previousnext

10.3.5.2 conjunctions requiring the subjunctive

We are going to talk about conjunctions later, in chatper 16. Conjunctions establish a logical or temporal relationship between a main clause and a subordinate clause.

	He works although he is ill.
	He works while he is ill.
	He works because he is ill.

It is quite obvious that the relationship between the main clause (He works) and the subordinate clause (he is ill) is very different in each of these sentences. The conjunctions can be confused with the prepositions but the prepositions establish a relationship in space, time between nouns (or a logical relationship as well). The conjunctions establish a relationship between the main sentence and the subordinate clause. In some cases it may be difficult to distinguish between a preposition and a conjunction. The main difference is that the prepositions stand in front of a noun, the conjunction introduces a whole sentence.

He feigned not to see me. Faceva come se non mi vedesse.

All the conjunctions which describe the actions / events described in the subordinate clause as insecure, feared, wanted, unwanted, etc. requiere the congiuntivo. The conjunctions below require the subjunctive because they express doubt, fear, unreality, contradiction concerning the actions / events in the subordinate clause they introduce.

	sebbene = although
	Sebbene questo documento si sia dimostrato falso. Although it has been proved that the documentes were falsified.
	benché = although (even if)
	Benché non abbia incontrato un grande successo commerciale, è alla base di molti linguaggi moderni e interfacce grafiche dell'ultima generazione. Although it was not commercially successful it has been the base of a lot of modern languages and nowadays computer interfaces.
	nonostante = although (nevertheless)
	Nonostante molte fabbriche siano state costrette a chiudere, il 1999 è stato l'anno del boom produttivo. Although many companies were forced to close the year1999 brought a big increase in productivity.
	nel caso = supposed
	Nel caso che il prodotto ordinato non sia disponibile, ci impegniamo a contattare i clienti via e-mail entro 30 giorni.
	ammesso che = supposed
	Poi, ammesso che la nave non faccia naufragio, ammesso che non vengano intercettati, ammesso che possano arrivare in Italia, scopriranno la dura realtà. Supposed that the ship did not shipwreck, supposed the didn' t sink, supposed they arrive in Italy they are confronted with the hard reality.
	supposto che = supposed
	Supposto che la webcam sia già configurata e funzionante, non resta che installare il piccolo software scaricabile dalla home page. Supposed that the webcam is already configured and works, there is nothing else to do but install a little software which you can download from the website.
	qualora = supposed
	Qualora il testo non fosse visualizzato correttamente vi preghiamo di richiedercelo. If the text is not presented correctly please ask for it again.
	a condizione che = supposed
	Ci andremo a condizione che ci sia bel tempo. Supposed the wheter is fine, we go there.
	a patto che = supposed
	A patto che non ti innamori di me. Supposed that you don't fall in love with me.
	purché = if
	Il Papa accetta l'invito al dialogo purché ci sia reciprocità. The pope accepted the invitation for dialogue, supposed that it is based on reciprocalness.
	salvo che = except
	Gli utenti ricevono al massimo un messaggio a settimana salvo che decidano di modificare le proprie preferenze e richiedano di ricevere messaggi più di frequente. The user will only get one message per week, except they decide to change their preferences and to get news more frequently.
	senza che = without that
	I miei clienti ricevano email da me senza che io le abbia mandate. My customers get emails from me which I have never sent.
	in modo che = in order to
	Come fare in modo che i link cambino colore al passaggio del mouse? What must be done in order to change the colour of a link if you move the mouse over it?
	perché = because
	If perchè describes a causal relationship the indicativo is to be used. Io sono andato via perché non potevo più restare. I left because I couln' t stay there any longer. If perchè describes an intention, the congiuntivo is used. Appello urgente perchè venga trovata una soluzione al problema. Urgent appeal to find a solution for this problem.
	affinché = in ordert to
	Affinché ti ricordi di me. In order that you remember me.
	cosicché = in order to
	Parla con sincerità cosicchè le tue parole possano arrivare nel nostro cuore, come raggi di sole. Speak seriously in order that your words can reach our hearts like the rays of the sun.
	prima che = before
	Prima che sia troppo tardi. Bevor it is too late.
	basta che = it' s enough
	Basta che se ne parli. It' s enough that people talk about it.
	sempre che = supposed, everytime
	With the meaning of supposed that the congiuntivo is to be used. Noi lo possiamo fare attraverso la letteratura, sempre che venga tradotta. We can do it with the help of the literature, supposed it is translated. With the meaning of every time that the indicativo is to be used. Sempre che viene, mi domanda la stessa cosa. Every time he comes, he asks the same thing.
	come se = if
	Mi guardava come se fosse un angelo. He looked at me if I were an angel.
	di modo che = so dass
	Concerning modo che a distinction is to be made. Is the action / event described in the subordinate clause is already realized the indicativo is used, if it is only intended, the congiuntivo.
	with congiuntivo
	Vi preghiamo di chiamarci con il cellulare in modo che possiamo aprirvi. Please call us by mobile in order that we can open you.
	with indicativo
	Questa barchetta portava due sole persone, di modo che era obbligata a fare un viaggio per ciascun di noi. This canoe had only place for two persons, so I had to do the passage twice.
	quando = when
	When he sleeps he dreams.
	Quando dorme, sogna.

previousnext

contact privacy statement imprint