The subjunctive in dependent clauses with [conjunctions or phrases] has a value:
1. Final: expresses the action’s end, purpose, and destination.
[perché, affinché, acciocché, di modo che etc.]
- Ogni tanto tiravo fuori dal taschino l’orologio perché tutti lo vedessero.
- Every now and then I took my watch out of my pocket for everyone to see.
- Parlo ad alta voce affinché sentiate tutti bene.
- I speak out loud so that you can all hear clearly.
- Scriveva in inglese, affinché tutti potessero leggere i suoi articoli.
- He wrote in English, so that everyone could read his articles.
- Lavorano tanto acciocché i loro figli non abbiano mai problemi economici.
- They work hard so that their children never have financial problems.
- Cucina con lo scopo che tutti siano soddisfatti.
- Cook with the aim that everyone is satisfied.
2. Concessive: where something that contrasts and acts as an obstacle is expressed. but that does not prevent the regent’s event from taking place.
[benché, sebbene, malgrado (che), quantunque, nonostante (che), per quanto, etc.]
- La roba degli altri mi ha fatto sempre gola, nonostante avessi ricevuto tante raccomandazioni al contrario.
- Other people’s stuff has always tempted me, despite having received many recommendations to the contrary.
- Sebbene non fossi ricco, facevo credere di esserlo con ogni bugia.
- Although I wasn’t rich, I made people believe I was with every lie.
3. Concessive relative: some pronouns, indefinite adjectives, adverbs or adverbial expressions of quality or place can introduce a relative clause with concessive value.
[chiunque, qualunque, qualsiasi, comunque, dovunque, ovunque, etc.]
- Per quanti lavori tu abbia iniziato, non sei riuscito a portarne uno.
- No matter how many jobs you started, you couldn’t land one.
- Qualunque cosa lui dica, non lo crederò.
- Whatever he says, I won’t believe it.
- Ti seguirò dovunque tu vada.
- I will follow you wherever you go.
4. Conditional: where the condition is expressed, the hypothesis to which the regent is subjected.
[se, qualora, purché, a patto che, a condizione che, nel caso che, etc.]
- Qualora tu abbia intenzione di uscire, dammi un colpo di telefono.
- If you’re planning on going out, give me a call.
- Te lo presterei volentieri, a condizione che non me lo sciupassi.
- I would gladly lend it to you, as long as you didn’t waste it.
- Se glielo chiedessi con garbo, non saprebbe dirti di no.
- If you asked him politely, he wouldn’t be able to say no.
- Se fossi in te, non ci andrei.
- If I were you, I wouldn’t go there.
5. comparative: where a comparison between regent and dependent is expressed, in the form of a non-real hypothesis.
[come se, quasi (che), etc.]
With these phrases only the imperfect and the past subjunctive are used (which clearly indicate contemporaneity and precedence with respect to the regent).
- Mi ricordo bene quando avevo otto anni! Quasi mi vedessi in uno specchio.
- I remember well when I was eight! Almost as if I saw myself in a mirror.
- Mi guarda con due occhi come se non avesse capito la domanda.
- He looks at me with two eyes as if he didn’t understand the question.
- Non mi salutava più, quasi gli avessi mancato di rispetto.
- He no longer greeted me, as if I had disrespected him.
- Mi ascoltava con aria allibita, come se io avessi parlato un’altra lingua.
- He listened to me with an astonished expression, as if I had spoken another language.
- Ci tratta come se fossimo dei ragazzini.
- He treats us like we are kids.