+

LE SUBJONCTIF

Influences emotions

Wishes

Desires

Requests

Orders

+Technically, in French there are 2 forms of the Present Tense. There is the INDICATIVE = L’INDICATIF

(in French)

which is the simple present tense.

+

There is also another form of the present tense, which is called the:

SUBJUNCTIVE = SUBJONCTIF (in French)

+

In Comparison to the INDICATIVE, the

SUBJUNCTIVE is more of a MOOD than a tense.

+

Sentences in the Subjunctive express a NECESSITY,

FEELING, EMOTION, DOUBT, OPINION, OBLIGATION and

other moods.

+

When & How to use the Subjunctive

+When & How to use the

Subjunctive: It is used only in the following

circumstances:

1.  A two CLAUSES SENTENCE (a clause is made of a subject + verb)

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2.  The 1st clause is the MAIN clause;

it expresses doubts, emotion, opinion, necessity, negativity or other

moods.

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3.  The 1st clause starts with a WEIRDO expression

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4.  The SUBJECT of the 2 Clauses are DIFFERENT.

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5.  The clauses are always connected by “QUE”

(French equivalent of “that”)

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6.  The SUBJUNCTIVE mood is used in the SECOND CLAUSE.

+ WEIRDO expressions convey the following:

W = E = I = R =

D = O =

WISHES (DESIRES/WANTS) EMOTIONS (FEELINGS) INFLUENCES REQUESTS

DOUBTS ORDERS

+

The Subjunctive in English

+The Subjunctive in English

The subjunctive is hardly used in English so when you

translate it to English it may sound a little awkward.

+For example:

Je veux que tu partes

Literal translation: I want that you leave

Proper translation: I want you to leave

+ This sentence requires the subjunctive because:

 There are 2 CLAUSES:

I want (je veux) & You leave (tu partes)

 There is a change in subject :

I (Je) & You (Tu)

 The two clauses are connected with the word “QUE”

 “Want” is an emotion word

+

WEIRDO Expressions

+ WEIRDO Expressions

Préférer que…

Wish, Desire, Influences To prefer that…

Souhaiter que… To wish that…

Désirer que… To desire that…

Espérer que… To hope that…

+ WEIRDO Expressions

Vouloir que…

Wish, Desire, Influences To want that…

Aimer que… To like that… Exiger que… To demand that… Insister que… To insist that…

Suggérer que… To suggest that…

+ WEIRDO Expressions

Être content que…

Emotions

To be happy that… Être heureux que… To be happy that…

Être désolé que… To be sorry that…

Être ravi(e) que To be delighted that

Regretter que… To regret that…

+ WEIRDO Expressions

Être étonné que

Emotions

To be surprised that Être fâché (e)… To be angry that…

Être triste que… To be sad that…

Avoir peur que… To be scared that

Être surpris que To be surprised that

+ WEIRDO Expressions

Il est possible que

Doubts & Uncertainties

It is possible that…

Il est douteux que It is doubtful that…

Il se peut que It is possible that…

+ Opinion & Impersonal Expressions

*Il faut que… It is necessary that…

Il est bon que… It is good that…

Il est important que… It is important that…

+ Opinion & Impersonal Expressions

Il est indispensable que… It is absolutely vital that…

Il est utile que… It is good that…

Il est naturel que… It is natural that

+ Opinion & Impersonal Expressions

Il est juste que It is right/fair that…

Il est dommage que It is unfortunate that…

Il est essentiel que … It is essential that…

+ Opinion & Impersonal Expressions

Il est étonnant que… It is surprising that…

Il est temps que… It is time that…

Il semble que… It seems that…

+ Opinion & Impersonal Expressions

Il suffit que… It is enough that…

Il vaut mieux que… It is better that…

+ Other Expressions

Jusqu’à ce que… Until…

Afin que / Pour que… So that…

Avant que… Before…

+ Other Expressions

Pourvu que… Provided that…

Bien que… Although /though…

Quoique … Although /though…

Malgré que … Despite…

+

Forming the Subjunctive

+Forming the subjunctive

1.  Go to the “NOUS” form of the verb

2.  Drop the “ONS”

3.  Add the following endings…

+ Subjunctive Endings

Je E

Tu ES

Il E

Nous IONS

Vous

Ils/Elles

IEZ

ENT

+

PRATIQUONS!

On your sheet, conjugate the 3 verbs in the

subjunctive

+ Parler = Parlons Que je parle

Que tu parles Qu’ il parle

Que nous parlions Que vous parliez

Qu’ils/elles parlent

+ Vendre = vendons Que je vende

Que tu vendes Qu’ il vende

Que nous vendions Que vous vendiez

Qu’ils/elles vendent

+ Finir = finissons Que je finisse

Que tu finisses Qu’ il finisse

Que nous finissions Que vous finissiez

Qu’ils/elles finissent

+

You will need to memorize the Irregulars from you notes.

*These are just some of the irregulars.

+

Opinion & Knowledge verbs

+

After verbs of opinion or knowledge, such as PENSER (to think), CROIRE (to believe), and SAVOIR (to know), the indicative or the subjunctive is chosen

depending on the meaning of certainty or uncertainty.

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In the AFFIRMATIVE,

these verbs usually require the INDICATIVE because they show belief,

conviction, or knowledge:

+

Used NEGATIVELY or INTERROGATIVELY, these verbs

usually (but not always) take the SUBJUNCTIVE because they convey

doubt or uncertainty:

+For example:

Elle pense que tu es intelligente. The Indicative (Affirmative Clauses)

The Subjunctive (Negative Clauses) Elle ne pense pas que tu sois

intelligente.

+For example:

Je sais que vous avez raison. The Indicative (Affirmative Clauses)

The Subjunctive (Negative Clauses) Je ne sais pas que vous ayez

raison.

+For example:

Je crois que nous savons le subjonctif.

The Indicative (Affirmative Clauses)

The Subjunctive (Negative Clauses) Je ne crois pas que nous sachions

le subjonctif.

+ So!!!

Whenever these verbs are in the positive form, the second clause is followed by the INDICATIVE.

Positive Indicative

+ So!!!

Whenever these verbs are in the negative form, the second clause is followed by the SUBJUNCTIVE.

Negative Subjunctive

+

À ton tour!

+ Activité #1

Read the following sentences to determine if the verb in parentheses should be in the

INDICATIVE or the SUBJUNCTIVE. After you have determined which form of the present tense it should be conjugate it

according to the given subject.

+#1

Nous sommes contents que le semestre _____ bientôt. (finir)

Nous sommes contents que le semestre finisse bientôt.

Subjunctive = expressing emotions

content = happy

+#2

Je suis désolé(e) que vous ne ________pas ici avec moi. (être)

Je suis désolé que vous ne soyez pas ici avec moi.

Subjunctive:

Expressing emotion (désolé = sorry)

+#3

Je sais que la terre ____________ ronde (round). (être)

Je sais que la terre est ronde.

Indicative: Knowledge expression in the affirmative (savoir = to know)

+#4

Il pense que le Français _____facile. (être)

Il pense que le français est facile.

Indicative: Opinion expression in the affirmative (penser = to think)

+#5

Le prof désire que nous _______ tous les devoirs. (faire)

Le prof désire que nous fassions tous les devoirs.

Subjunctive: expressing desires or wish (désirer = to desire/want)

+#6

Il est dommage que nos amis ne ______ pas venir. (pouvoir)

Il est dommage que nos amis ne puissent pas venir.

Subjunctive: expressing feeling of regret or impersonal expression

(Il est dommage = it is unfortunate or too bad)

+#7

Nous voulons qu'ils _________au cinéma avec nous. (aller)

Nous voulons qu’ils aillent au cinéma avec nous.

Subjunctive: expressing desire or wish (vouloir= to want)

+#8

Le prof croit que nous _________ la classe. (aimer)

Le prof croit que nous aimons la classe.

Indicative: expression of knowledge in the affirmative

(croire= to believe)

+#9

Il faut que tu ____à l'heure! (être)

Il faut que tu sois à l’heure. subjunctive: impersonal expression of necessity

(il faut= it is necessary)

+#10

Il est important que vous ____en classe le jour de l'examen final. (venir)

Il est important que vous veniez en le jour de l’examen final.

subjunctive: impersonal expression of necessity

(il faut= it is necessary)

+

La Fin!