Question 1

Why is the verb innaffi in the subjunctive here?

Accepted Answer

It is triggered by the impersonal expression bisogna che (it is necessary that). Expressions of necessity, desire, or opinion followed by che almost always require the subjunctive in the second part of the sentence.

Question 2

What is the infinitive of innaffi, and how does its spelling work in the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

The infinitive is innaffiare (to water). For regular -are verbs in the present subjunctive, the io, tu, and lui/lei forms all end in -i. Since the root of innaffiare already ends in an i, we don't write a double i; it just becomes innaffi.

Question 3

Why did they include the pronoun tu? Doesn't Italian usually drop subject pronouns?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Italian usually drops them. However, because the io, tu, and lui/lei forms are completely identical in the present subjunctive, we often add the pronoun to avoid confusion. Here, tu makes it perfectly clear that you need to water the plant, not me or someone else.

Question 4

Could I say this without using the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! You could use the verb dovere (must) and say Devi innaffiare la pianta (You must water the plant). Using bisogna che is a very common way to express necessity, but it requires that you use the subjunctive.

Question 5

Does ogni change if the noun is masculine, like giorno?

Accepted Answer

No, ogni (every) is an invariable word, meaning it never changes its ending to match gender or number. It is always followed by a singular noun, whether feminine like mattina or masculine like giorno.

Bisogna che tu innaffi la pianta ogni mattina.

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