Subjunctive in Other Contexts

Beyond wishes, emotions, doubts, and impersonal expressions, the subjunctive also appears after certain conjunctions, relative clauses, and indefinite pronouns. These are sometimes called "structural" subjunctive triggers because the grammar itself demands them, regardless of meaning.

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Conjunctions That Require the Subjunctive

Several Italian conjunctions always take the subjunctive in the clause that follows them. Here are the most important ones:

Concession (although / even though)

Italian	English	Example
benché	although	Benché piova, esco.
sebbene	although	Sebbene sia stanco, continuo a lavorare.
nonostante che	despite the fact that	Nonostante che faccia freddo, va al mare.
malgrado che	in spite of the fact that	Malgrado che non stia bene, lavora.

Benché sia tardi, non ho sonno. — Although it's late, I'm not sleepy. Sebbene piova, andiamo al parco. — Even though it's raining, we're going to the park.

Important: Anche se (even if) takes the indicative, not the subjunctive:

Anche se piove, esco. — Even if it rains, I'm going out. (indicative)

Purpose (so that / in order that)