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Additional uses of the subjunctive

In addition to its use in subordinate clauses, the subjunctive is used after impersonal expressions (followed by che) such as the ones below.

È meglio — It is better

Bisogna — It is necessary

È necessario — It is necessary

È giusto — It is right

È possibile — It is possible

È incredibile — It is incredible

The subjunctive is also used after such conjunctions as the following:

dato che – granted that, given that

posto che – granted that, given that

benché – although, even though

quantunque – although, even though

sebbene – although, even though

caso mai – in case

prima che – before (used before dependent clause)

finché – until, referring to future

purché – provided that

a meno che . . . non – unless

eccetto che . . . non – unless

perché – so that, in order that

acciocché – so that, in order that

affinché – so that, in order that

senza che – without

The subjunctive is sometimes used in a dependent clause following the relative superlative of an adjective or an equivalent expression such as il migliore (the best), il solo or l’unico (the only), il primo (the first), l’ultimo (the last), etc. The subjunctive is most likely to occur in sentences which involve a question of judgment or opinion, whether expressed or implied. The subjunctive is also used when there is doubt as to the existence or the attainability of a person or object sought.

VOCABULARY A

VOCABULARY B