querer que + Subjunctive
Subjuntivo Com Desejo
In Portuguese, you cannot say 'I want you to go' literally. Instead, you must say 'I want that you go' using the subjunctive mood: Quero que você vá.
How It Works
This pattern is essential because Portuguese lacks the 'Object + Infinitive' structure found in English (e.g., 'I want him to stay').
1. The Structure:
Subject 1 + Querer + que + Subject 2 + Subjunctive Verb.
2. Tense Agreement:
- If querer is in the present: Use the Present Subjunctive. (Ex: Quero que você coma).
- If querer is in the past or conditional: Use the Imperfect Subjunctive. (Ex: Eu queria que você comesse).
3. Different Subjects Rule:
This structure is only for different subjects. If you want to do something yourself, use the infinitive: Eu quero viajar (I want to travel) vs. Eu quero que você viaje (I want you to travel).
Examples (5)
- Eu quero que você seja feliz.
I want you to be happy.
Word by Word: I want that you be happy.
The verb 'ser' changes to 'seja' because it is triggered by 'quero que'.
- Eles querem que nós façamos o trabalho.
They want us to do the work.
Word by Word: They want that we do (subjunctive) the work.
The verb 'fazer' becomes 'façamos' in the present subjunctive.
- Eu queria que você viesse à festa.
I wanted/would like you to come to the party.
Word by Word: I wanted that you came (subjunctive) to the party.
Since 'queria' is in the imperfect, the following verb 'vir' must be in the imperfect subjunctive 'viesse'.
- Você quer que eu te ajude?
Do you want me to help you?
Word by Word: You want that I you help?
A common way to offer help using the subjunctive form of 'ajudar'.
- Nós não queremos que eles saibam disso.
We don't want them to know about this.
Word by Word: We not want that they know (subjunctive) of this.
The negative 'não queremos que' still triggers the subjunctive 'saibam'.
Common Mistakes
Using the English 'Object + Infinitive' structure.
Eu quero você ir.Eu quero que você vá.Portuguese requires the conjunction 'que' and the subjunctive mood when the subjects are different.
Using the Indicative mood after 'querer que'.
Quero que você faz isso.Quero que você faça isso.Even in casual speech, using the indicative (faz) instead of the subjunctive (faça) sounds very unnatural to native speakers.
Using 'que' when the subject is the same.
Eu quero que eu durma.Eu quero dormir.If you are the one performing the action, simply use the infinitive verb without 'que'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'querer que + subjuntivo', a learner needs to understand the basic conjugation of the present subjunctive for all verb groups and how the conjunction 'que' functions to connect two clauses with different subjects.
- -a/-as/-a/-amos/-ais/-amPresente Do Subjuntivo -ER/-IR
The learner must know how to conjugate regular -ER and -IR verbs in the present subjunctive to form the dependent clause.
Level 3 - que/quando/se + Pronoun + VerbProclisis with Subordinating Conjunctions
This pattern introduces the use of 'que' as a subordinating conjunction, which is the structural link between the main verb (querer) and the subjunctive clause.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- esperar que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Esperança
Similar to 'querer', the verb 'esperar' (to hope/expect) also triggers the subjunctive when subjects differ.
Level 3 - Sequence of Tenses (Present)
Explains how tenses must match between the main clause (querer) and the subjunctive clause.
Level 5 - queira/queiras/queira/queiramos/queiramSubjuntivo De Querer
These are the subjunctive forms of the verb 'querer' itself, often used in polite requests or formal commands.
Level 3 - duvidar que + SubjunctiveSubjuntivo Com Dúvida
Another common 'trigger' verb that requires the subjunctive mood to express uncertainty.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice querer que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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