esteja/estejas/esteja/estejamos/estejam

Subjuntivo De Estar

Level 3

Esteja is the present subjunctive form of the irregular verb estar. It is used to talk about temporary states (feelings, health, location) when there is doubt, emotion, a wish, or a specific conjunction like 'embora' (although).

How It Works

The present subjunctive of estar is essential for expressing subjectivity regarding conditions or states.

1. Conjugation:

  • Eu esteja
  • Tu estejas
  • Você/Ele/Ela esteja
  • Nós estejamos
  • Vós estejais (formal/literary)
  • Vocês/Eles/Elas estejam

2. Common Triggers:

  • Wishes/Emotions: Espero que você esteja bem. (I hope you are well.)
  • Doubt: Duvido que ele esteja em casa. (I doubt he is at home.)
  • Progressive Actions: É bom que eles estejam estudando. (It's good that they are studying.)
  • Conjunctions: Caso você esteja cansado, podemos parar. (In case you are tired, we can stop.)

3. Nuance:
Because it comes from estar, it refers to a state or condition (even if permanent, like estar morto) or the location of people and objects. Note that for the location of events (like a party or concert), you should use seja instead. If you are talking about an inherent characteristic or identity, use seja.

Examples (4)

  1. Espero que você esteja bem hoje.

    I hope that you are well today.

    Word by Word: I hope that you be well today.

    The verb 'esperar' (to hope) triggers the subjunctive because it expresses a wish about a current state.

  2. Talvez eles estejam no escritório.

    Maybe they are in the office.

    Word by Word: Maybe they be in the office.

    The adverb 'talvez' (maybe) expresses doubt/uncertainty, requiring the subjunctive 'estejam'.

  3. É importante que estejamos unidos agora.

    It is important that we be united now.

    Word by Word: It is important that we be united now.

    Impersonal expressions like 'é importante que' require the subjunctive to express necessity.

  4. Embora ela esteja doente, ela quer trabalhar.

    Although she is sick, she wants to work.

    Word by Word: Although she be sick, she wants to work.

    The conjunction 'embora' (although) always triggers the subjunctive mood.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the non-existent form 'esteje'.

    Espero que você esteje feliz.
    Espero que você esteja feliz.

    Learners often mistakenly apply the regular -ar verb pattern (like 'fale') to 'estar'. However, 'esteja' is the only correct form; 'esteje' is a common error even among some native speakers but is grammatically incorrect.

  • Confusing 'esteja' with 'seja'.

    Duvido que ele seja em casa.
    Duvido que ele esteja em casa.

    Use 'esteja' for location or temporary states. Use 'seja' for permanent characteristics or identity.

  • Using the indicative 'está' after 'espero que'.

    Espero que você está bem.
    Espero que você esteja bem.

    In English, we say 'I hope you are', but in Portuguese, verbs of hoping strictly require the subjunctive mood.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

esteja/estejas/esteja/estejamos/estejamLevel 3Subjuntivo De Estar

Learn This First

To understand 'esteja', learners first need to be familiar with the verb 'estar' in its basic indicative form. Since 'esteja' is an irregular subjunctive form, it is helpful to have already encountered the regular present subjunctive endings for -ER/-IR verbs, as 'estar' (an -AR verb) unexpectedly adopts those endings. Finally, familiarity with the subjunctive of 'ser' provides a useful comparison for irregular auxiliary verbs in this mood.

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