In short: Italian subordinating conjunctions are the glue words that link a dependent clause to a main clause. There are ten functional families (causal, final, concessive, temporal, conditional, and more), and each family tells you which mood to use. Get the mood right and the rest of the sentence falls into place. This guide maps all italian subordinating conjunctions to the mood they trigger.
What you will find here
- What subordinating conjunctions do and why mood matters
- Causali: perché, siccome, dato che, visto che
- Finali: affinché, perché, in modo che
- Concessive: sebbene, benché, anche se
- Limitative: a meno che, tranne, salvo che
- Interrogative indirette: se, come, quando, perché
- Temporali: quando, mentre, appena, prima che, finché
- Consecutive: così che, talmente che, a tal punto che
- Comparative and modali: come se, più di quanto
- Condizionali: se, purché, qualora, a patto che
- A short dialog: planning a sabbatical
- Mood cheat sheet and common traps
- Mini challenge: pick the right conjunction
- FAQ
What subordinating conjunctions do and why mood matters
Coordinating conjunctions (e, ma, o) link two equal clauses. Subordinating conjunctions are different: they introduce a clause that depends on a main clause and cannot stand alone. Compare:
- Coordinating: Non mangio e non bevo. (I am not eating and I am not drinking.)
- Subordinating: Non mangio perché non ho fame. (I am not eating because I am not hungry.)
Here is the part English speakers miss about italian subordinating conjunctions: in Italian, the conjunction dictates the mood of the verb that follows. Some conjunctions take the indicative, some take the subjunctive, a few take the conditional. If you learn conjunctions in functional families, the mood pattern becomes predictable rather than random.
Causali: perché, siccome, dato che, visto che
The first family of italian subordinating conjunctions is the causali. They state a reason and all take the indicative.
- Non sono andato in ufficio perché ho la febbre. (I did not go to the office because I have a fever.)
- Siccome ti sei comportato male, niente Play Station. (Since you misbehaved, no Play Station.)
- Dato che sono vegetariano, non compro la carne. (Given that I am a vegetarian, I do not buy meat.)
- Visto che la macchina funziona, non ne compriamo una nuova. (Seeing as the car works, we are not buying a new one.)
Trap to watch: the word perché can also be a final conjunction (see below). When it states a cause, the verb stays in the indicative. When it states a goal, the verb jumps to the subjunctive. Same word, different mood, different meaning.
Finali: affinché, perché, in modo che
The finali are the italian subordinating conjunctions that introduce a purpose or objective. They take the subjunctive.
- Giorgio lavora giorno e notte affinché sua figlia possa studiare. (Giorgio works day and night so that his daughter can study.)
- Abbiamo fatto una riunione perché tutti riescano a capire. (We had a meeting so that everyone understands.)
- Ho comprato due biglietti in modo che possiamo andare insieme. (I bought two tickets so that we can go together.)
If you see perché followed by a subjunctive (possa, riesca, sia), it is final, not causal. The mood is your signal.
Concessive: sebbene, benché, anche se
Concessive clauses are the italian subordinating conjunctions that describe an obstacle or counterpoint that does not block the main action. Most take the subjunctive; anche se takes the indicative.
- Vado al lavoro a piedi nonostante faccia freddo. (I walk to work even though it is cold.)
- Voglio andare in Giappone sebbene il viaggio sia lungo. (I want to go to Japan even though the trip is long.)
- Mi sveglierò presto anche se non voglio. (I will get up early even if I do not want to.)
Because the concessive family has its own quirks (and an important mood split), we wrote a dedicated guide. See Italian Concessive Clauses: Sebbene, Benché, Nonostante and Anche Se Explained for the full picture.
Limitative: a meno che, tranne, salvo che
Limitative italian subordinating conjunctions introduce an exception or limitation.
- Amo fare sport, tranne giocare a calcio. (I love sports, except playing football.)
- Non andrò al supermercato salvo che mia madre me lo chieda. (I will not go to the supermarket unless my mother asks me to.)
- Mi piacerebbe vedere un film a meno che tu non preferisca il teatro. (I would like to see a film unless you prefer the theatre.)
