The subjunctive mood in Italian is different from the indicative mood. It helps express feelings like doubt, desires, needs, or situations that are imagined.

While the indicative mood talks about facts and reality, the subjunctive mood shares more personal feelings and things that aren't always certain.

Comparing the Two Moods

1. Indicative Mood:

   • Facts and Certainty: This mood is used for stating what is true.
     • For example: Credo che Mario venga means "I believe that Mario is coming."
   • How Often It’s Used: About 70% of spoken Italian uses the indicative mood to share clear information.

2. Subjunctive Mood:

   • Doubt and Uncertainty: The subjunctive is used for wishes, emotions, or things that aren’t certain.
     • For example: Spero che Maria venga means "I hope that Maria comes."
   • Needs and Wants: You will find it after phrases like è necessario che (it's necessary that) or voglio che (I want that).
   • How Often It’s Used: The subjunctive shows up in about 30% of written Italian, especially in books and formal writing.

How to Form the Subjunctive

• Present Subjunctive: You create this by taking the end part of the verb and adding special endings.

  • Examples:
    • For -are verbs: parli (you speak), parliamo (we speak)
    • For -ere verbs: creda (you believe), crediamo (we believe)
    • For -ire verbs: finisca (you finish), finiamo (we finish)

• Past Subjunctive: This is made by using the subjunctive form of essere (to be) or avere (to have) with the past form of the main verb.

  • Example: Spero che tu sia andato means "I hope that you went."

When to Use the Subjunctive

• After Certain Words: You’ll use the subjunctive after words like sebbene (although) or anche se (even if).
• In Uncertain Ideas: It helps express things that are not facts, like wishes or imagined scenarios.

Knowing the difference between these two moods is important for learners of Italian. It changes how sentences are built and what they mean in conversations.