Conjunctions that bring the mood with them
After these conjunctions the congiuntivo follows, no matter how certain the content is. There is nothing to weigh up, you just need to know the conjunction. English puts a plain indicative after although, so that and before: “although it is late”, “so that you understand”. That plain verb is what ends up in the Italian sentence by mistake.
The four groups
The most important conjunctions sort themselves into four groups by meaning.
Concession — although
Benché and sebbene mean although and are interchangeable. They introduce a fact, yet still take the congiuntivo. Only anche se (even if, even though) takes the indicativo.
Sebbene piova, andiamo al mare.
Although it's raining, we're going to the seaside.
Benché sia tardi, esco lo stesso.
Although it's late, I'm going out anyway.
Anche se piove, andiamo al mare.
Even if it rains, we're going to the seaside.
Purpose — so that
Affinché and in modo che mean so that. Affinché is the more formal one.
Parlo piano affinché tutti mi capiscano.
I speak slowly so that everyone understands me.
Ti scrivo l'indirizzo in modo che tu non ti perda.
I'll write the address down for you so that you don't get lost.
Time — before
Prima che means before: what comes first has not happened yet. What has already happened (dopo che) or will happen anyway (quando) stays in the indicativo. English treats before and after alike, Italian does not.
Finiamo prima che arrivino gli altri.
Let's finish before the others get here.
Corriamo, prima che il treno parta.
Let's run, before the train leaves.
Dopo che sono arrivati, abbiamo mangiato.
After they arrived, we ate.
Condition and restriction
Purché and a condizione che mean provided that, basta che means all it takes is that, senza che means without followed by a subject.
Ti presto la macchina purché tu la restituisca domani.
I'll lend you the car provided you give it back tomorrow.
Basta che tu me lo dica un giorno prima.
You just need to tell me a day in advance.
Esce sempre senza che nessuno se ne accorga.
He always leaves without anyone noticing.
The special case of perché
Perché is the one conjunction here that still asks you to think: it can mean so that or because. English keeps the two apart with two words, Italian with two moods. The signal has moved from the conjunction to the verb.
Purpose against reason
so that — congiuntivo
The clause names a goal that has not been reached yet.
Parlo piano perché tu mi capisca.
I speak slowly so that you understand me.
Cucino di più perché ne resti anche per domani.
I'm cooking more so that some is left for tomorrow too.
because — indicativo
The clause names a reason that already holds.
Parlo piano perché tu non mi capisci bene.
I speak slowly because you don't understand me well.
Cucino di più perché siamo in sei.
I'm cooking more because there are six of us.
Same subject — switch to the infinitive
If the subordinate clause is about the same person as the main clause, Italian swaps the conjunction for a preposition after prima che, senza che and affinché, and the conjugated verb for the infinitive. English does the same reduction with an -ing form (“before leaving”, “without saying”). Italian uses the plain infinitive in that slot, never the gerundio: prima di uscire, not prima di uscendo.
Two subjects or one
| Two subjects — che + congiuntivo | One subject — infinitive |
|---|---|
| prima che tu esca | prima di uscire |
| senza che tu dica niente | senza dire niente |
| affinché tu capisca | per capire |
Prima di uscire, chiudo sempre le finestre.
Before going out, I always close the windows.
Prima che tu esca, chiudi le finestre.
Before you go out, close the windows.
Se n'è andato senza dire niente.
He left without saying anything.
Benché, sebbene and purché have no infinitive partner. They keep the congiuntivo even when the subject stays the same: Benché io sia stanco, esco.
