french subjunctive phrases for essays

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Subjunctive French phrases: French conjunctions that trigger the subjunctive

The subjunctive mood in French has a reputation as one of the trickiest grammatical challenges of the language, both in knowing when and how to use it. Fortunately, by learning a series of subjunctive French phrases , we can quickly identify many of the common contexts where the subjunctive is used.

Since they trigger the use of the subjunctive, these expressions du subjonctif  indicate contexts when  we need to use the subjunctive mood. For how  to form the subjunctive, we recommend familiarizing yourself with présent subjonctif conjugation  in our detailed post. We cover the other subjunctive tenses in our big post on French conjugation .

In this post, we’ll introduce the five main types of subjunctive French phrases , also known as French subordinating conjunctive phrases .

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For every one of the conjunctive phrases we’ll introduce here, its use triggers the use of the subjunctive in the subordinating clause  which follows. For a general overview of French conjunctions , check out our post on essential linking words in French .

Throughout this lesson, you’ll see plenty of subjunctive French sentences . To highlight the focus of our lesson in all of the example sentences, we’ll put the subordinating conjunctions in bold , and the resulting subjunctive conjugations in italics .

À condition que   vous soyez  prêts, allons-y ! – As long as   you’re  ready, let’s get going!

Intention conjunctions

We’ll start out our lesson on French subjunctive conjunctions with these expressions that indicate intention .

These conjunctions serve to link an action that someone has the intention of doing so that another event can occur.

Our first subjunctive French conjunction is afin que , which can be translated as so that  or in order that .

Let’s take a look at this subjunctive French phrase in action, noticing how the verb which follows afin que  is conjugated in the subjonctif présent:

• Veuillez me dire quand vous avez fini, afin que   je puisse  mettre à jour le document. – Please tell me when you have finished, so that   I can  update the document.
• Il l’aide à étudier afin qu ’ elle réussisse  l’examen. – He helps her study in order that   she may pass  the exam.

de sorte que

The expression de sorte que  means so that , in order that , or so .

• Il ralentit de sorte qu ’ ils puissent  le suivre. – He slows down so that   they can  follow him.
• Je te rappelle la météo de sorte que   tu mettes  un imperméable. – I’m reminding you of the weather so that   you put on  a raincoat.

The expression pour que  means so that , in order that , or for .

• Je mets les plats au milieu de la table pour que   vous puissiez  vous servir. – I am putting the dishes in the middle of the table so that   you’re able to  serve yourselves.
• Le médecin est sorti de la salle pour que   le patient ait  de l’intimité. – The doctor left the room so that   the patient could have  privacy.

Restriction conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive conjunction indicates restriction or concession . This type of conjunction introduces an event that will or would restrict another event from occurring, or that would serve as an obstacle for the second event to occur.

Let’s see some example sentences for each one of these subjunctive French phrases.

à moins que

À moins que  is a conjunctive phrase that generally translates as unless , in the context of one thing being possible unless  the other condition exists.

• J’arriverai vers midi, à moins que   mon vol ait  un délai. – I’ll arrive around noon, unless   my flight has  a delay.
• Vous vous amuserez, à moins que   le parc d’attractions ne soit  fermé. – You will have fun, unless   the amusement park is  closed.

ne explétif

In the second example, we’ve used the ne explétif . The inclusion of the ne explétif  is optional and formal, but serves to reinforce the negative connotation  of certain subjunctive French phrases such as à moins que .

Note that the ne explétif does not require “pas”  and does not have any grammatically negative function in the sentence.

The ne explétif  is also used with the following subjunctive phrases in French that we’ll see below: avant que, de crainte que, de peur que , and sans que .

The phrase bien que  means although  or even though . Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Bien que   je sois  malade, la fête passera. – Even though   I am  sick, the party will happen.
• J’y serai bien que   mon ex vienne . – I will be there, even though   my ex is coming .

The conjunction quoique  can be translated as a lthough , though , or even though . As with bien que, this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

Unlike most of the conjunctive phrases we’re looking at here, quoique is commonly used in the first half of a sentence, with the opposing clause coming after the subjunctive clause.

• Quoiqu ‘ il soit déjà tard, on va toujours en discuter. – Although  it’s already late, we will still discuss it.
• Quoiqu ’ il  ne soit pas prêt, je lui donne l’examen pareil. – Even though   he’s not ready, I’m giving him the test anyway.

Our final restrictive subjunctive conjunction is encore que , which means a lthough , even though , or notwithstanding that .

• Nous n’adopterons pas un chien encore que   tu veuilles  le faire. – We will not adopt a dog, even though   you want  to.
• C’est la bonne réponse, encore que   tu aies besoin  de plus de détail. – That is the correct answer, although   you need  more detail.

Expectation conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive phrase in French is used to introduce expectations .

These subjunctive phrases introduce expectations, on the condition of which a certain event will occur.

à supposer que

Our first expectation subjunctive conjunction is à supposer que , which means supposing that  or even assuming that .

• Je peux faire à manger, à supposer que   tu aies nettoyé  la cuisine. – I can cook, assuming that   you’ve cleaned  the kitchen.
• Ils vont se marier, à supposer qu ’ elle soit  prête. – They are going to get married, assuming that   she’s  ready.

en admettant que

The next expectation conjunction is en admettant que , which also means supposing that  or assuming that .

• L’équipe gagnera, en admettant qu ’ ils aient  autant pratiqué . – The team will win, supposing that   they have practiced  enough.
• Nous lui donnons la voiture, en admettant qu ’ il  le veuille . – We are giving him the car, assuming that   he wants  it.

si tant est que

Our last expectation conjunction is si tant est que , which can be translated as s upposing  or supposing that .

