Preserving the Subjunctive

Imagine your friend says: "I want you to stay." In Portuguese, that is Quero que fiques. The verb querer triggers the subjunctive fiques. Now, you are telling someone else about this tomorrow. You start with "He said..." or Ele disse.... Because disse is in the past, the whole sentence shifts. But the *need* for the subjunctive remains. The original wish hasn't become a fact. It's still a wish from the past. So, you shift fiques (Present Subjunctive) to ficasses (Imperfect Subjunctive). It is a logical chain reaction. If the reporting verb is past, the subjunctive verb must also be past. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. The red light (past reporting verb) tells the next verb to change its color too. It keeps the flow of the story consistent and clear.

1. 1Preserving the subjunctive follows a very specific sequence of tenses. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Identify the original statement. Look for subjunctive triggers like querer que, duvidar que, or pedir que.
3. 3Determine the tense of your reporting verb. Usually, this is the Pretérito Perfeito (e.g., disse, pediu, sugeriu).
4. 4Shift the Present Subjunctive to the Imperfect Subjunctive. The -sse endings are your best friends here.
5. 5If the original used the Future Subjunctive, shift it to the Imperfect Subjunctive as well.
6. 6Maintain the que conjunction to bridge the reporting verb and the subordinate clause.
7. 7Adjust pronouns (like eu to ele) to fit the new perspective of the report.

You will use this pattern constantly in professional and social life. Imagine a job interview. The recruiter says: "I hope you have experience." Later, you tell your partner: Ela disse que esperava que eu tivesse experiência. You are reporting a hope, not a fact. Use it when gossip spreads. "Joana denied that she was angry." -> A Joana negou que estivesse zangada. Use it when discussing past orders or requests. "The boss ordered us to finish the report." -> O chefe mandou que terminássemos o relatório. It is essential for sharing directions someone gave you. "The local suggested I take the bus." -> O habitante sugeriu que eu apanhasse o autocarro. Basically, any time you report an opinion, a doubt, or a command from the past, this rule applies.

Don't use the subjunctive if the original statement was a plain fact. If someone says "I am tired," that is the indicative. You report it as Ele disse que estava cansado. No subjunctive needed there. Also, avoid it if the reporting verb is in the present tense. If you say "He says he wants me to go," it stays in the present: Ele diz que quer que eu vá. The shift only happens when the reporting verb moves to the past. Don't overcomplicate things by adding the subjunctive where it didn't exist originally. It’s not a spice you add to every dish. It’s a specific tool for specific moods. If the original speaker didn't feel doubt or desire, you shouldn't invent it in your report.

The biggest mistake is "Subjunctive Dropping." This happens when learners revert to the indicative because it feels easier. For example, saying Ele pediu que eu fui instead of Ele pediu que eu fosse. This sounds very jarring to a native ear. Another mistake is using the wrong past tense. Don't use the Pretérito Perfeito in the subordinate clause. The Imperfect Subjunctive is the only correct choice for reported wishes. Many people also forget to change the future subjunctive. If someone says "When you arrive, call me," and you report it, chegar must become chegasse. It feels weird at first, but it's the rule. Don't let the -sse endings scare you. They are the signal of a sophisticated speaker. Even if you stumble, keep going. Most people will appreciate the effort to be precise.

Compare this to reporting direct facts. If I say "The sun is hot," you report "He said the sun was hot." Both are indicative. But if I say "I doubt the sun is hot," you report "He said he doubted the sun *were* hot" (using the Portuguese equivalent). The difference is the "Truth Value." Indicative reports things the speaker presents as reality. Subjunctive reports things the speaker presents as possible, desired, or doubted. It’s the difference between reporting a news headline and reporting a dream. Another contrast is with the Personal Infinitive. Sometimes you can use Ele pediu para eu ir instead of Ele pediu que eu fosse. The infinitive is a shortcut. The subjunctive version is often more formal and precise. At the C1 level, you should be comfortable using both, but the subjunctive shows deeper mastery.