Notice the non after a meno che: it is pleonastic. It does not negate. Italian keeps it in formal writing and drops it often in speech. If you want the full tour of this “fake negation”, read Italian Pleonastic Non: Finché, A Meno Che, Non Appena Explained.
Interrogative indirette: se, come, quando, perché
These italian subordinating conjunctions let you embed a question inside another sentence. No question mark, and the verb stays in the indicative in most everyday contexts.
- Dimmi se hai bisogno di aiuto. (Tell me if you need help.)
- Vogliamo sapere come ti guadagni da vivere. (We want to know how you make a living.)
- Ti chiedo quando mi restituirai il prestito. (I am asking when you will pay me back.)
- A volte mi chiedo perché sono così ingenuo. (Sometimes I wonder why I am so naive.)
In formal or literary Italian, an indirect question after a verb of asking can take the subjunctive: Mi chiese se fosse vero. In spoken Italian, the indicative is the default.
Temporali: quando, mentre, appena, prima che, finché
Temporal italian subordinating conjunctions tell you when the subordinate action happens relative to the main one. Mood choice depends on the specific conjunction.
- Quando ho incontrato Luigi, aveva i capelli lunghi. (When I met Luigi, he had long hair.)
- Non mi disturbare mentre studio. (Do not bother me while I study.)
- Mi hai chiamato appena sono uscito dalla doccia. (You called me as soon as I got out of the shower.)
- Prima che sia troppo tardi, cambia idea. (Before it is too late, change your mind.)
- Finché vivi in questa casa, fai quello che dico io. (As long as you live in this house, you do what I say.)
The temporal family also contains finché non, non appena and per poco non. Their “non” looks like a negation but is not. Again, see the pleonastic non guide for the reasoning.
Consecutive: così che, talmente che, a tal punto che
Consecutive italian subordinating conjunctions introduce a consequence. They take the indicative.
- Ero così stanco che mi sono addormentato subito. (I was so tired that I fell asleep at once.)
- Faceva caldo a tal punto che una donna è svenuta. (It was so hot that a woman fainted.)
- Ama talmente sua moglie che le regala dei fiori ogni giorno. (He loves his wife so much that he gives her flowers every day.)
Comparative and modali: come se, più di quanto
Comparative and modal italian subordinating conjunctions are a small but important family. They tend to take the subjunctive because they describe something hypothetical or uncertain.
- Gridava come se fosse impazzito. (He was shouting as if he had gone mad.)
- È più difficile di quanto sembri. (It is harder than it looks.)
- Siamo usciti senza che nessuno se ne accorgesse. (We left without anyone noticing.)
Condizionali: se, purché, qualora, a patto che
Conditional italian subordinating conjunctions set a condition on the main clause.
- Ti dirò tutto se mi prometti di non raccontarlo. (I will tell you everything if you promise not to tell.)
- Prenoterò quella stanza purché abbia la vasca. (I will book that room provided that it has a bathtub.)
- Qualora abbiate bisogno, fatemi sapere. (In case you need anything, let me know.)
- Ti venderò la macchina a patto che tu la paghi subito. (I will sell you the car on condition that you pay now.)
Se is special: it takes the indicative in a real condition (se piove, resto a casa) but shifts to the imperfect subjunctive + conditional in a hypothetical (se piovesse, resterei a casa). That is the Italian periodo ipotetico.
A short dialog: planning a sabbatical
Giulia and Marco, two colleagues, sit at a Milan café. Giulia is considering a six-month sabbatical.
- 👩🦰 Giulia: Sto pensando di prendermi sei mesi dato che il lavoro mi sta esaurendo.
I am thinking of taking six months off, given that work is burning me out. - 👨 Marco: E dove andresti? Purché il piano sia chiaro, il capo ti dirà di sì.
And where would you go? As long as the plan is clear, the boss will say yes. - 👩🦰 Giulia: Viaggerei in Sud America affinché i miei figli imparino lo spagnolo.
I would travel to South America so that my kids learn Spanish. - 👨 Marco: Sebbene sia un bel progetto, lo stipendio ti mancherà.
