Continuous subjunctive (esteja a)

The Continuous Subjunctive

We already know that in Portugal, ongoing actions (equivalent to the English "-ing" form) are formed with estar a followed by an infinitive. But what happens when we want to describe an ongoing action after a phrase that requires the subjunctive, such as a doubt, a wish, or an emotion?

We use the continuous subjunctive (conjuntivo contínuo).

Forming the Continuous Subjunctive

To form this, simply conjugate the verb estar in the subjunctive, and keep the a + infinitive exactly as usual.

Here is the present subjunctive of estar:

When you add a and the main verb, you create the continuous subjunctive. For example, if "you are getting ready" is estás a preparar, then "I want you to be getting ready" becomes quero que estejas a preparar.

Triggers for the Subjunctive

Just like the regular subjunctive, this continuous form is triggered by expressions of:

• Desire or hope: espero que (I hope that), quero que (I want that)
• Doubt or disbelief: duvido que (I doubt that), não acredito que (I don't believe that)
• Emotion or opinion: é horrível que (it's horrible that), é bom que (it's good that)
• Specific conjunctions: embora (even though)

Notice how the triggers below force estar into the subjunctive (esteja, estejam), while the action itself is ongoing (a demorar, a chegar, a festejar). Also note that when dealing with reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun is often placed before the verb estar (like te estejas a demorar).

Getting Ready for a Night Out

When preparing for a night out, you might be dealing with a delay while someone puts on lipstick (o batom) or hairspray (a laca). The continuous subjunctive is perfectly suited for expressing impatience, hopes, or doubts about what your friends are currently doing!