Question 1

Wait, the normal present tense for 'you buy' is also tu compri. Is this actually the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is! For regular -are verbs like comprare, the present subjunctive forms for io, tu, and lui/lei all end in -i. By coincidence, the tu form in the subjunctive (che tu compri) looks exactly the same as the normal present tense. You know it is the subjunctive here because of the trigger phrase bisogna che.

Question 2

Why does bisogna che trigger the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

Bisogna is an impersonal expression meaning 'it is necessary'. When you add che to introduce a specific person who needs to do the action (in this case, tu), Italian requires the subjunctive. Impersonal expressions of necessity, opinion, or emotion almost always trigger the subjunctive in the following clause.

Question 3

If Italian usually drops subject pronouns, why is tu included in che tu compri?

Accepted Answer

Because the present subjunctive endings for io, tu, and lui/lei are identical for regular verbs (they all become compri). If you just said bisogna che compri, it could mean 'it is necessary that I buy', 'you buy', or 'he/she buys'. Adding the pronoun tu clears up the ambiguity.

Question 4

What is the singular form of i semi?

Accepted Answer

The singular is il seme (the seed). It is a masculine noun that ends in -e in the singular. Remember that nouns ending in -e generally change to -i in the plural. You can tell it is masculine here because it is paired with the masculine plural article i and the masculine adjective giusti.

Bisogna che tu compri i semi giusti.

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