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Home » Italian grammar lesson 153: Il congiuntivo in proposizioni indipendenti / The subjunctive in independent clauses.

Italian grammar lesson 153: Il congiuntivo in proposizioni indipendenti / The subjunctive in independent clauses.

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The subjunctive is mostly found in dependent clauses. However, there are uses of the subjunctive in independent clauses.

The independent subjunctive expresses the following concepts:

A). Doubt, fear: introduced by [“che”, “e se”].

  • Carlo è distratto: che sia un po’ stanco? (credo che …)
  • Carlo is distracted: is he a little tired? (I believe that …)
  • Non risponde che sia già uscito? (temo che ..)
  • Don’t you reply that he’s already out? (I fear that ..)
  • Ieri non è venuta a lezione: che fosse malata, o che non avesse sentito la sveglia? (Non so se … o…)
  • Yesterday she didn’t come to class: was she ill, or didn’t she hear the alarm clock? (I don’t know if… or…)
  • “Ceniamo in giardino?” “E se dovesse piovere?” (Che faremmo?)
  • “Shall we have dinner in the garden?” “What if it rains?” (What would we do?)
  • “Vado a ritirare il certificato?” “E se lo avesse già ritirato Pino?’ (Che farei?)
  • “Should I go and collect the certificate?” ‘What if Pino had already collected it?’ (What would I do?)

In these sentences, subjunctive and indicative alternate, depending on the semantic nuance of (eventuality) and (determinacy) that you want to give.

B). Desire, wish, hope, regret: introduced by [“almeno”,”che”,”magari”,”(e) se”]

  • Possiate trascorrere una bella vacanza! (spero che …)
  • May you have a great holiday! (I hope that …)
  • Almeno potessi venire con te! (mi piacerebbe che …)
  • At least I could come with you! (I’d like …)
  • Magari potessi andare a visitare l’Australia! (mi piacerebbe …)
  • I wish I could go and visit Australia! (I would like …)
  • Se ti avessimo dato ascolto quella volta! (vorrei che ..)
  • If only we had listened to you that time! (I wish ..)
  • Oh, se potessi venire con te! (lo farei volentieri!)
  • Oh, if I could come with you! (I would do it willingly!)
  • Che sete! E se ci bevessimo una birra?
  • How thirsty! What if we had a beer?

C). Grant: introduced by [“pure”, “anche”, “ammettiamo che”]

  • “Giulia vorrebbe venire da te domani” “Che venga pure, mi farà piacere!”
  • “Giulia would like to come to you tomorrow” “Let her come, I’ll be happy!”
  • “La disturbo” “No, no! Entri pure!”
  • “I’m bothering you” “No, no! Come in!”
  • Me lo chiedesse anche in ginocchio, non cederò!
  • Even if he asks me on his knees, I won’t give in!
  • Ammettiamo che tu abbia ragione …
  • Let’s assume you’re right…

D). Exhortation: part of the imperative.

  • Si accomodi!
  • Have a seat!
  • Vengano!
  • Let them come!
  • Non pensiamoci più!
  • Let’s not think about it anymore!
  • Che mi aspetti!
  • What are you waiting for me!
  • Che inizino!
  • Let them begin!