Although it is a nice plan, you will miss the salary. - 👩🦰 Giulia: Lo so. A meno che non trovi qualcosa da remoto.
I know. Unless I find something remote. - 👨 Marco: Beh, fammi sapere appena decidi. Ti dò una mano.
Well, let me know as soon as you decide. I will help.
Six italian subordinating conjunctions, six different families, in a natural coffee-break conversation. That is how Italians actually use them: mixed, layered, with the mood doing the heavy lifting.
📌 Mood cheat sheet and common traps
- Always indicative: perché (causal), siccome, dato che, visto che, quando, mentre, appena, dopo che, anche se, così che, talmente che
- Always subjunctive: affinché, perché (final), benché, sebbene, nonostante, malgrado, prima che, senza che, purché, qualora, a patto che, a meno che
- Either: se (indicative in real condition, subjunctive in hypothetical), dopo che (rare subjunctive in literary register)
- Biggest trap: perché is causal with the indicative, final with the subjunctive. Check the verb to tell them apart.
- Second biggest trap: anche se takes the indicative even though sebbene and benché (same meaning) take the subjunctive.
- Third trap: the “non” after a meno che, finché, non appena and prima che is pleonastic. It does not negate.
🎯 Mini challenge: pick the right conjunction
Fill in the blank with the right subordinating conjunction. Answers below.
- Studio italiano _____ voglio lavorare a Roma. (causal)
- Ti aspetto _____ (tu) non arrivi. (as long as you have not arrived)
- _____ piovesse, resteremmo a casa. (hypothetical)
- Parla piano _____ tutti capiscano. (so that)
- Non esco _____ faccia freddo. (even though)
- Fammelo sapere _____ decidi. (as soon as)
Show answers
- perché (causal, indicative)
- finché (temporal, with pleonastic non)
- Se (hypothetical)
- affinché / perché (final, subjunctive)
- anche se / sebbene / nonostante (concessive)
- appena / non appena (temporal)
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For deeper dives, see our dedicated guides on concessive clauses and the pleonastic non that shows up in a meno che, finché and non appena. For an authoritative reference on the classification of Italian conjunctions, see the entry on Treccani.
FAQ
Does perché always take the indicative?
No. Perché takes the indicative when it states a cause (Non mangio perché non ho fame, I am not eating because I am not hungry) and the subjunctive when it states a purpose (Parlo piano perché tu capisca, I speak slowly so that you understand). The mood of the verb is your signal.
What is the difference between anche se and sebbene?
They translate the same way (even though, although) but they select different moods. Anche se takes the indicative (anche se piove, even if it rains). Sebbene, benché, nonostante and malgrado take the subjunctive (sebbene piova). Meaning identical, grammar different.
When does se trigger the subjunctive?
Se takes the indicative in a real or likely condition (se piove, resto a casa). It shifts to the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive in a hypothetical or counterfactual condition (se piovesse, resterei a casa, if it were raining I would stay home). That is the periodo ipotetico of the second or third type.
Are subordinating conjunctions the same as relative pronouns?
No. A relative pronoun (che, cui, il quale) refers back to a noun and introduces a relative clause (il libro che leggo, the book I am reading). A subordinating conjunction links a dependent clause to a main clause without referring to a specific noun (Leggo perché mi piace, I read because I like it). Different roles.
Do subordinating conjunctions ever drop in speech?
Some compound conjunctions simplify in speech. Dato che becomes dato, visto che becomes visto, and the pleonastic non after a meno che or prima che is often dropped in casual conversation. Formal writing keeps the full form.
How do I pick between quando and mentre?
Quando marks a point in time (quando è arrivato, when he arrived). Mentre marks a duration or simultaneous action (mentre studio, while I am studying). If two actions overlap in time, use mentre. If one action happens at a specific moment, use quando.
Why does dopo che often pair a trapassato prossimo with a passato prossimo?
Because Italian marks the order of past actions with tense, not with word order alone. After dopo che, the earlier action uses the trapassato prossimo (era partito, had left), and the later main action uses the passato prossimo (ho chiuso, I closed). English collapses both into a simple past (after he left, I closed), but Italian keeps the two layers visible. Dopo che itself stays in the indicative.
