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What is the Subjunctive and when do Italians use it? Andiamo!

You’ve probably heard sentences like:
Spero che tu venga. Instead of Spero che tu vieni – I hope you come.
Dubito che lo sappia. Instead of Dubito che lo sa – I doubt he knows.

But wait… what’s going on here?

In Italian, the Subjunctive aka Congiuntivo is used after emotions, doubts, opinions, or uncertainty — basically when things aren’t 100% fact.

The Congiuntivo isn’t a tense — it’s a mood.
It tells you this sentence comes from the heart, not just the head.

Hope, fear, desire, uncertainty = Congiuntivo.
👉 Spero che lei venga = I hope she comes (but I don’t know if she will). - Congiuntivo
👉 So che lei viene = I know she’s coming (100% confirmed). - Indicativo
We used to use the subjunctive in English all the time — and guess what?
Some bits still survive!

You’ve probably said:
✅ If I were you…
❌ (Not was — this is the English subjunctive!)

✅ So be it.
❌ (Not So it is) – this expresses acceptance of something uncertain or outside your control.

✅ May the best man win!
❌ (Not The best man wins) – again, it's a wish or hope for the future.

So while the Congiuntivo sounds fancy, it’s not totally foreign — we just forgot how to use ours.
So when you hear Italians say:
Spero che tu venga

They’re not just being dramatic…
They're using the same mood your ancestors used in Shakespearean English.

You’re basically saying:
This hasn’t happened… but I hope, wish, or feel that it will.

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Un abbraccio 🤗 (hug)
Michele

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