicative mood).
• È probabile che noi andiamo al cinema stasera – It’s likely that we will go to the cinema tonight (subjunctive mood).

Irregular verbs in the present subjunctive

If a verb is irregular in the present indicative tense, it’s likely to be irregular in the present subjunctive tense as well. Let’s start by taking a look at the verbs essere (to be) and avere (to have), which are both irregular:

Modal verbs, too, are irregular in the present subjunctive:

Now, let’s explore some groups of irregular verbs in the present subjunctive:

1. A few verbs that end in -are have both irregular roots and endings:

2. For verbs ending in -care and -gare, you need to add an “h” before the subjunctive endings, for example:

3. Some verbs ending in -ere change their roots and/or endings:

4. Verbs ending in -nere insert a “g” between the root and the present subjunctive endings for the three singular persons and the third plural, for example:

5. For verbs ending in -gnere, the “gn” changes to “ng” before the present subjunctive endings for the three singular persons and the third plural, for example:

6. Verbs ending in -gliere change the “gl” to “lg” before the present subjunctive endings for the three singular persons and the third plural, such as:

7. Finally, some verbs ending in -ire change their roots, for instance:

When to use the present subjunctive in Italian

When used by itself, the present subjunctive shows:

Doubt or a hypothetical thought, typically introduced with the conjunction che (that):

• Che piova anche oggi? – Is it going to rain today, too?
• Che sia davvero così? – Could it really be like that?

Polite requests when inviting someone to do something with the formal “you”:

• Abbassi il volume, per favore – Please, turn down the volume
• Entri solo chi ha già la prenotazione – Only those with reservations may enter

Curses or blesses: 

• Che vadano a farsi benedire! – Literally: May they go get themselves blessed! (meaning, “Forget them!”)
• Che vadano a quel paese! – May they go away! (A polite alternative to “Go to hell!”)

Fixed expressions like:

• Vada come vada – Whatever happens, happens
• Costi quel che costi – Whatever it takes 
• Che ti piaccia o no – Whether you like it or not
• Che rimanga tra noi – Let this stay between us

In subordinate clauses, the present subjunctive is usually triggered by a verb in the present or future indicative in the main clause and is used for:

Expressing personal opinions or beliefs, often introduced by verbs like credere (believe), pensare (think) followed by the conjunction che (that):

• Credo che tua sorella abbia ragione – I think your sister is right
• Se continui così, penserò che tu sia una maga! – If you keep this up, I’ll think you’re a wizard!

Showing possibilities or wishes:

• Chiara vuole che guardi un film con lei stasera – Chiara wants me to watch a movie with her tonight.
• Penseranno che io non parli più con te – They will think that I don’t talk to you anymore.

Expressing a purpose, when introduced by words like affinché (so that) or perché (because): 

• Lavoro tanto affinché i miei figli possano avere un futuro migliore del mio – I work hard so that my children can have a better future than mine.

Indicating a contrast or exception to what has been said, when introduced by words like benché (although), nonostante (despite ), sebbene (even though):

• Sebbene Mark non sia un madrelingua, parla un ottimo italiano – Although Mark is not a native speaker, he speaks excellent Italian.

How to conjugate verbs in the Past subjunctive (congiuntivo passato)  

To form the past subjunctive in Italian, you’ll need the present subjunctive forms of the verb essere (to be) or avere (to have), followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Essere is generally used with itself and with intransitive verbs (those that don’t answer the questions “who?” or “what?”). These include:

• Verbs of movement like andare (to go) or partire (to leave), 
• Verbs of change, like diventare (to become) or cambiare (to change)
• Verbs expressing a state, like restare (to stay) or rimanere (to remain)
• Reflexive verbs, like svegliarsi (to wake up) or vestirsi (to dress)

When using essere as the auxiliary verb, it’s important to match the past participle with the subject’s gender and number. For example:

• Non penso che mia sorella sia andata alla festa di Giacomo – I don’t think my sister went to Giacomo’s party.
• Temo che il cellulare sia caduto dalla borsa mentre camminavo – I fear that the phone fell out of the bag while I was walking.

