Learning a new language can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. Portuguese, a Romance language spoken by over 200 million people worldwide, offers a rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic elements to explore. One of the more complex aspects of Portuguese grammar for English speakers is the subjunctive mood. Understanding when and how to use the subjunctive tenses is crucial for achieving fluency and expressing nuanced ideas. This article will guide you through the intricacies of the subjunctive mood in Portuguese, detailing its forms, uses, and providing practical examples to help you master this essential grammatical feature.
What is the Subjunctive Mood?
In English, the subjunctive mood is rarely used and often goes unnoticed. However, in Portuguese, the subjunctive mood is much more prevalent and essential for conveying uncertainty, doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, and hypothetical situations. The subjunctive is not a tense but a mood, which means it can appear in different tenses (present, past, and future).
The Three Subjunctive Tenses
Portuguese has three subjunctive tenses: the present subjunctive (presente do subjuntivo), the past subjunctive (pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo), and the future subjunctive (futuro do subjuntivo). Each of these tenses has specific uses and forms, which we will explore in detail.
Present Subjunctive (Presente do Subjuntivo)
The present subjunctive is used to express doubts, wishes, emotions, and other subjective states in the present or future. It’s formed by taking the first person singular form of the present indicative, dropping the final -o, and adding the appropriate endings.
For regular verbs, the endings are:
– For -ar verbs: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -eis, -em
– For -er and -ir verbs: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -ais, -am
Here are some examples with the verbs “falar” (to speak), “comer” (to eat), and “partir” (to leave):
– Falar: que eu fale, que tu fales, que ele/ela fale, que nós falemos, que vós faleis, que eles/elas falem
– Comer: que eu coma, que tu comas, que ele/ela coma, que nós comamos, que vós comais, que eles/elas comam
– Partir: que eu parta, que tu partas, que ele/ela parta, que nós partamos, que vós partais, que eles/elas partam
Uses of the Present Subjunctive
1. **Expressing Wishes and Desires:**
– Espero que você tenha um bom dia. (I hope you have a good day.)
– Quero que eles cheguem cedo. (I want them to arrive early.)
2. **Expressing Doubts and Uncertainty:**
– Duvido que ele saiba a resposta. (I doubt that he knows the answer.)
– Não acho que ela venha hoje. (I don’t think she will come today.)
3. **Expressing Emotions:**
– Estou feliz que você esteja aqui. (I’m happy that you are here.)
– É triste que eles não possam vir. (It’s sad that they can’t come.)
4. **Expressing Necessity or Obligation:**
– É necessário que estudemos mais. (It’s necessary that we study more.)
– É importante que você faça isso. (It’s important that you do this.)
5. **Expressing Hypothetical Situations:**
– Se ele precisar de ajuda, eu estarei aqui. (If he needs help, I will be here.)
Past Subjunctive (Pretérito Imperfeito do Subjuntivo)
The past subjunctive is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, past doubts or wishes, and conditions that are contrary to reality. It’s formed from the third person plural form of the preterite indicative, dropping the -ram, and adding the appropriate endings.
For all verb groups, the endings are:
– -se, -ses, -se, -semos, -seis, -sem
Here are some examples with the verbs “falar,” “comer,” and “partir”:
– Falar: que eu falasse, que tu falasses, que ele/ela falasse, que nós falássemos, que vós falásseis, que eles/elas falassem
– Comer: que eu comesse, que tu comesses, que ele/ela comesse, que nós comêssemos, que vós comêsseis, que eles/elas comessem
– Partir: que eu partisse, que tu partisses, que ele/ela partisse, que nós partíssemos, que vós partísseis, que eles/elas partissem
Uses of the Past Subjunctive
1. **Expressing Hypothetical Situations in the Past:**
– Se eu soubesse, teria vindo mais cedo. (If I had known, I would have come earlier.)
– Se ele tivesse dinheiro, compraria um carro novo. (If he had money, he would buy a new car.)
2. **Expressing Past Doubts or Wishes:**
– Eu queria que você viesse à festa. (I wished you would come to the party.)
– Ele duvidava que ela chegasse a tempo. (He doubted that she would arrive on time.)
