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Verb Usage Review / 31

See the “Dovere, Potere, and Volere” section for the use of perfect conditional with
the verbs volere, dovere, and potere.
See the “Conditional Sentences” section for the use of perfect conditional in con-
ditional sentences.

The Subjunctive Mood

Whereas the indicative is used to express or indicate facts, the subjunctive mood
conveys the opinions and attitude of the speaker. It expresses uncertainty, doubt,
possibility, or personal feelings rather than fact. The subjunctive often follows
verbs such as pensare (“to think”), volere (“to want”), sperare (“to hope”), and many
impersonal expressions that imply an opinion; è necessario/bisogna (“it’s neces-
sary”), è possibile (“it’s possible”), where the action of the verb is not a fact (indica-
tive) but rather a supposition, belief or desire. Note the difference in meaning in
the following two sentences:
Stefania si laurea a giugno. Stefania is graduating in June.
Penso che Stefania si laurei a giugno. I think Stefania is graduating in June.
The first sentence conveys a fact, and therefore uses the indicative mood in Ital-
ian (the present tense in this example). The second sentence conveys a belief, not
a fact, and therefore uses the subjunctive. English has a subjunctive mood as well,
but it is used infrequently:
We would prefer that he go home immediately.
I wish I were there.

MAIN USES OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

The subjunctive is generally preceded by a main clause and introduced by che.

Main Clause + che + Dependent Clause
Indicative Subjunctive
È importante che tu capisca il congiuntivo.
It is important that you understand the subjunctive.

Certain conditions expressed in the main clause of a sentence require the subjunc-
tive in the subordinate clause. When the verb or expression in the independent/
main clause denotes certainty (for example, sapere che [“to know that”], vedere che
[“to see that”]), the indicative is used in the dependent clause. If the main clause
expresses a desire, a demand, or a hope, the subordinate clause will be in the sub-
junctive. There are certain verbs that announce the use of the subjunctive in the
subordinate clause. The following verbs prompt the use of the subjunctive. They
express emotion, opinion, doubt, demand, or uncertainty: