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Italian Subjunctive

Twelfth graders meet the Italian subjunctive (il congiuntivo) — the mood for opinions, doubts, and wishes. Trigger phrases like Penso che…, Spero che…, and È importante che… are followed by special forms like sia and abbia. It’s the hallmark of advanced Italian.

Grade 12Subjunctive50 minutes1 class periodACTFL / World LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Meet the subjunctive.
  • ✓Learn its trigger phrases.
  • ✓Match phrases to meanings.
  • ✓Express opinions.
Essential Question

Penso che sia… — when and why does Italian use the subjunctive?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Subjunctive Phrase

Project this and match each Italian subjunctive phrase to its meaning — tap the phrase, then tap the meaning.

🤔 Match each subjunctive phrase to its meaningTry it
Italian
Meaning
Now tap the meaning!
The Lesson · Language Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Opinions & Doubts

6 min

When does Italian use a special “mood” of the verb?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “Penso che sia bello.”
  • Ask why “sia,” not “è.”
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Subjunctive

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match the Subjunctive Phrase.
  • Match each one.
  • Note the triggers (Penso che…).

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Start a sentence with “Penso che…”
  • Use “sia.”
  • Give an opinion.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Start.
  • Use it.
  • Give.
4

Speak — Speak

13 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “Penso che l’italiano sia bello”.
  • Give 2 opinions.
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Give.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a trigger phrase.
  • Give one opinion.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Give it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-Mid).

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare mood/tense systems.

ACTFL
Communication 1.3

Presentational: express opinions.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: recognize the subjunctive.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: state beliefs & doubts.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Trigger-phrase cards.
  • Frame: “Penso che ___ sia ___.”
  • Model aloud.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with Penso che & sia.
  • Match one pair at a time.
  • Use examples.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add abbia, faccia.
  • Write 3 opinion sentences.
  • Explain when to use it.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🤔Subjunctive phrase cards
  • 💻Match the Subjunctive Phrase
  • 🗣️Opinion prompts
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

congiuntivosubjunctivepenso cheI think thatspero cheI hope thatcredo cheI believe thatsiabe (subjunctive)abbiahave (subjunctive)è importante cheit’s important thatopinioneopinion
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
When does Italian use the subjunctive?
After opinions, doubts, wishes (Penso che…, Spero che…).
QUESTION 2
What follows “Penso che” — è or sia?
Sia (the subjunctive).
QUESTION 3
What does “Spero che” mean?
I hope that…

Reflect: subjunctive.

Have students write one opinion in Italian starting with “Penso che…” A printable Italian subjunctive sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Italian SubjunctiveFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Italian SubjunctiveQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Italian SubjunctivePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: abbia, congiuntivo, credo che, opinione, penso che, sia, spero che, è importante che
  1. opinion
  2. have (subjunctive)
  3. subjunctive
  4. I think that
  5. be (subjunctive)
  6. it’s important that
  7. I hope that
  8. I believe that

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. When does Italian use the subjunctive?
  2. What follows “Penso che” — è or sia?
  3. What does “Spero che” mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) opinione · 2) abbia · 3) congiuntivo · 4) penso che · 5) sia · 6) è importante che · 7) spero che · 8) credo che
Part B: 1) After opinions, doubts, wishes (Penso che…, Spero che…). 2) Sia (the subjunctive). 3) I hope that…