The Portuguese Present Subjunctive: Wishes, Advice, and Possibility
Learn useful cues such as espero que, é importante que, and talvez, then practice the present subjunctive in complete sentences.
Real Life Portuguese · 8 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
The present subjunctive commonly appears in a clause introduced by que after a wish, recommendation, necessity, or personal reaction. The first clause sets up the speaker’s attitude; the second names the action they hope for or recommend. Learn the cue and the complete phrase together instead of translating the word que as a grammar rule by itself.
Notice when the sentence expresses a wish or reaction
Esperar que (to hope that), querer que (to want someone to), and ser importante que (it is important that) are useful patterns. The person in the second clause may differ from the person in the first, which is why the verb form changes: espero que você venha.
Espero que você goste da cidade.
I hope you like the city.
Quero que vocês participem da conversa.
I want you all to take part in the conversation.
É importante que ele chegue no horário.
It’s important that he arrive on time.
Recognize present-subjunctive endings
For many regular verbs, the present subjunctive uses a set of endings that contrasts with the present indicative. For falar, you hear fale, fale, falemos, falem; for comer, coma, coma, comamos, comam; for partir, parta, parta, partamos, partam. With você, the form is the same as ele and ela: espero que você fale.
Common irregular forms include seja (ser), esteja (estar), tenha (ter), vá (ir), and faça (fazer). You do not need to memorize every verb at once. Learn frequent forms inside sentences you can use, then notice them when you read or listen.
Talvez a reunião seja mais curta hoje.
Maybe the meeting will be shorter today.
Minha mãe quer que eu faça uma ligação.
My mother wants me to make a phone call.
Tomara que vocês tenham uma boa viagem.
I hope you all have a good trip.
Use a cue phrase, then check what follows
Talvez often introduces possibility and commonly takes the subjunctive when the speaker is presenting something as uncertain: talvez ele venha. In positive statements of belief, Brazilian speakers commonly use the indicative: acho que ele vem. With negative belief, the subjunctive is common: não acho que ele venha. Usage depends on the construction and the speaker’s intended meaning.
A practical editing check is to underline the cue phrase, identify the subject of the next verb, and verify its ending. This is more reliable than changing every verb after que. Compare a recommendation, a certainty, and a possibility to hear the difference in context.
Acho que ela está em casa.
I think she is at home.
Não acho que ela esteja em casa.
I don’t think she is at home.
Talvez eles precisem de mais tempo.
Maybe they need more time.
Put it into practice
Write one hope, one recommendation, and one uncertain possibility. Highlight the cue phrase in each sentence and practice the full clause aloud.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Maybe they need more time”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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