The Present Subjunctive

Level 3

The present subjunctive presents something as said, thought or hoped: Hún segir að hann sé veikur (She says he is sick).

How It Works

Endings. ég -i, þú -ir, hún -i, við -um, þið -ið, þau -i:

  • koma: komi, komir, komi, komum, komið, komi
  • tala: tali, talir, tali, tölum, talið, tali
  • vera: sé, sért, sé, séum, séuð, séu

The við form is the same as in the indicative and can show u-umlaut (tölum, förum). Other useful forms: hafi, geti, vilji, viti, eigi, fái, sjái, taki.

Indicative or subjunctive? The indicative presents a fact the speaker stands behind. The subjunctive presents what someone says, believes or hopes:

  • Ég veit að hún er heima. (I know she is home.) Indicative after vita.
  • Ég held að hún sé heima. (I think she is home.) Subjunctive after halda.

Where it is used.

  • After verbs of saying, thinking and hoping, such as segja, halda, telja and vona: Ég vona að þér líði vel (I hope you are feeling well). See reported speech.
  • After svo að (so that): Talaðu hægt svo að hún skilji þig (Speak slowly so that she understands you).
  • After þó að/þótt (although): Þó að það sé kalt förum við út (Although it is cold, we are going out).
  • In fixed wishes: Guð blessi Ísland (God bless Iceland). See wishes in the subjunctive.

Tense. Use the present subjunctive when the main verb is in the present: Hún segir að hann sé veikur. When the main verb is in the past, switch to the past subjunctive: Hún sagði að hann væri veikur.

Examples (6)

  1. Hún segir að hann sé veikur.

    She says he is sick.

    Word by Word: She says that he be sick.

  2. Ég held að það sé rétt.

    I think that's right.

    Word by Word: I hold that it be right.

  3. Ég vona að þér líði vel.

    I hope you're feeling well.

    Word by Word: I hope that to-you feel well.

    líða has a dative subject (þér); its subjunctive is líði.

  4. Talaðu hægt svo að hún skilji þig.

    Speak slowly so that she understands you.

    Word by Word: Speak slowly so that she understand you.

  5. Þó að það sé kalt förum við út.

    Although it is cold, we are going out.

    Word by Word: Although it be cold go we out.

    The þó að-clause comes first, so the main clause starts with its verb.

  6. Hann segir að þau komi á morgun.

    He says they are coming tomorrow.

    Word by Word: He says that they come tomorrow.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative after halda.

    Ég held að hún er heima.
    Ég held að hún sé heima.

    halda presents an opinion, so the að-clause takes the subjunctive: sé.

  • Building the subjunctive from the changed indicative stem.

    Hann segir að hún kemi á morgun.
    Hann segir að hún komi á morgun.

    The present subjunctive comes from the infinitive stem (kom-), not from kemur. The form is komi.

How It Connects

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The Present SubjunctiveLevel 3

Learn This First

The present subjunctive builds on that-clauses.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

sé-i-um