Introduction
The Portuguese present subjunctive is a key mood that expresses doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, and other non-factual attitudes. This article explains how the presente do subjuntivo is formed, when to use it, common triggers, and plenty of Brazilian Portuguese examples to help you recognize and produce it naturally.
- What is the present subjunctive?
- How to form the present subjunctive
- When to use the present subjunctive
- Common trigger words and phrases
- Negative and affirmative differences
- Subjunctive in relative clauses
- Temporal uses and future reference
- Practical tips for learners
- Quick reference conjugation chart (examples)
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- More example sentences with translations
- Conclusion
What is the present subjunctive?
The presente do subjuntivo is not a tense that places actions in time but a mood that shows how the speaker feels about an action: whether it is desired, possible, uncertain, or dependent on something else. In English, you might translate many subjunctive uses with will, may, should, or with constructions like I want you to… or If I were…. In Portuguese, the subjunctive has specific conjugations and is used after certain verbs and expressions called triggers.
How to form the present subjunctive
The easiest way to form the presente do subjuntivo is to start with the first person singular of the present indicative (eu) and drop the -o ending. Then add the subjunctive endings depending on the verb group (-ar, -er, -ir).
Step-by-step formation
1. Take the eu form of the present indicative: falar – eu falo; comer – eu como; partir – eu parto.
2. Remove the final -o: falo -> fal-; como -> com-; parto -> part-.
3. Add the subjunctive endings:
-ar verbs: -e, -es, -e, -emos, -em
-er and -ir verbs: -a, -as, -a, -amos, -am
Examples:
falar: eu fale, tu fales, ele/ela fale, nós falemos, eles/elas falem
comer: eu coma, tu comas, ele/ela coma, nós comamos, eles/elas comam
partir: eu parta, tu partas, ele/ela parta, nós partamos, eles/elas partam
Irregular verbs and spelling changes
Some verbs are irregular or have stem changes in the present subjunctive. Common irregulars include ser, estar, ter, ir, saber, and dar.
Ser: eu seja, tu sejas, ele seja, nós sejamos, eles sejam
Estar: eu esteja, tu estejas, ele esteja, nós estejamos, eles estejam
Ter: eu tenha, tu tenhas, ele tenha, nós tenhamos, eles tenham
Ir: eu vá, tu vás, ele vá, nós vamos, eles vão (note that nós vaiamos is not used; instead nós vamos in present indicative and nós vamos is not subjunctive; correct subjunctive is nós vamos? In Portuguese the presente do subjuntivo for ir is nós vamos as an exception — but standard is nós vamos; however many sources say nós vamos is shared with indicative)
Saber: eu saiba, tu saibas, ele saiba, nós saibamos, eles saibam
Dar: eu dê, tu dês, ele dê, nós dêmos, eles deem
Stem-changing verbs like pedir, dormir, pensar, and querer follow regular subjunctive patterns but keep stem changes similar to present indicative: pedir -> eu peça, dormir -> eu durma, pensar -> eu pense, querer -> eu queira.
When to use the present subjunctive
The presente do subjuntivo appears after certain expressions that signal subjectivity. These triggers fall into several categories: desires and wishes, doubts and uncertainty, emotions and reactions, impersonal expressions of necessity or possibility, conjunctions that link to hypothetical or future actions, and certain verbs that express recommendation or command when the subject changes.
1. Wishes and desires
Use the subjunctive after verbs that express wanting, preferring, wishing, or commanding when the subject of the main clause is different from the subordinate clause.
Examples:
Eu quero que você venha amanhã. (I want you to come tomorrow.)
Espero que ela esteja bem. (I hope she is well.)
Prefiro que eles fiquem em casa. (I prefer they stay at home.)
2. Doubt, denial, and uncertainty
After verbs and expressions that indicate doubt, disbelief, or denial, use the subjunctive.
Examples:
Duvido que ele saiba a resposta. (I doubt that he knows the answer.)
Não acredito que isso aconteça. (I do not believe that this happens.)
É possível que nós cheguemos tarde. (It is possible that we arrive late.)
3. Emotions and reactions
When expressing feelings such as joy, fear, surprise, or regret about another action, use the subjunctive.
Examples:
Fico feliz que você goste do presente. (I am happy that you like the gift.)
Tenho medo de que ele caia do palco. (I am afraid that he will fall from the stage.)
Lamento que eles não possam vir. (I regret that they cannot come.)
4. Impersonal expressions of necessity, possibility, or judgment
Many impersonal expressions take the subjunctive because they state a general opinion or necessity rather than a fact.
Examples:
É necessário que você estude mais. (It is necessary that you study more.)
É importante que nós cheguemos cedo. (It is important that we arrive early.)
É bom que eles tenham tempo livre. (It is good that they have free time.)
5. Conjunctions that trigger the subjunctive
Certain conjunctions require the subjunctive when the action is anticipated, hypothetical, or contingent. Common ones include para que, antes que, caso, embora, até que, desde que, and sem que.
Examples:
Eu estudo para que eu possa trabalhar no exterior. (I study so that I can work abroad.)