The auxiliary avere, on the other hand, is typically used with itself or with transitive verbs, which are those that answer the questions “Who?” or “What?”.

When to use the past subjunctive in Italian

You can use the past subjunctive on its own, especially to express doubts or hypothetical situations about the past. This is particularly common in questions, where it shows uncertainty about what might have happened. For example:

• Il bar è ancora chiuso: che sia successo qualcosa? – The bar is still closed: could something have happened?
• Non rispondono: che siano già usciti? – They are not responding: could they have already left?

In subordinate clauses, the past subjunctive is triggered by a verb in the present indicative in the main clause and is used to express:

Personal opinions related to the past:

• Dubito che Stefania sia arrivata in tempo alla presentazione – I doubt that Stefania arrived on time for the presentation.
• Credo che i ragazzi abbiano prenotato per domani – I believe the guys have made a reservation for tomorrow.

Uncertainty or unknowns, always related to the past:

• Nostro figlio si comporta in modo strano, ma non sappiamo cosa sia successo – Our son is acting strangely, but we don’t know what happened.
• Carlo è nervoso, ma non so cosa abbia fatto – Carlo is nervous, but I don’t know what he did.

A contrast or exception to what has been said, when introduced by words like benché (although), nonostante (despite ), sebbene (even though):

• Nonostante abbiano visitato l’Italia parecchie volte, continuano a tornare – Although they have visited Italy several times, they continue to return.

How to conjugate verbs in the Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto)

Just like in the present subjunctive, we form the imperfect tense by taking the verb root and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings. The good news is that for -ire verbs, there’s only one pattern to follow in this tense, making it simpler!

Irregular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive

Interestingly, many verbs that are irregular in the present subjunctive have completely regular conjugations in the imperfect subjunctive! However, a few still keep their irregular pattern. Let’s start by looking at the imperfect subjunctive forms of essere (to be) and avere (to have). The first is irregular while the second follows the regular pattern:

Now, let’s explore the main verbs that stay irregular in the imperfect subjunctive, either because they change their root or their ending:

How to use the imperfect subjunctive in Italian

The imperfect subjunctive can stand alone to express:

A wish, often introduced by words like magari (if only) or almeno (at least):

• Magari vincessi quella borsa di studio! — If only I could win that scholarship!

Admiration or a sense of awe:

• Sentissi come canta bene sua sorella! — If only you could hear how beautifully his sister sings!

Complaints or frustrations:

• Sistemassero la loro stanza! — If only they’d tidy up their room!

Informal exclamations, indicating disbelief or irony:

• Fossi matto! — I’d have to be crazy!

Some fixed expressions:

• Cascasse il mondo — Whatever happens (lit. Even if the world were to fall)
• Fosse l’ultima cosa che faccio — Even if it’s the last thing I do (lit. If it were the last thing I do)

When the imperfect subjunctive appears in subordinate clauses, it generally indicates:

A possible outcome or action, when the main verb is in the imperfect or conditional tenses:

• Speravo che parlassero un po’ per chiarirsi — I was hoping they would talk a little to clear things up.
• Vorrei che vedeste anche voi questo spettacolo — I wish you could also see this show.

Hypothetical situations and “what-if” scenarios, whether possible or unlikely, triggered by the present conditional:

• Smetterei di lavorare, se vincessi la lotteria! — If I won the lottery, I’d stop working!
• Partirei subito, se trovassi posto sul treno — If I found a seat on the train, I’d leave right away.

How to conjugate verbs in the Past perfect subjunctive (congiuntivo trapassato)

To form the past perfect subjunctive, you’ll need the imperfect subjunctive of essere (to be) or avere (to have), followed by the past participle of the main verb.

Here’s how to form it with the auxiliary essere (to be):

Remember — when using essere, the past participle must agree with the subject’s gender and number.

Here is the table for the auxiliary avere (to have):

When to use the past perfect subjunctive in Italian

The past perfect subjunctive can be used on its own to express a hypothetical or desired outcome in the past that didn’t come true, for example:

• Se avessi avuto un po’ più di coraggio! — If I had had a little more courage!
• Se avessero ascoltato i nostri consigli! — If only they had listened to our advice!

