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Chapter 15: Congiuntivo presente e passato
We use the congiuntivo presente and passato when the verb in the main clause is conjugated in the present indicative, the future, or in the imperative.
To decide whether to use the congiuntivo presente or passato, we need to determine if the action in the dependent clause takes place simultaneously, subsequently, or before the action of the main clause.
- The verb in the dependent clause is conjugated in the congiuntivo presente when the action of the dependent clause occurs at the same time or after the action of the main clause.
Penso che Mario torni a casa ora (simultaneous action)
Penso che Mario torni a casa domani (subsequent action)
For a subsequent action, the verb in the dependent clause can also be in the future:
Penso che Mario tornerà a casa domani
- The verb in the dependent clause is conjugated in the congiuntivo passato when the action of the dependent clause occurs before the action of the main clause.
Penso che Mario sia tornato a casa ieri sera (previous action)