Subjunctive After Impersonal Expressions

This pattern is like a three-part sandwich. First, you have the impersonal expression. This is usually É plus an adjective. For example, É bom (It is good) or É necessário (It is necessary). Second, you must have the word que. This is the glue. Without que, the whole structure falls apart. Finally, you have the subjunctive verb. Why the subjunctive? Because these expressions do not describe a 100% objective reality. They describe what you want, think, or hope will happen. It is the mood of possibility. Imagine you are at a job interview. You want to sound professional. You might say, É fundamental que eu aprenda rápido (It is fundamental that I learn fast). The word aprenda is in the subjunctive. It is not a fact yet. It is a goal or a necessity. This structure allows you to navigate social situations with grace. It makes your Portuguese sound much more natural and less robotic.

1. 1Building these sentences is a simple 1-2-3 process. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2. 2Start with an impersonal trigger: Use É + [Adjective]. Examples: É preciso, É importante, É provável.
3. 3Add the connector que: This is mandatory. It signals that a new clause is starting.
4. 4Use the Present Subjunctive: Change the main verb to its subjunctive form. For -ar verbs, the ending usually changes to -e. For -er and -ir verbs, it changes to -a.
5. 5Example: É importante + que + você coma (It is important that you eat).
6. 6Pro tip: If you are talking about yourself, you still use this pattern. É essencial que eu vá (It is essential that I go). It feels a bit like a grammar dance, but once you find the rhythm, it is easy to repeat.

When should you pull this tool out of your belt? Use it whenever you are not talking about a cold, hard fact. Here are some real-world scenarios:

• Giving Advice: You are talking to a friend who is stressed. You say, É melhor que você descanse (It is better that you rest).
• Expressing Necessity: You are at a restaurant and need a table. É preciso que a mesa seja grande (It is necessary that the table be large).
• Sharing Opinions: You are discussing a movie. É incrível que o filme seja tão longo (It is incredible that the movie is so long).
• Talking about Possibility: You are checking the weather. É provável que chova hoje (It is probable that it rains today).
• Job Interviews: Use it to show initiative. É importante que a empresa cresça (It is important that the company grows).

Basically, if you are judging a situation or stating a requirement, the subjunctive is your best friend. It adds a layer of politeness and sophistication to your speech.

This is the part that trips people up! Not every É expression triggers the subjunctive. If the expression conveys certainty or a fact, you stay in the indicative mood. Think of it like this: if there is no doubt and no opinion involved, the subjunctive stays home.

• Certainty: É verdade que ele fala português (It is true that he speaks Portuguese). Since it is "true," we use the normal fala.
• Obvious Facts: É óbvio que ela está feliz (It is obvious that she is happy).
• Clear Reality: É certo que o sol nasce amanhã (It is certain that the sun rises tomorrow).

If you use the subjunctive here, you will sound like you are doubting something that is clearly true. It is like wearing a raincoat on a perfectly sunny day. It is not "wrong" in a way that breaks communication, but it sounds very quirky to a native ear.

Don't worry, we all make them! Here are the most frequent stumbles:

• The Missing "Que": Some people try to say É importante você ir. While you might hear this in very fast slang, in standard Portuguese, you need that que. Always say É importante que você vá.
• Using the Indicative: This is the classic mistake. É bom que você faz sounds very "gringo." It should be É bom que você faça. Remember, the expression É bom is an opinion, so it needs that subjunctive energy.
• Confusing "É verdade": Because É verdade starts with É, learners often use the subjunctive. Remember: Truth = Indicative. Opinion = Subjunctive.
• Mixing Tenses: If you start with É (present), keep the second verb in the present subjunctive. Don't jump to the past unless you really mean to!

You might wonder: "Can't I just use the infinitive?" Yes, you can! This is a great shortcut.

• Option A (Subjunctive): É necessário que você estude. (Specific person).
• Option B (Infinitive): É necessário estudar. (General statement, no specific person).

If you don't use que, you must use the infinitive. É bom comer vegetais (It is good to eat vegetables) is general. É bom que você coma vegetais (It is good that you eat vegetables) is specific to the person you are talking to. It is like the difference between saying "Smoking is bad" and "It is bad that you smoke." One is a rule; the other is a personal observation.