Italian subjunctive (summary)
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The tenses belonging to the modo congiuntivo (subjunctive mood) express actions, placed in dependent and secondary clauses, related to opinions, desires, wishes, needs, and so on.
There are four different tenses in the Italian subjunctive:
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An interesting pattern to take into notice is the vowel switch which takes place in conjugation: verbs from the I conjugation use i in their endings, whereas those from the II and the III use a.
parlare, "to talk" | vendere, "to sell" | scrivere, "to write" | |
---|---|---|---|
che io | parli | venda | scriva |
che tu | parli | venda | scriva |
che lui | parli | venda | scriva |
che noi | parliamo | vendiamo | scriviamo |
che voi | parliate | vendiate | scriviate |
che loro | parlino | vendano | scrivano |
Still, there are many irregular verb conjugations worth paying attention to:
dire | fare | potere | sedere | uscire | venire | volere |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
dica | faccia | possa | sieda | esca | venga | voglia |
dica | faccia | possa | sieda | esca | venga | voglia |
dica | faccia | possa | sieda | esca | venga | voglia |
diciamo | facciamo | possiamo | sediamo | usciamo | veniamo | vogliamo |
diciate | facciate | possiate | sediate | usciate | veniate | vogliate |
dicano | facciano | possano | siedano | escano | vengano | vogliano |
The imperfect subjunctive is formed through substitution of the endings of the imperfect indicative with the following ones:
parlare,"to talk" | vendere, "to sell" | scrivere, "to write" | |
---|---|---|---|
che io | parlassi | vendessi | scrivessi |
che tu | parlassi | vendessi | scrivessi |
che lui | parlasse | vendesse | scrivesse |
che noi | parlassimo | vendessimo | scrivessimo |
che voi | parlaste | vendeste | scriveste |
che loro | parlassero | vendessero | scrivessero |
Unlike the previous two tenses, the present perfect subjunctive (congiuntivo passato) is a compound verb.
The conjugated forms of essere and avere (for intransitive and transitive verbs respectively) preceed the past participle form of the base verb.
parlare, "to talk" (transitive) | uscire, "to go out" (intransitive) | |
---|---|---|
che io | abbia parlato | sia uscito |
che tu | abbia parlato | sia uscito |
che lui | abbia parlato | sia uscito |
che noi | abbiamo parlato | siamo usciti |
che voi | abbiate parlato | siate usciti |
che loro | abbiano parlato | siano usciti |
The congiuntivo trapassato is also a compound verb.
It follows the very same set of the rules as the previous tense, with the auxiliary essere or avere conjugated differently.
parlare, "to talk" (transitive) | uscire, "to go out" (intransitive) | |
---|---|---|
che io | avessi parlato | fossi uscito |
che tu | avessi parlato | fossi uscito |
che lui | avesse parlato | fosse uscito |
che noi | avessimo parlato | fossimo usciti |
che voi | aveste parlato | foste usciti |
che loro | avessero parlato | fossero usciti |
The subjunctive has many functions in Italian, as it introduces subordinate clauses which integrate the sentence as either the subject or the object of the main verb.
Most of the time - but not always - subordinate sentences in Italian are introduced by the conjunction che.
Here some of the main uses for the subjunctive in Italian:
IT | EN |
---|---|
È necessario che tu faccia di più per rimanere in questa compagnia. | It is necessary that you do more in order to stay in this firm. |
Volevamo che parlaste di altri argomenti durante la conferenza. | We wanted you to discuss something else during the conference. |
Ci aspettiamo che entro settembre tu abbia fatto progressi. | We expect you to have made some progress by September. |
È possibile che avesse già capito il problema tempo fa. | It is possible that he had already understood the problem some time ago. |
IT | EN |
---|---|
A loro piace che il caffè sia ben caldo. | They like the coffee to be well warm. |
Speravo che veniste alla festa. | I was hoping you would come to the party. |
Sono felice che tu abbia superato l'esame. | I am glad you have passed the exam. |
Il fatto che fossero riusciti in quell'impresa rese la città orgogliosa. | The fact that they succeeded in that effort made the city proud. |
IT | EN |
---|---|
Non credo che Giancarlo possa aiutarci. | I don't think Giancarlo could help us. |
Non era vero che Veronica avesse paura di trasferirsi all'estero. | It's not true that Veronica was afraid to move abroad. |
Supponiamo che Andrea abbia trascorso la settimana viaggiando. | We suppose Andrea has spent the whole week travelling. |
Gli è sembrato che la pasta non fosse cotta abbastanza. | It seemed to him that the pasta was not cooked enough. |
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
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Very Nice communication, easy to study and practice Italiano, I am a Beginner and She has the patience to understand me.
Daniela V.
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Hola Pedro, thanks for your words. I'm glad you enjoyed our first class. Get ready, we are going to learn more and more! :-D
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Hello Everybody
My name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students
Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.
I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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Luisa is such a great teacher; she’s energetic, patient, enthusiastic. I recommend her for anyone, child or adult.
Luisa A.
