Evaluative Subjunctive

Level 5

A superlative does not automatically trigger să. Cel mai bun film pe care l-am văzut describes an actual experience; a sought or potential quality can use the subjunctive.

How It Works

Factual comparisons
Use the indicative when reporting an actual experience: Este cel mai bun film pe care l-am văzut. Calling something “the best” is an evaluation, but evaluation alone does not require a subjunctive.

Sought or possible qualities
A subjunctive can describe a requirement: Căutăm cel mai potrivit coleg care să aibă experiență. The search is for someone meeting that criterion. It can also occur in negative or interrogative contexts involving possible referents: Nu e singura persoană care să mă înțeleagă.

Past situations
Să fi + participle refers to a prior situation, for example Nu cunosc pe nimeni care să fi văzut filmul. Do not replace an ordinary factual l-am văzut with să-l fi văzut just to sound formal.

Relative pe care still follows the direct-object rules. The choice of mood does not remove its object clitic.

Examples (5)

  1. Căutăm cel mai potrivit coleg care să aibă experiență în domeniu.

    We are looking for the most suitable colleague with experience in the field.

    Word by Word: We search the most suitable colleague who to have experience in field.

    Să aibă presents experience as a requirement for the colleague being sought; the superlative alone does not trigger this mood.

  2. Nu e singura persoană care să mă înțeleagă cu adevărat.

    She is not the only person [capable of] truly understanding me.

    Word by Word: Not is only-the person who to me understand with truth.

    The subjunctive presents understanding as a possible capacity within a negative statement. An indicative could assert a fact in a different framing.

  3. Nu cunosc pe nimeni care să fi văzut un film mai bun.

    I do not know anyone who has seen a better film.

    Word by Word: Not I-know PE nobody who SUBJ be seen a film more good.

    The perfect subjunctive presents a prior possible experience under negation; the comparative mai bun does not itself select the mood.

  4. Nu există nimic care să mă oprească.

    There is nothing that [could] stop me.

    Word by Word: Not exists nothing which to me stop.

    The subjunctive describes a possible obstacle whose existence is denied; it is not required merely because the statement is evaluative.

  5. Nu e singurul lucru pe care să-l facem astăzi.

    It is not the only thing for us to do today.

    Word by Word: Not is only-the thing PE which SUBJ-it we-do today.

    The subjunctive describes a task among possible or intended tasks, within a negative statement.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a present subjunctive when reporting an actual completed visit.

    Brașov e cel mai frumos oraș pe care să-l vizitez anul trecut.
    Brașov e cel mai frumos oraș pe care l-am vizitat anul trecut.

    The intended statement reports a visit that actually happened last year; use the indicative completed past here.

How It Connects

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

Evaluative SubjunctiveLevel 5

Learn This First

Recognize a superlative description while checking what the following relative clause asserts. Distinguish asserted relatives from prospective or nonasserted relatives; a superlative alone does not require să.