It can also be used in subordinate clauses, similar to how the present and past subjunctives are used. The main difference is that the trigger action or condition in the main clause is in the past tense. Here’s how to use it:

To talk about things that could have or should have happened but didn’t:

• Temevo che avessi detto tutto a Sergio — I feared that you had told everything to Sergio.
• Pensavo che Silvia e Lucia fossero partite insieme — I thought Silvia and Lucia had left together.

To express  unfulfilled wishes or regrets related to the past, often triggered by a past conditional: 

• Se avessi accettato quel lavoro, avrei vissuto a Sydney — If I had accepted that job, I would have lived in Sydney.
• Se foste arrivati prima, l’avreste vista — If you had arrived earlier, you would have seen her.

Common mistakes: When NOT to use the subjunctive in Italian

While Italians use the subjunctive to express uncertainty and personal opinions, there are specific cases where this mood is not appropriate. Let’s see the most common scenarios. We don’t use the subjunctive:

1. When the subject of both the main clause and the dependent clause is the same. For instance, consider the sentence Lui pensa di partire domani (He thinks he will leave tomorrow). In this case, we don’t need to say Lui pensa che (lui) parta domani. 

2. With words like forse (maybe), probabilmente (probably), secondo me (in my opinion), even if they do not typically indicate certainty. For example: 

• Secondo me deve cambiare lavoro, è troppo stressato! — In my opinion, he should change jobs, he’s too stressed!
• Probabilmente non hai seguito le istruzioni — You probably didn’t follow the instructions.

3. With adjectives that express certainty, like sicuro (sure), ovvio (clear), evidente (evident), etc. For instance:

• Siete sicuri che sanno la strada? — Are you sure they know the way?
• È ovvio che non hanno avuto alcun ripensamento — It’s obvious they haven’t had any second thoughts.

4. With verbs that express statements or declarations, such as dire (to say), sostenere (to affirm), confermare (to confirm), etc. For example:

• Dicono che è passata di qua — They say she came by here.
• Hanno confermato che siete stati a quella festa — They confirmed that you were at that party.

Subjunctive vs Imperfetto: When do you use them?

One of the most common (and serious!) grammatical mistakes in Italian is confusing the subjunctive mood with the imperfetto (imperfect indicative). Let’s look at an example to understand the difference:

• Credevo che lui era italiano — I think he was Italian

This sentence may seem correct, but it’s actually wrong! Why? Because we’re expressing a personal opinion, not a certainty. Remember, the subjunctive mood in Italian is used to express possibility, uncertainty, or personal feelings, while the indicative mood expresses certainty or facts. So, the correct sentence is: Credevo che lui fosse italiano (I think he was Italian), using the subjunctive form (fosse – was) instead of the indicative (era – was) to reflect that this is a belief, not a definite fact.

Some Italian verbs can take either the imperfect indicative or the subjunctive, but their meaning changes depending on which mood is used. Here are some examples:

Capire (to understand)

• In the indicative, it means “to become aware” or “to realize” as in Hanno capito che aveva sbagliato lei (They realized that she was wrong).
• In the subjunctive, it means “to accept as natural,” recognizing someone’s desire or wish, as in Capisco che vogliate sapere la verità, ma c’è un’indagine in corso (I understand that you want to know the truth, but there is an ongoing investigation).

Ammettere (to admit)

• In the indicative, it means “to acknowledge” or “to confirm something as true”, as in Ha ammesso che l’amico ha fatto la spia (He admitted that his friend had snitched).

• In the subjunctive, it means  “to suppose” or “to concede a possibility”, as in Ammettendo che tu abbia ragione, ho ancora molti dubbi (Assuming that you are right, I still have many doubts).

Considerare (to consider)

• In the indicative, it means “to keep in mind” or “to take into account”, as in Considera che abbiamo già pagato i biglietti, non possiamo disdire (Consider that we have already paid for the tickets, we can’t cancel).
• In the subjunctive, it means “to suppose” or “to hypothesize”, as in State considerando che le persone possano disdire in caso di pioggia? (Are you considering that people might cancel in case of rain?)

How well do you know the subjunctive in Italian? Take this quiz!

