“Penso che è…” — Why the Subjunctive Still Matters

One of the clearest signs that a student is moving from beginner to intermediate is when they start saying:

Penso che è difficile.

Grammatically understandable.But not fully correct.

In Italian, after expressions like penso che, credo che, spero che, we use the congiuntivo (subjunctive).

So the correct sentence is:

✅ Penso che sia difficile.

Why This Is Hard

English doesn’t consistently use a subjunctive form in everyday speech. So intermediate learners often default to the indicative.

But in Italian, the subjunctive signals uncertainty, opinion, emotion, or subjectivity.

Other examples:

• Credo che abbia ragione.

• Spero che venga domani.

• È importante che tu studi.

  
  

Grammar Hint

Use the congiuntivo presente when:

• Expressing opinions

• Expressing doubt

• Expressing emotion

• After impersonal expressions (è necessario che, è possibile che)

  
  

It may feel formal at first, but mastering it elevates your Italian immediately.

If you'd like to practice the subjunctive naturally in conversation (not through isolated drills), that’s something we work on step by step.

👉 Book your Italian lesson and strengthen your advanced grammar.