Present subjunctive
Regular and irregular formation, triggers, purpose, future time, concession, and negative commands.
The subjunctive presents an action through attitude, possibility, purpose, or non-assertion
The indicative states or treats information as real; the subjunctive places it inside someone’s wish, doubt, reaction, requirement, purpose, or unresolved future. A frequent frame has two subjects joined by que: Vull que vinguis. With the same subject, Catalan normally uses an infinitive: Vull venir.
Regular present subjunctive
| Person | -ar: parlar | -re: perdre | -ir: dormir | -ir inchoative: servir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | parli | perdi | dormi | serveixi |
| tu | parlis | perdis | dormis | serveixis |
| ell/ella/vostè | parli | perdi | dormi | serveixi |
| nosaltres | parlem | perdem | dormim | servim |
| vosaltres | parleu | perdeu | dormiu | serviu |
| ells/elles/vostès | parlin | perdin | dormin | serveixin |
For many verbs, take the present stem and use -i, -is, -i, -em, -eu, -in. First/second plural can look like the indicative; the clause trigger supplies the mood.
Essential irregular stems
| Infinitive | jo/ell | tu | nosaltres | vosaltres | ells |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| anar | vagi | vagis | anem | aneu | vagin |
| dur | dugui | duguis | duguem | dugueu | duguin |
| estar | estigui | estiguis | estiguem | estigueu | estiguin |
| ser | sigui | siguis | siguem | sigueu | siguin |
| saber | sàpiga | sàpigues | sapiguem | sapigueu | sàpiguen |
| poder | pugui | puguis | puguem | pugueu | puguin |
| fer | faci | facis | fem | feu | facin |
| venir | vingui | vinguis | vinguem | vingueu | vinguin |
| tenir | tingui | tinguis | tinguem | tingueu | tinguin |
| voler | vulgui | vulguis | vulguem | vulgueu | vulguin |
High-value triggers
| Meaning | Trigger | Example |
|---|---|---|
| desire/request | voler que, preferir que | Prefereixo que hi anem demà. |
| need/importance | necessitar que, cal que, és important que | Cal que ho facis avui. |
| possibility/doubt | pot ser que, dubtar que, no creure que | Pot ser que plogui. |
| emotion/evaluation | m’alegra que, em sap greu que | M’alegra que siguis aquí. |
| purpose | perquè, per tal que | T’ho escric perquè ho recordis. |
| future time boundary | abans que, fins que, quan | Espera fins que arribi. |
| concession | encara que, per més que | Encara que costi, ho farem. |
| negative command | no + subjunctive | No t’hi quedis. |
Indicative versus subjunctive changes the commitment
Sé que ve asserts that the person is coming; Dubto que vingui does not. With encara que, the indicative treats the fact as known—Encara que plou, sortirem—while the subjunctive treats it as hypothetical or irrelevant to the outcome—Encara que plogui, sortirem. Future time clauses normally use subjunctive: Quan arribis, truca’m.
Examples in context
Vull que em truquis quan arribis.
I want you to call me when you arrive.
Necessitem que porteu el passaport.
We need you to bring your passport.
És important que tothom entengui les normes.
It is important that everyone understand the rules.
Pot ser que avui plegui més tard.
I may finish work later today.
No crec que aquesta sigui la millor solució.
I don’t think this is the best solution.
Em sap greu que no puguis venir.
I’m sorry you can’t come.
Tanco la finestra perquè no entri fred.
I’m closing the window so that cold air doesn’t come in.
Acabem-ho abans que arribin els clients.
Let’s finish it before the clients arrive.
No marxis fins que t’ho digui.
Don’t leave until I tell you.
Encara que sigui car, val la pena.
Even if it is expensive, it is worth it.
No facis soroll; els nens dormen.
Don’t make noise; the children are sleeping.
Busquem algú que sàpiga reparar-ho.
We are looking for someone who knows how to repair it.
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