Introduction to the Subjunctive
In Portuguese, the subjunctive mood expresses subjectivity, doubt, emotions, desires, and necessity. You will frequently use the present subjunctive after impersonal expressions of necessity, such as é preciso que and é necessário que (both meaning "it is necessary that").
Forming the Present Subjunctive
For most verbs, the present subjunctive is formed by taking the eu (I) form of the present indicative, dropping the final -o, and adding the "opposite" vowel endings:
- -ar verbs take -e endings.
- -er and -ir verbs take -a endings.
| Subject | -ar verbs (e.g., respeitar) | -er / -ir verbs (e.g., perder) |
|---|---|---|
| Eu / Ele / Ela / Você | respeite | perca |
| Tu | respeites | percas |
| Nós | respeitemos | percamos |
| Eles / Elas / Vocês | respeitem | percam |
Some highly irregular verbs have their own unique stems in the subjunctive. For example, the verb ser (to be) becomes seja for eu / ele / ela / você.
Workplace Rules and Necessity
When stating rules or requirements, pair your expression of necessity with a subjunctive verb.
| It is necessary that each employee respect the regulation. | É preciso que cada funcionário respeite o regulamento. |
| It is necessary that the supervisor respect the strict regulation. | É necessário que o supervisor respeite o regulamento rigoroso. |
| It is necessary that you wear the appropriate uniform. | É preciso que uses o uniforme adequado. |
| It is necessary that the employee be punctual. | É necessário que o funcionário seja pontual. |
To express a negative requirement (what someone must not do), just put não immediately before the subjunctive verb.
| It is necessary that you do not lose the badge. | É preciso que não percas o crachá. |
| It is necessary that they do not leave anything on the desk. | É necessário que eles não deixem nada na secretária. |