Portuguese Subjunctive: Complete Guide with Examples
Introduction to the Portuguese Subjunctive
The subjunctive mood (subjuntivo) is one of the most challenging yet essential aspects of Portuguese grammar. Unlike the indicative mood, which expresses facts and certainties, the subjunctive expresses doubt, wishes, emotions, possibilities, and hypothetical situations. Understanding how to use subjunctive in Portuguese will dramatically improve your ability to express nuanced thoughts and sound more natural to native speakers.
The subjunctive appears in three main tenses: present (presente do subjuntivo), past/imperfect (pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo), and future (futuro do subjuntivo). Each serves distinct purposes and follows specific conjugation patterns.
Formation: Portuguese Subjunctive Conjugation
Mastering Portuguese subjunctive conjugation requires learning the patterns for each tense. The good news is that once you understand the base forms, the patterns are quite consistent.
Present Subjunctive (Presente do Subjuntivo)
To form the present subjunctive, take the first person singular (eu) of the present indicative, drop the -o ending, and add the subjunctive endings. Note that -AR verbs take -E endings, while -ER and -IR verbs take -A endings.
| Pronoun | FALAR (to speak) | COMER (to eat) | PARTIR (to leave) |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | fale | coma | parta |
| tu | fales | comas | partas |
| ele/ela/você | fale | coma | parta |
| nós | falemos | comamos | partamos |
| eles/elas/vocês | falem | comam | partam |
Imperfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)
The imperfect subjunctive is formed from the third person plural of the preterite indicative. Remove the -RAM ending and add the imperfect subjunctive endings.
| Pronoun | FALAR | COMER | PARTIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | falasse | comesse | partisse |
| tu | falasses | comesses | partisses |
| ele/ela/você | falasse | comesse | partisse |
| nós | falássemos | comêssemos | partíssemos |
| eles/elas/vocês | falassem | comessem | partissem |
Future Subjunctive (Futuro do Subjuntivo)
The future subjunctive uses the same stem as the imperfect subjunctive but with different endings. This tense is unique to Portuguese and doesn't exist in Spanish or other Romance languages.
| Pronoun | FALAR | COMER | PARTIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| eu | falar | comer | partir |
| tu | falares | comeres | partires |
| ele/ela/você | falar | comer | partir |
| nós | falarmos | comermos | partirmos |
| eles/elas/vocês | falarem | comerem | partirem |
Irregular Verbs in the Subjunctive
Some common verbs have irregular subjunctive forms that must be memorized:
| Verb | Present Subj. (eu) | Imperfect Subj. (eu) | Future Subj. (eu) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ser (to be) | seja | fosse | for |
| estar (to be) | esteja | estivesse | estiver |
| ter (to have) | tenha | tivesse | tiver |
| ir (to go) | vá | fosse | for |
| dar (to give) | dê | desse | der |
| saber (to know) | saiba | soubesse | souber |
| querer (to want) | queira | quisesse | quiser |
| poder (to be able) | possa | pudesse | puder |
Usage: When to Use the Subjunctive in Portuguese
Knowing how to use subjunctive in Portuguese depends on recognizing the contexts that trigger it. Here are the main categories:
1. After Expressions of Doubt and Uncertainty
Use the subjunctive after verbs and expressions that indicate doubt, denial, or uncertainty:
- Duvidar que (to doubt that)
- Não acreditar que (to not believe that)
- Talvez (perhaps/maybe)
- É possível que (it's possible that)
2. After Expressions of Emotion and Desire
The subjunctive follows verbs expressing wishes, hopes, fears, and emotions:
- Querer que (to want that)
- Esperar que (to hope that)
- Ter medo que (to be afraid that)
- Ficar feliz que (to be happy that)
- Lamentar que (to regret that)
3. After Impersonal Expressions
Many impersonal expressions require the subjunctive:
- É importante que (it's important that)
- É necessário que (it's necessary that)
- É provável que (it's probable that)
- É uma pena que (it's a shame that)
4. In Conditional and Temporal Clauses
The future subjunctive is used in clauses beginning with:
- Quando (when) - for future events
- Se (if) - for future conditions
- Assim que (as soon as)
- Enquanto (while)
5. With Conjunctions Requiring Subjunctive
Certain conjunctions always trigger the subjunctive:
- Para que (so that)
- Embora (although)
- A menos que (unless)
- Antes que (before)
- Sem que (without)
Portuguese Subjunctive Examples
Here are practical Portuguese subjunctive examples demonstrating each tense and usage:
Present Subjunctive Examples
Espero que você esteja bem.
I hope you are well.
É importante que todos participem da reunião.
It's important that everyone participates in the meeting.
Duvido que ele saiba a verdade.
I doubt that he knows the truth.
Talvez ela venha amanhã.
Perhaps she will come tomorrow.
Quero que você me ajude com este projeto.
I want you to help me with this project.
Imperfect Subjunctive Examples
Se eu tivesse dinheiro, viajaria pelo mundo.
If I had money, I would travel the world.
Gostaria que você estivesse aqui.
I wish you were here.
Embora fosse difícil, ela conseguiu terminar.
Although it was difficult, she managed to finish.
Se eu pudesse voltar no tempo, faria diferente.
If I could go back in time, I would do things differently.
Era necessário que todos soubessem a verdade.
It was necessary that everyone knew the truth.
Future Subjunctive Examples
Quando você chegar, me avise.
When you arrive, let me know.
Se eu tiver tempo, vou estudar mais.
If I have time, I will study more.
Farei o que você quiser.
I will do whatever you want.
Assim que ele souber, vai nos contar.
As soon as he finds out, he will tell us.
Enquanto eu viver, nunca esquecerei você.
As long as I live, I will never forget you.
Common Mistakes with the Portuguese Subjunctive
Even advanced learners make these frequent errors when using the subjunctive:
1. Using Indicative Instead of Subjunctive After Trigger Words
Many learners forget to use the subjunctive after expressions that require it:
Incorrect: Espero que você está bem.
Correct: Espero que você esteja bem.
2. Confusing Future Subjunctive with Infinitive
The future subjunctive looks identical to the infinitive for regular verbs but differs for irregular verbs:
Incorrect: Se eu ter tempo...
Correct: Se eu tiver tempo...
3. Using Present Subjunctive in Future Conditional Clauses
Portuguese requires the future subjunctive (not present) in if-clauses about the future:
Incorrect: Se você venha amanhã...
Correct: Se você vier amanhã...
4. Forgetting the Subjunctive After "Embora"
The conjunction "embora" (although) always requires the subjunctive:
Incorrect: Embora está chovendo, vou sair.
Correct: Embora esteja chovendo, vou sair.
5. Using Future Subjunctive with "Talvez"
"Talvez" (perhaps) takes the present or imperfect subjunctive, never the future:
Incorrect: Talvez eu for amanhã.
Correct: Talvez eu vá amanhã.
6. Mixing Up Imperfect Subjunctive Endings
Remember that -AR verbs use -asse endings, while -ER and -IR verbs use -esse and -isse:
Incorrect: Se eu falesse...
Correct: Se eu falasse...
With consistent practice and attention to trigger words and contexts, you'll develop an intuitive sense for when the subjunctive is needed. Focus on memorizing the irregular verbs and common expressions that require this mood, and your Portuguese will become significantly more natural and sophisticated.