Learning Portuguese can be a rewarding experience, but like any language, it comes with its own set of challenges. One such challenge is mastering the subjunctive mood, a grammatical structure that often puzzles learners. The subjunctive mood in Portuguese is used to express a variety of concepts that are not necessarily based on reality, such as wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations. In this article, we will explore the usage of the subjunctive mood in Portuguese grammar, providing you with clear explanations and practical examples to help you understand and use it effectively.
What is the Subjunctive Mood?
The subjunctive mood is a verb form used to express non-factual situations. Unlike the indicative mood, which is used to talk about factual, real-world events, the subjunctive mood is used for situations that are uncertain, hypothetical, or subjective. In Portuguese, as in English, the subjunctive mood is used to express:
1. **Wishes and desires**
2. **Doubts and uncertainties**
3. **Emotions and feelings**
4. **Hypothetical situations**
5. **Commands and requests**
Forms of the Subjunctive Mood
In Portuguese, the subjunctive mood has three tenses: the present subjunctive, the imperfect subjunctive, and the future subjunctive. Each tense has its own specific uses and conjugation rules.
Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used to express current wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations. To form the present subjunctive, you generally start with the first person singular (eu) form of the present indicative, remove the final “-o,” and add the appropriate subjunctive endings. Here are the endings for regular verbs:
– **-ar verbs:** -e, -es, -e, -emos, -eis, -em
– **-er and -ir verbs:** -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am
For example, let’s conjugate the verbs *falar* (to speak), *comer* (to eat), and *partir* (to leave) in the present subjunctive:
– **Falar:** fale, fales, fale, falemos, faleis, falem
– **Comer:** coma, comas, coma, comamos, comais, comam
– **Partir:** parta, partas, parta, partamos, partais, partam
Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used to talk about past wishes, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations. To form the imperfect subjunctive, start with the third person plural (eles/elas) form of the preterite indicative, remove the final “-ram,” and add the appropriate subjunctive endings. Here are the endings for all verbs:
– **-ar, -er, -ir verbs:** -sse, -sses, -sse, -ssemos, -sseis, -ssem
Let’s conjugate the same verbs, *falar*, *comer*, and *partir*, in the imperfect subjunctive:
– **Falar:** falasse, falasses, falasse, falássemos, falásseis, falassem
– **Comer:** comesse, comesses, comesse, comêssemos, comêsseis, comessem
– **Partir:** partisse, partisses, partisse, partíssemos, partísseis, partissem
Future Subjunctive
The future subjunctive is unique to Portuguese and is used to talk about actions that might happen in the future, particularly in conditional sentences. To form the future subjunctive, start with the third person plural (eles/elas) form of the preterite indicative, remove the final “-ram,” and add the appropriate subjunctive endings. Here are the endings for all verbs:
– **-ar, -er, -ir verbs:** -r, -res, -r, -rmos, -rdes, -rem
Again, let’s conjugate *falar*, *comer*, and *partir* in the future subjunctive:
– **Falar:** falar, falares, falar, falarmos, falardes, falarem
– **Comer:** comer, comeres, comer, comermos, comerdes, comerem
– **Partir:** partir, partires, partir, partirmos, partirdes, partirem
Usage of the Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used in a variety of contexts, each with its own nuances. Let’s explore some of the most common situations where the subjunctive mood is used in Portuguese.
Expressing Wishes and Desires
When expressing wishes, desires, or hopes, the subjunctive mood is often used. Common verbs that trigger the subjunctive in this context include *querer* (to want), *desejar* (to wish), and *esperar* (to hope).
Examples:
– **Quero que você **fale** com ele.** (I want you to speak with him.)
– **Espero que ela **venha** à festa.** (I hope she comes to the party.)
– **Desejo que vocês **tenham** sucesso.** (I wish you all success.)
Expressing Doubts and Uncertainties
The subjunctive mood is used to express doubts, uncertainties, or possibilities. Common expressions that indicate doubt or uncertainty include *talvez* (maybe), *é possível que* (it’s possible that), and *duvido que* (I doubt that).
Examples:
– **Talvez ele **chegue** tarde.** (Maybe he will arrive late.)
– **É possível que nós **ganhemos** o jogo.** (It’s possible that we will win the game.)
– **Duvido que ela **saiba** a resposta.** (I doubt that she knows the answer.)
Expressing Emotions and Feelings
When expressing emotions and feelings, the subjunctive mood is used. Common verbs and expressions that trigger the subjunctive in this context include *sentir* (to feel), *lamentar* (to regret), and *ter medo que* (to be afraid that).
Examples:
– **Sinto que você não **entenda** o problema.** (I feel that you don’t understand the problem.)
– **Lamento que eles não **possam** vir.** (I regret that they cannot come.)
– **Tenho medo que ele **esteja** doente.** (I am afraid that he is sick.)
Expressing Hypothetical Situations
The subjunctive mood is often used in conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations, especially when using the conjunction *se* (if).
Examples:
– **Se eu **fosse** rico, eu **viajaria** o mundo inteiro.** (If I were rich, I would travel the whole world.)
– **Se você **tivesse** estudado, você **teria** passado no exame.** (If you had studied, you would have passed the exam.)
– **Se nós **pudermos**, nós **iremos** à praia amanhã.** (If we can, we will go to the beach tomorrow.)
Expressing Commands and Requests
The subjunctive mood is used in formal commands and polite requests, especially when the imperative form is not suitable.
Examples:
– **Que ele **fale** agora!** (Let him speak now!)
– **Que você **tenha** um bom dia!** (Have a good day!)
– **Peço que você **me ajude**.** (I ask that you help me.)
Common Expressions and Conjunctions that Trigger the Subjunctive
Certain expressions and conjunctions in Portuguese are commonly followed by the subjunctive mood. Here are some of the most frequent ones:
– **Para que** (so that): **Estudo para que eu **possa** ter um bom emprego.** (I study so that I can have a good job.)
– **Antes que** (before): **Vamos sair antes que comece a chover.** (Let’s leave before it starts to rain.)
– **Embora** (although): **Embora ele **seja** inteligente, ele não estuda muito.** (Although he is intelligent, he doesn’t study much.)
– **A menos que** (unless): **Não sairemos a menos que você **venha** conosco.** (We won’t leave unless you come with us.)
– **Caso** (in case): **Caso você **precise** de ajuda, me avise.** (In case you need help, let me know.)
Practical Tips for Mastering the Subjunctive Mood
Learning to use the subjunctive mood in Portuguese can be challenging, but with practice and dedication, you can master it. Here are some practical tips to help you along the way:
1. **Practice Regularly**: Regular practice is essential for mastering the subjunctive mood. Try to incorporate subjunctive sentences into your daily practice and pay attention to the contexts in which they are used.
2. **Listen and Repeat**: Listening to native speakers and repeating their sentences can help you get a feel for the subjunctive mood. Watch movies, listen to music, and engage in conversations to expose yourself to the subjunctive in real-life situations.
3. **Use Flashcards**: Create flashcards with sentences that use the subjunctive mood. On one side, write the sentence in the indicative mood, and on the other side, write it in the subjunctive mood. This will help you practice and remember the conjugations.
4. **Learn Common Expressions**: Familiarize yourself with common expressions and conjunctions that trigger the subjunctive mood. This will make it easier to recognize when to use the subjunctive in conversation.
5. **Seek Feedback**: Practice speaking and writing with native speakers or language tutors who can provide feedback on your use of the subjunctive mood. They can help you correct mistakes and improve your understanding.
6. **Be Patient**: Learning the subjunctive mood takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and keep practicing. Over time, you will become more comfortable and confident in using the subjunctive mood.
Conclusion
The subjunctive mood is an essential part of Portuguese grammar, used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, hypothetical situations, and more. Understanding and mastering the subjunctive mood will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Portuguese. By practicing regularly, listening to native speakers, and familiarizing yourself with common expressions, you can become proficient in using the subjunctive mood. Remember to be patient with yourself and seek feedback from native speakers or language tutors. With time and dedication, you will be able to use the subjunctive mood with confidence and ease. Boa sorte! (Good luck!)