Thank you so much Nicole !!!! much appreciated !!
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I am a qualified teacher with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a TESOL certificate. I will make you fall in love with English or Afrikaans. My goal is to make learning as fun and exiting as possible by using these methods in class: singing, dancing, games, role play and using fun colorful resources. I can help you with anything from pronunciation, grammer, reading and writing, phonics and building your vocabulary.
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Magda has a lot of experience and is well-structured. She offers a lot of materials. I would totally recommend her.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Hi! My name is Federica, and I am a certified teacher of Italian as a foreign language.
I have 3 + years of experience as a teacher, and I have also been a translator/proofreader for almost three decades. I can speak English, a bit of German, French and Spanish, as well as very, very basic Swedish. In short, I know just how it feels to be a learner of a foreign language, too!
One thing I know is that learning a language is more effective - and much more fun - when teaching is personalized. That's why I don't follow any single textbook: I like to try and choose the texts and exercises which are best suited to my students' interests. I also prefer to use "real" material such as magazine articles, songs, videos, etc., so you'll get an authentic feel for the language.
But enough about me. Let's talk about you! What is your current level and what are your short- and long-term goals in learning Italian? Book a free trial lesson (half an hour) with me. We'll talk about your goals and discuss how best to achieve them.
Hope to meet you soon!
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She speaks so softly and understandable. Always cooperating with the student. I'd recommend her especially for grammar studies.
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Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
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Katia is a very sweet person, her pronunciation is BEAUTIFUL and she’s very knowledgeable. I loved my lessons with her. I highly recommend her
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Dear student, my name is Domingo and I am an Italian teacher. 2 short words about me:
After classical studies, I graduated in Italian language and literature. Then I obtained the Cedils certificate as a teacher of Italian for foreigners.
What kind of teacher am I? How can I help you?
Well, I can help you who already know Italian, B1, B2, C1, C2, but you want to deepen the Italian culture, you love poetry, music or maybe you want to discover Italian cinema, or you simply want to improve your command in this tongue.
You who study in Italy, you have to deal with subjects such as history, literature, philosophy, sociology, and you want to deepen some words or concepts in Italian and you want coaching, a valid help.
To you professional, who know Italian but need cultural support to achieve your goals.
I believe that teaching is an exchange, where the teacher is the first to learn. I believe that a language is best learned with emotional involvement, in a relaxed and friendly environment, to allow for greater assimilation into long-term memory. By the word emotional, I mean the pleasure of doing something, of getting involved and having fun. So my dear students, I hope to meet you soon to discover Italian together !!!
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Very good lessons, professional and interesting. Also, very tailored made approach to teaching. Highly recommended A+++++
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Hi, guys! My name is Lucia and I would like to invite you to learn Italian with me.
I am both a native speaker and a QUALIFIED teacher, as I hold a post-graduate degree in “Teaching Italian as a second language” and a national certification as teacher of Italian to not-native speaking.
My teaching method is COMMUNICATION-oriented and involves also the study of Italian culture and grammar. Indeed, as it happens in your mother language, the knowledge of spare words is not enough to get able to speak (i.e. INTERACT!) properly and conveniently.
I’ll prepare for you all teaching materials, tailoring lessons to your needs and interests, taking advantage from both the huge number of textbooks I hold and my creativity!
I offer lessons for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced, as well as support in preparation to certification exams (I am also qualified ad examiner for the oral part of CELI).
Do not hesitate to get in contact with me to find a suitable time-slot for your trial lesson!
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Wonderful teacher with a broad knowledge of the structures of various languages, which I think helps to better understand students’ needs depending on their native language. Lucia uses a sophisticated platform where a student can easily find all the materials, test, or ask questions in the preparation for the next class. The class is structured in a very entertaining way, and she also has an examination focused approach if needed. Great experience, totally recommend.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Daniela is an extraordinary teacher and has helped me become very confident in speaking Italian and I really like every lesson, thanks Daniela.
Daniela V.
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Dear Pip, thank you for your positive feedback and thank you for your trust !. You're doing an exceptional job, keep it up :-)
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Hello, everybody ! My name is Elena. I’m a native Italian speaker, I’m 49 years old and live in Turin. I am a certified CEDILS teacher, I graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature in Milan and have been working as a teacher of Italian for more than 10 years. I speak English and German. I attended specialization courses for Italian L2 teachers and I am interviewer for C1 PLIDA exam.
Are you seeking a friendly and dynamic study environment ? I got what you need. I am looking forward to being in touch with new students and organize pleasant, interesting and fruitful courses.
Do you wish to learn or improve your Italian to speak with your parents or friends? Do you need Italian for work or study ? Do you simply love Italian language and culture ? Do you need to improve your writing skills ?
My classes are tailored on your needs and considering your level of knowledge, I create a proper course plan. Classes focus on language and on the possibility for you to improve your ability to speak and understand Italian in your daily life or in work.
I offer 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 tuition, general Italian courses (grammar, conversation, listening, reading and writing), preparation to Italian examinations (all levels, also Italian for residence permit) and Italian and culture courses.