Saia cedo antes que chova. -> Saia cedo antes que chova. (Leave early before it rains.)
Caso você precise, me avise. (In case you need, let me know.)
Embora ela esteja cansada, vai trabalhar. (Although she is tired, she will work.)
6. After verbs of recommendation or suggestion
When recommending or suggesting something about another person, the subjunctive follows verbs like sugerir, recomendar, pedir, exigir, and ordenar when there is a change of subject.
Examples:
O professor recomenda que nós leiam o capítulo. (The teacher recommends that we read the chapter.)
Eles pedem que você chegue às 8h. (They ask that you arrive at 8.)
Recomendo que tu faças uma revisão antes do exame. (I recommend that you do a review before the exam.)
Common trigger words and phrases
Here is a practical list of triggers that signal the use of the presente do subjuntivo in subordinate clauses. Knowing these helps you decide when to switch from the indicative to the subjunctive.
Verbs and expressions of desire: querer que, esperar que, desejar que, preferir que, pedir que
Doubt or negation: duvidar que, não acreditar que, não crer que, negar que
Emotion or reaction: alegrar-se que, ter medo de que, sentir que, lamentar que
Impersonal expressions: é necessário que, é importante que, é possível que, é bom que
Conjunctions: para que, antes que, caso, embora, até que, desde que, sem que
Recommendation and command: sugerir que, recomendar que, pedir que, exigir que, ordenar que
Negative and affirmative differences
Note that some verbs change meaning depending on whether the sentence is affirmative or negative, and this affects whether you use the subjunctive.
Example with acreditar:
Acredito que ele vem amanhã. -> indicative because the speaker expresses belief (eu acredito que + indicative).
Não acredito que ele venha amanhã. -> subjunctive after negation because the speaker expresses doubt.
Subjunctive in relative clauses
When a relative clause (introduced by que, quem, where appropriate) refers to something uncertain, nonexistent, or indefinite, use the subjunctive.
Examples:
Procuro um livro que me interesse. (I am looking for a book that interests me – maybe it does not exist.)
Preciso de alguém que saiba consertar isso. (I need someone who knows how to fix this – indefinite person.)
Temporal uses and future reference
The subjunctive is often used after conjunctions of time when the action is not yet realized and depends on the future. With conjunctions like quando, assim que, depois que, enquanto, use the subjunctive when referring to future actions.
Examples:
Quando você chegar, me liga. (When you arrive, call me – arrival is in the future and dependent.)
Assim que nós soubermos o resultado, avisamos. (As soon as we know the result, we will let you know.)
Practical tips for learners
1. Learn the verb endings and practice with common irregular verbs. Start with ser, estar, ter, ir, saber, dar.
2. Memorize common triggers in categories: desire, doubt, emotion, impersonal expressions, conjunctions, and recommendations.
3. Pay attention to changes in subject. If the subject does not change between clauses, you usually use the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
Example: Quero estudar agora. -> No subjunctive because no subordinate clause with different subject.
Quero que você estude agora. -> Subjunctive because the subject changes.
4. Notice negative vs affirmative forms: negation often brings in the subjunctive.
5. Listen to Brazilian Portuguese media: the subjunctive is frequent in spoken and written language, especially in polite requests, suggestions, and describing hypothetical situations.
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilian Portuguese tends to use the subjunctive naturally in everyday speech, especially in polite requests and expressions of hope or uncertainty. In casual conversations, speakers may also use simpler constructions with infinitives or personal verbs, but mastering the presente do subjuntivo will make your Portuguese sound more accurate and polite. In formal writing and in broadcasts, correct use of the subjunctive is expected.
Quick reference conjugation chart (examples)
falar: eu fale, tu fales, ele fale, nós falemos, eles falem
comer: eu coma, tu comas, ele coma, nós comamos, eles comam
partir: eu parta, tu partas, ele parta, nós partamos, eles partam
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using the indicative after a trigger that requires the subjunctive. Fix: memorize triggers and practice making subordinate clauses.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to change the subject before using the subjunctive. Fix: explicitly identify the subject of each clause.
Mistake 3: Overusing subjunctive where the infinitive is correct. Fix: when subjects are the same across clauses, use the infinitive, not subjunctive.
Mistake 4: Neglecting irregular forms. Fix: drill irregular verbs in the subjunctive until they become automatic.
More example sentences with translations
Espero que vocês tenham um bom dia. -> I hope you have a good day.
É importante que tu faças a prova com calma. -> It is important that you take the exam calmly.
Quem quer que seja, ele é bem-vindo. -> Whoever he may be, he is welcome.
Mesmo que chova, nós iremos ao parque. -> Even if it rains, we will go to the park.
Não quero que ele saiba a verdade ainda. -> I do not want him to know the truth yet.
Conclusion
Understanding the presente do subjuntivo is essential for expressing wishes, doubts, emotions, necessity, and hypothetical or future-dependent actions in Brazilian Portuguese. Learn the formation steps, memorize common triggers, and practice with real sentences. With time, the subjunctive will become a natural part of your Portuguese and make your speech more nuanced and accurate.
