Present Subjunctive of -ir and -re Verbs
In the present subjunctive, -ir and -re verbs end in -a, and -ir verbs add -isc- first.
How It Works
The present subjunctive has two sets of endings. The -ar verbs end in -e (parle, parles). Every other regular verb ends in -a.
| Person | finir | vendre |
|---|---|---|
| ieu | finisca | venda |
| tu | finiscas | vendas |
| el, ela | finisca | venda |
| nosautres | finiscam | vendam |
| vosautres | finiscatz | vendatz |
| eles, elas | finiscan | vendan |
Almost every -ir verb adds -isc-: partisca (partir), sortisca (sortir), dormisca (dormir), obrisca (obrir). Sentir skips -iss- in the present, and it skips -isc- here too: senta. A -re verb keeps its stem: venda, meta (metre). Some open the vowel in the stressed forms, as in pèrda, pèrdas but perdam, perdatz (pèrdre).
The forms for ieu and for el or ela are the same, so name the person when the context does not make it clear: Vòli que Joan finisca. Watch the first person plural. The present indicative is vendèm, and the subjunctive is vendam.
Examples (5)
- Cal que partiscam deman.
We have to leave tomorrow.
Partiscam: partir adds -isc-, then -am.
- Vòli que Joan finisca son trabalh.
I want Joan to finish his work.
Finisca: the same form serves for ieu and for el.
- Cal que vendam l'ostal.
We have to sell the house.
Vendam: the -re stem vend- takes -am.
- Maria vòl que sortiscas amb ela.
Maria wants you to go out with her.
Sortiscas: sortir adds -isc-, then -as.
- Ma maire vòl que metam la taula.
My mother wants us to set the table.
Metam: metre takes -am in the subjunctive.
Common Mistakes
Using the present indicative after cal que
Cal que partissèm deman.Cal que partiscam deman.Partissèm is the present indicative. After cal que the verb is in the subjunctive: partiscam.
Giving a -re verb the -ar ending
Vòli que vende l'ostal.Vòli que venda l'ostal.The ending -e belongs to -ar verbs. Vendre takes -a: venda.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The subjunctive of -ir and -re verbs follows the subjunctive of -ar verbs and uses the -ir and -re presents, so all three come first.
- Present Subjunctive of -ar Verbs
Know the subjunctive of -ar verbs, because the -ir and -re verbs end in -a where -ar verbs end in -e: que parle, que venda.
Level 5 - Present of -ir Verbs With -iss-
Know the -ir present with -iss-, because the subjunctive keeps the stem: finissi, que finisca.
Level 2 - Present of -re Verbs
Know the -re present, because the subjunctive is built from it: vendi, que venda.
Level 2
Related Patterns
Practice Present Subjunctive of -ir and -re Verbs in Bubblegum
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