Grammar, vocabulary exercises, reading articles and magazines and talking together are all tools to feel at ease with the Italian language and then be able to practice it.
I have worked with children, adolescents and adults for all levels of Italian, from beginner to advanced. I have experience in preparing students to international certification (CILS, PLIDA). I was an A2/B1 Telc examiner.
Learning Italian can be closely related to culture, literature, music, sport and any other interest of my students.
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Elena is an excellent, experienced teacher. A true professional. She is patient with my beginner-level Italian language skills. She will quickly assess your skill level (or lack thereof) and present an appropriate level of instruction to ensure rapid growth. She will encourage you to use Italian during lessons to expedite your learning curve. I highly recommend her.
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Hello my name is Lucia and I am a native Italian speaker.
I have a degree as an interpreter for English and French so I know how hard it may be to learn a foreign language. I work as a free-lance interpreter and private English and French teacher. I have a strong passion for languages which I have been studying for many years. I am studying Spanish now and always trying to improve my English and French knowledge. I am a friendly person and my lessons mainly focus on conversation. As a teacher I am very patient and I always propose tailor-made lessons with respect to your needs. I am really enthusiastic about being a teacher because this activity allows you to share your culture and habits with foreign people. Learning a language is also learning a new culture.
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Lucia is wonderful! I found her to have all the qualities one looks for a teacher: she is kind, patient, intelligent, supportive and she explains in easier Italian when I don‘t understand a word or expression.
Lucia Maria C.
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Dear Giuliana, thank you so much for your review. I am sure that you will make a lot of progress thanks to your motivation and commitment. See you next lesson :)
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Daniela has tailored our lessons to exactly what I asked for (B1 exam preparations). She is very prepared for all of our lessons and provides extra study material for me to complete as homework. I would recommend her as a tutor.
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Hello Everybody
My name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students
Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.
I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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Luisa is wonderful! She takes what my specific goals for learning Italian (how to communicate while traveling around Italy) into consideration and created an individualized lesson plan.
Luisa A.
Dear Shraddha thank you, thank you so much for your kind message. It was a real pleasure to meet you !!! See you on Friday ciao ciao
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I am Russian native speaker and I've been teaching Russian over the last four years. I teach students of all levels, from zero to advanced level, teenagers and adults. Great focus will be on grammar, listening and conversation. After few lessons you will already notice the improvements.
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Lera is a fantastic teacher, incredibly patient and I really look forward to the next lesson. Russian is not an easy language for me but with lera’s kindness and patience I enjoy the small steps I am making in my journey to learn Russian language.
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Hello, I'm Paul originally from London, I've been teaching adults for 9 years online and in person, individually and in groups. I'm passionate about teaching and helping people improve their communication, I really like travelling and realise how important english can be for people's jobs and social lives so I do whatever I can so my students reach their objectives.
I love hearing people's opinions and discussing lots of subjects and I base my classes on your interests.
I have a very high success rate preparing students for exams and can offer some great tips and advice to help you pass whatever exam you're studying for.
If you'd like to meet to discuss your needs select a free lesson and you can see if you think I'm the right person to help you with your English. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks!
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Paul is a well-structrured, certified and experienced teacher. He is passionate about teaching English and is a very good choice as a teacher.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Very Nice communication, easy to study and practice Italiano, I am a Beginner and She has the patience to understand me.
Daniela V.
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Hola Pedro, thanks for your words. I'm glad you enjoyed our first class. Get ready, we are going to learn more and more! :-D
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Hello Everybody
My name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students
Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.
I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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Luisa is such a great teacher; she’s energetic, patient, enthusiastic. I recommend her for anyone, child or adult.
Luisa A.
Thank you so much Nicole !!!! much appreciated !!
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I am a qualified teacher with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a TESOL certificate. I will make you fall in love with English or Afrikaans. My goal is to make learning as fun and exiting as possible by using these methods in class: singing, dancing, games, role play and using fun colorful resources. I can help you with anything from pronunciation, grammer, reading and writing, phonics and building your vocabulary.
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Magda has a lot of experience and is well-structured. She offers a lot of materials. I would totally recommend her.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Hi! My name is Federica, and I am a certified teacher of Italian as a foreign language.
I have 3 + years of experience as a teacher, and I have also been a translator/proofreader for almost three decades. I can speak English, a bit of German, French and Spanish, as well as very, very basic Swedish. In short, I know just how it feels to be a learner of a foreign language, too!
One thing I know is that learning a language is more effective - and much more fun - when teaching is personalized. That's why I don't follow any single textbook: I like to try and choose the texts and exercises which are best suited to my students' interests. I also prefer to use "real" material such as magazine articles, songs, videos, etc., so you'll get an authentic feel for the language.
But enough about me. Let's talk about you! What is your current level and what are your short- and long-term goals in learning Italian? Book a free trial lesson (half an hour) with me. We'll talk about your goals and discuss how best to achieve them.
Hope to meet you soon!
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She speaks so softly and understandable. Always cooperating with the student. I'd recommend her especially for grammar studies.
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