3. **Expressing Conditions Contrary to Reality:**
– Se eu fosse rico, viajaria o mundo inteiro. (If I were rich, I would travel the whole world.)
– Se ela estivesse aqui, tudo seria diferente. (If she were here, everything would be different.)
Future Subjunctive (Futuro do Subjuntivo)
The future subjunctive is unique to Portuguese and Galician among the Romance languages. It is used to talk about actions that will happen in the future under certain conditions or when the outcome is uncertain. It’s formed from the third person plural form of the preterite indicative, dropping the -ram, and adding the appropriate endings.
For all verb groups, the endings are:
– -r, -res, -r, -rmos, -rdes, -rem
Here are some examples with the verbs “falar,” “comer,” and “partir”:
– Falar: quando eu falar, quando tu falares, quando ele/ela falar, quando nós falarmos, quando vós falardes, quando eles/elas falarem
– Comer: quando eu comer, quando tu comeres, quando ele/ela comer, quando nós comermos, quando vós comerdes, quando eles/elas comerem
– Partir: quando eu partir, quando tu partires, quando ele/ela partir, quando nós partirmos, quando vós partirdes, quando eles/elas partirem
Uses of the Future Subjunctive
1. **Expressing Actions Dependent on a Future Condition:**
– Se eu encontrar o livro, eu te aviso. (If I find the book, I’ll let you know.)
– Quando ele terminar o trabalho, vamos sair. (When he finishes the work, we will go out.)
2. **Expressing Uncertainty About a Future Event:**
– Se ele vier, nós vamos à praia. (If he comes, we will go to the beach.)
– Quando você puder, me ligue. (When you can, call me.)
Common Triggers for the Subjunctive Mood
Understanding the contexts that trigger the subjunctive mood in Portuguese can help you recognize when to use it. Here are some common triggers:
1. **Conjunctions that Express Uncertainty or Condition:**
– Se (if), caso (in case), a menos que (unless), contanto que (provided that), desde que (as long as)
– Example: Caso chova, não vamos à praia. (In case it rains, we won’t go to the beach.)
2. **Expressions of Doubt or Uncertainty:**
– Duvidar que (to doubt that), não achar que (not to think that), não acreditar que (not to believe that)
– Example: Duvido que ele venha. (I doubt that he will come.)
3. **Expressions of Desire or Preference:**
– Querer que (to want that), desejar que (to wish that), preferir que (to prefer that)
– Example: Quero que você estude mais. (I want you to study more.)
4. **Expressions of Emotion:**
– Estar feliz que (to be happy that), estar triste que (to be sad that), ter medo que (to be afraid that)
– Example: Estou feliz que você esteja aqui. (I’m happy that you are here.)
5. **Impersonal Expressions of Necessity or Importance:**
– É necessário que (it’s necessary that), é importante que (it’s important that), é possível que (it’s possible that)
– Example: É necessário que você chegue cedo. (It’s necessary that you arrive early.)
Practical Tips for Mastering the Subjunctive
1. **Practice Regularly:**
– Consistent practice is key to mastering the subjunctive. Incorporate exercises that focus on the subjunctive mood into your regular study routine.
2. **Listen and Observe:**
– Pay attention to native speakers and how they use the subjunctive in conversations, movies, and songs. This will help you develop an intuitive sense of when to use the subjunctive.
3. **Use Flashcards:**
– Create flashcards with common triggers and examples of subjunctive sentences. This can help reinforce your understanding and recall of the subjunctive mood.
4. **Engage in Conversations:**
– Practice speaking with native speakers or fellow learners. Use the subjunctive mood in your conversations to become more comfortable with its usage.
5. **Write in the Subjunctive:**
– Write short essays, journal entries, or dialogues using the subjunctive mood. This can help solidify your understanding and improve your ability to use the subjunctive naturally.
Conclusion
The subjunctive mood in Portuguese may initially seem daunting, but with practice and exposure, it becomes an invaluable tool for expressing a wide range of nuanced ideas. Understanding the different subjunctive tenses and their uses will enhance your fluency and allow you to communicate more effectively in Portuguese. Remember to practice regularly, engage with native speakers, and immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. With time and dedication, you’ll find that the subjunctive mood becomes a natural and intuitive part of your Portuguese language skills.
