Brazilian Portuguese Grammar

Subjunctive Mood

Modo subjuntivo

Presente do subjuntivo

Use

Example

English

English verb tense equivalent

In noun clauses, after verbs that denote suggestions, advice, doubts, wishes, insistence, demands, requests, and also to say something is necessary, urgent, essential, important.

Sugiro que você seja mais educada com ele.

É importante que ela diga a verdade.

I suggest that you be more polite to him.

It is important that she tell the truth.

Clauses with the following structure:

finite verb + that + subject + infinitive

where the finite verb expresses suggestions, advice, demands, insistence

It is important (urgent, essential, necessary, vital, etc) + that + subject + infinitive

Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
Use	Example	English	English verb tense equivalent
Imaginary, hypothetical or impossible situations (for the condition)	Se eu fosse rico, eu viajaria ao redor do mundo.	If I were rich, I would travel around the world.	Past simple used right after if in the second conditional.

Pretérito perfeito do subjuntivo
Use	Example	English	English verb tense equivalent
An action that you hope someone has done.	Espero que ela tenha terminado o relatório.	I hope she has finished the report.	Present perfect for finished actions

Pretérito mais-que-perfeito do subjuntivo
Use	Example	English	English verb tense equivalent
To talk about past situations, saying what you would have done if things had been different.	Eu teria dito a verdade a você se você tivesse me ajudado.	I would have told you the truth if you had helped me.	Future perfect

Futuro do subjuntivo
Use	Example	English	English verb tense equivalent
In future time clauses (orações adverbiais temporais)	Quando você a vir novamente, diga-lhe que preciso conversar com ela.	When you see her again, (please) tell her that I need to talk to her.	Present simple used right after when, as soon as (time conjuctions) in future time clauses.

Futuro composto do subjuntivo
Use	Example	English	English verb tense equivalent
In future time clauses (orações adverbiais temporais)	Envie-me um e-mail assim que você tiver obtido o resultado das prova.	Send me an e-mail as soon as you have gotten the test result.	Present perfect used right after when, as soon as (time conjuctions) in future time clauses.