It’s time to see how much you’ve learned about the Italian subjunctive mood. Fill in the blanks with the correct subjunctive form of the verb in brackets:

---

If you found this guide useful, then you’ll love Intrepid Italian, my series of online self-paced video courses that break down everything you need to know about Italian using my 80/20 method. Visit IntrepidItalian.com for more details.

---

Are you a beginner or an intermediate Italian learner? Got a trip coming up or want to communicate with your Italian partner or relatives in Italian? Learn Italian with my unique 80/20 method

Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. You’ll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide.

You’ll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy that you’ve always dreamed of, and so much more.

As a native English speaker who learned Italian as an adult, I know what it’s like to feel hopeless and lack the confidence to speak. I know what it’s like to start from scratch and to even go back to absolute basics and learn what a verb is!

Intrepid Italian was created with YOU in mind. I use my working knowledge of the English language to help you get into the ‘Italian mindset’ so you can avoid the common pitfalls and errors English speakers make – because I made them once too! I break everything down in such a way that it ‘clicks’ and just makes sense.

No matter what your level is, there is an Intrepid Italian course for you, including:

• 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Beginners (A1)
• 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Advanced Beginners (A2)
• 🇮🇹 Intrepid Italian for Intermediates (B1)

You can join 1, 2, or all 3 courses, it’s entirely up to you. The best part is that you have lifetime access so you learn anytime, anywhere and on any device.

As your guide, I walk you through each lesson, step-by-step, using my unique 80/20 method. My approach is different from traditional methods because I teach you the most important 20% of the language right from the beginning so you can start to speak straight away.

Each course includes video lessons, audio exercises, downloadable worksheets, bonus guides, a private support community, and lifetime access all designed to streamline your learning while having fun.

It even comes with my famous “Celebrate with a Spritz Guarantee”. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you don’t want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you don’t have to pay a penny! Cheers! 🥂
Join Intrepid Italian here and start learning today!
Ci vediamo lì! (See you there!)

---

Learning Italian? Check out these Italian language guides

• Italian for Beginners | How to Learn Italian in 3 Simple Steps
• TOP 100 Most Common Italian Words (Plus PDF Cheat-Sheet & Quiz)
• Italian Prepositions:The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need (PLUS Chart)
• 17 Weird Italian Superstitions Italians ACTUALLY Live By
• 17 Must-Know Italian Hand Gestures: The Ultimate Guide
• 10 Ways Natives REALLY Say ‘You’re Welcome’ in Italian
• How to say ‘Please’ in Italian in 9 Ways Like a Native
• 41 Italian Greetings: How to Say ‘Hello’ in Italian Like a Local
• 125 Most Common Italian Phrases for Travel You’ll Ever Need [PLUS Printable]
• 8 DEADLY mistakes in Italian (& How to Avoid Them)
• How to Conjugate Italian Verbs in 3 Simple Steps [Italian for Beginners]
• Is Italian Hard to Learn? 7 Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
• Master Days of the Week in Italian (7 Simple Memory Hacks)
• Italian Numbers: How to Count in Italian From 0 to 1 Billion (Plus PDF Download)
• How to Order Food & Drinks in Italian [Italian for Beginners]
• 15 Italian Words You Should NEVER Mispronounce [& How Not To]
• 11 Effective Hacks That’ll Help You Learn Italian So Much Faster
• Top 14 Italian Words You Should NEVER Say [& What to Use Instead]
• 20 Hilarious Everyday Italian Expressions You Should Use
• Romanesco: 25 Cool Roman Dialect Words You Should Use in Rome
• 10 Reasons Why Learning Italian Will Change Your Life
• 10 Italian Expressions Italians Love Saying
• 10 Italian Phrases That Will Instantly Make You Sound more Italian
• Funny Italian Sayings: 26 Food-Related Insults You Won’t Forget
• 15 Romantic Italian Films That’ll Make You Love Italy Even More
• How to Master Common Italian Phrases for Travel (Like a Local!)

---

Like it? Pin it for later!

---

Over to you!

Did you enjoy this lesson? Do you have a question? Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media @intrepidguide or @intrepiditalian to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Like what you see? Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email.