LE SUBJONCTIF

Subjunctive is a mood

just like the indicative mood and

the conditional mood

(each mood has different tenses – present, past…)

The subjunctive mood expresses the speaker’s subjective attitudes toward events and actions or states the speaker’s views as uncertain or hypothetical.

How to form the present subjunctive for regular verbs

◦The je,tu,il,elle,ils,elles come from taking the ils/elles form of the present, take off the –ent and add:

◦Je –e nous –ions ** the nous

◦Tu –es vous –iez and vous come

◦Il/elle -e from the

◦ils/elles –ent imparfait

◦** not really needed for true regular verbs, but it will save you time later to just know this now!

parler

Je parle

Tu parles

Il parle

Nous parlions

Vous parliez

Ils parlent

finir

Je finisse

Tu finisses

Il finisse

Nous finissions

Vous finissiez

Ils finissent

attendre

Je attende

Tu attendes

Il attende

Nous attendions

Vous attendiez

Ils attendent

** the nous and vous form are the same as the imparfait.

How to form the present subjunctive for stem-changing verbs

Same endings as before!

But this is where getting used to the nous and vous

coming from the imparfait really helps out!

venir

Je vienne

Tu viennes

Il vienne

Nous venions

Vous veniez

Ils viennent

prendre

Je prenne

Tu prennes

Il prenne

Nous prenions

Vous preniez

Ils prennent

boire

Je boive

Tu boives

Il boive

Nous buvions

Vous buviez

Ils boivent

** the nous and vous form are the same as the imparfait.

How to form the present subjunctive for irregular verbs

MEMORIZATION!!!!

Of course!

avoir

J’aie

Tu aies

Il aie

Nous ayons

Vous ayez

Ils aient

être

Je sois

Tu sois

Il soit

Nous soyons

Vous soyez

Ils soient

faire

Je fasse

Tu fasses

Il fasse

Nous fassions

Vous fassiez

Ils fassent

aller pouvoir

j’aille je puisse

tu ailles tu puisses

il aille il puisse

nous allions nous puissions

vous alliez vous puissiez

elles aillent elles puissent

savoir vouloir

je sache je veuille

tu saches tu veuilles

il sache il veuille

nous sachions nous voulions

vous sachiez vous vouliez

elles sachent elles veuillent

In order to use the subjunctive, you need to

have two clauses connected by que. The two

clauses also need to have two different

subjects.

There are different contexts of when

to use the subjunctive.

Here are some verbs and expressions of will that use the subjunctive:

Demander que… = to ask that…

Désirer que… = to want / desire that…

Exiger que… = to demand that…

Préférer que… = to prefer that…

Proposer que… = to propose that…

Recommender que… = to recommend that…

Souhaiter que… = to wish that…

Suggérer que = to suggest that…

Vouloir que… = to want that…

Here are some verbs and expressions of emotions that use the

subjunctive:

aimer que… = to like that…

Avoir peur que… = to be afraid that…

Être content(e) que… = to be glad that…

Être désolé(e) que… = to be sorry that…

Être furieux / furieuse que… = to be furious that…

Être heureux / heureuse que… = to be happy that…

Être surprise(e) que… = to be surprised that…

Être triste que = to be sad that…

regretter que… = to regret that…

If there aren’t two different subjects then the infinitive is

used.

When avoir peur, regretter and the être expressions are used

with an infinitive then add “de” before the infinive.

Examples:

J’ai peur de voir un serpent.

Nous sommes heureux d’aller en vacances.

The following impersonal expressions of

opinions are often followed by clauses in the

subjunctive.

Use que with a specific person or thing. If

no specific person of thing is mentioned,

then use de followed by an infinitive.

Il est bon que… = it is good that…

Il est dommage que… = it is a shame that…

Il est essentiel que… = it is essential that…

Il est important que… = it is important that…

Il est indispensable que… = it is essential that…

Il est nécessaire que… = it is necessary that…

Il est possible que… = it is possible that…

Il faut que… = one must… / it is necessary that…

Il vaut mieux que… = it is better that…

Il est essentiel qu’on réduise le gaspillage. (it is essential that we reduce

waste.)

But

Il est essentiel de réduire le gaspillage. (it is essential to reduce waste.)

Il faut qu’on ferme l’usine. (we must close the factory.)

But

Il faut fermer l’usine. (we must close the factory.)

Remember, that there needs to be two

clauses with two different subjects.

Impersonal expressions of opinions,

expression of will and emotion will take

the subjunctive so far.

Expressions of doubt, disbelief, and

uncertainty use subjunctive.

Douter que… to doubt that…

Ne pas croire que… not to believe that…

Ne pas penser que… not to think that…

Il est douteux que… it is doubtful that…

il est impossible que… it is impossible that…

il n’est pas certain que… it is uncertain that…

il n’est pas sûr que… it is not sure that…

il n’est pas vrai que… it is untrue that…

Je doute que ce concert soit bon.

I doubt that this concert is good.

Il n’est pas sûr qu’il ait un entracte.

It’s not sure that there is an intermission.

Je ne crois pas qu’on vende les billets ici.

I don’t believe that they sell tickets here.

Expressions of certainty use indicative.

croire que … to believe that…

Penser que… to think that…

Savoir que… to know that…

Il est certain que… it is certain that…

il est clair que… it is clear that…

il est évident que… it is evident that…

il est sûr que… it is sure that…

il est vrai que… it is true that…

On sait que l’histoire finit mal.

We know the story ends badly.

Il est certain qu’elle comprend.

It is certain that she understands.

Sometimes certainty expressions used in a question can

feel doubtful or uncertain, so the subjunctive will be used.

Crois-tu que cet acteur fasse un bon Charles de Gaulle?

Do you believe that this actor makes a good Charles de Gaulle?

Est-il vrai que vous partiez déjà en vacances?

Is it true that you’re already leaving on vacation?