Subjunctive After levat que

Level 5

Levat que means except that, and with the subjunctive it means unless.

How It Works

MeaningVerbExample
except that (a fact)indicativeSoi content, levat que ai fam. (I am happy, except that I am hungry.)
unless (a condition)subjunctiveLevat que plòga, sortirem. (Unless it rains, we will go out.)

Ask yourself whether the clause after levat que states something true or names something that might or might not happen. A true fact gives the indicative. A possible event gives the subjunctive.

Levat also works alone as a preposition before a noun, with the meaning of except: Totes son aicí, levat Joan. (Everyone is here except Joan.)

In print the except-that use is the common one. The unless use with the subjunctive is rarer, and the Congrès dictionaries list only the preposition.

Examples (4)

  1. Anam a la mar, levat que plòga.

    We go to the sea, unless it rains.

    Plòga: the subjunctive, because the rain is only possible.

  2. Partirem deman, levat que Maria siá malauta.

    We will leave tomorrow, unless Maria is ill.

    Siá: the subjunctive of èsser, after levat que.

  3. Soi content, levat que ai fam.

    I am happy, except that I am hungry.

    Ai: the indicative, because being hungry is a fact.

  4. Lo cafè es bon, levat que es tròp caud.

    The coffee is good, except that it is too hot.

    Es: the indicative, for a fact.

How It Connects

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Subjunctive After levat queLevel 5

Learn This First

Levat que takes the subjunctive when it means unless, so encara que and conditions with se come first.

Words in This Pattern

que