grammar
24 de June, 2026
7 min read
The Subjunctive in Portuguese: Complete Guide
By Caroline Escarpett Becco
Easy Portuguese
The Subjunctive in Portuguese
The subjunctive mood expresses uncertainty, desire, doubt, emotion, or hypothetical situations.
Present Subjunctive Formation
-AR verbs: change -o to -e
- FALAR = que eu fale
-ER/-IR verbs: change -o to -a
- COMER = que eu coma
Common Irregular Verbs
| Verb | Present Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| SER | seja |
| ESTAR | esteja |
| TER | tenha |
| IR | va |
When to Use the Subjunctive
- After expressions of desire: Eu quero que voce venha.
- After expressions of doubt: Talvez ele chegue tarde.
- After expressions of emotion: Estou feliz que voce esteja aqui.
The subjunctive takes time to master, but with practice you will get it! Book a class with me!