• Si tant est que   tu  me dise  la vérité, tout ira bien. – Supposing   you are telling  me the truth, everything will work out.
• J’aimerais te parler cet après-midi, si tant est que   cela soit  possible. – I would like to talk to you this afternoon, supposing that   it is  possible.

Time conjunctions

Another type of subjunctive conjunction in French is the time conjunction. These conjunctions introduce an element of time as a condition for a certain event to occur .

The phrase avant que  means before , and is followed by a condition that must occur before another event can happen. This phrase can take the ne explétif , but does not need to, especially in spoken French.

• Je vais partir avant qu ’ il  ne se lève . – I’m going to leave before   he gets up .
• Nous le cacherons avant que   vous  nous voyiez . – We will hide it before   you see  us.

Note that while avant que takes the subjonctif , its sister phrase après que  (meaning “after”) takes the indicatif  (often in the form of le futur or le futur antérieur). This discrepancy is due to the subjonctif being used in cases of uncertainty (as in, before something happens, there is an element of uncertainty). The indicatif, on the other hand, is used where there’s more certainty (as in, after something happens, you know what happened). It’s common for native French speakers to use the subjonctif after après que , but it’s actually grammatically incorrect!

en attendant que

The subjunctive phrase en attendant que has a variety of possible translations, including while waiting for , in expecting that , or with the expectation that . This phrase introduces an occurrence that will cause another action to stop.

• En attendant que   le médecin soit  prêt, l’enfant lit. – While waiting for   the doctor to be  ready, the child reads.
• Je me prépare en attendant qu ’ il vienne  à l’heure. – I’m getting ready with the expectation that   he will arrive  on time.

jusqu’à ce que

The conjunction jusqu’à ce que means until  or up to the point that . This conjunction introduces an event that will cause another event to cease. Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Je caresse le chat jusqu’à ce qu ’ il s’endorme . – I pet the cat until   he falls asleep .
• Nous pratiquons jusqu’à ce que   nous nous sentions  prêts. – We practice up to the point that   we feel  ready.

Condition conjunctions

The next type of subjunctive conjunction in French that we’ll look at is the conditional conjunction. As indicated by the name, this type of conjunction introduces a condition that is necessary for the situation in the other clause to occur .

à condition que

The subjunctive conjunction à condition que  can be translated as on the condition that  or as long as , while introducing the action that must be done for the other to occur.

• Tu peux aller au cinéma avec tes amis à condition que   la vaisselle soit faite . – You can go to the cinema with your friends on the condition that   the dishes are done .
• Nous assistons au concert à condition que   Zaz chante  ! – We’ll go to the concert as long as   Zaz sings !

de façon que

Next, the conjunction de façon que means so that  or such that .

• On lui a donné la tâche de façon qu ’ elle prenne  responsabilité. – We gave her the task so that   she takes  responsibility.
• Parlez de façon que   je puisse  vous entendre. – Speak in a way such that   I can  hear you.

The subjunctive French phrase pourvu que means provided that , and can sometimes be translated as let’s hope that . This conjunction appears in a famous quote by Napoléon Bonaparte’s mother: « Pourvu que   ça dure .» – “ Let’s hope   it lasts .” Note that this phrase requires the subjonctif even when the subject is the same in both clauses.

• Il viendra, pourvu qu ’ on puisse  le convaincre. – He will come, provided that   we can  convince him.
• Pourvu que   vous ayez  le temps, vous pouvez finir la tâche. – Provided that   you have  the time, you can finish the task.

The conjunction sans   que means  w ithout  or without which , and can take the ne explétif .

• On l’a fait  sans qu ’ il  ne sache . – We did it without   him knowing .
• Tu as acheté le cadeau sans que   nous  ne nous  en apercevions . – You bought the gift without   us noticing .

non pas que

The negative phrase non pas que means not that , and can be used without pas for more formal literary contexts. This phrase is often followed by the conjunction mais (but).

• Non pas que   je  te déteste , mais tu m’énerves. – Not that   I hate  you, but you annoy me.
• Non que   cela  ne soit  pas possible, mais ça serait très difficile. – Not that   it is n’t possible, but it would be very difficult.

pour peu que

The phrase pour peu que can mean i n the event that  or should .

• Pour peu que   tu doives  y aller, je t’accompagnerai. – Should   you have to  go there, I will accompany you.
• Le professeur imprime les copies pour peu que   les élèves viennent  en cours. – The teacher prints copies in the event that   the students come  to class.

soit que… soit que

Another conditional conjunctive phrase is soit que… soit que , which means whether… or . This expression is used to express doubt or choice between two options.

• Soit qu ’ il pleuve , soit qu ’ il neige , la poste va arriver. – Whether   it rains   or whether   it snows , the post will arrive.
• Soit que   tu  la fasses , soit que   je  la fasse , la tâche sera complétée. – Whether   you do  it or   I do  it, the task will be completed.

pour éviter que

Our final conditional conjunctive phrase is pour éviter que , meaning in order to avoid  or ensuring that .

• Je cache les bonbons pour éviter que   les enfants  les trouvent . – I’m hiding the candy in order to avoid   the kids finding  it.
• Vous faites des préparations pour éviter que   le pire cas ne se produise pas . – You make preparations to ensure that   the worst case doesn’t happen .

Fear conjunctions

Our final type of French subjunctive phrases are used to express fear. These conjunctive phrases introduce an event that instills fear or poses a risk  and should be avoided.

de crainte que

The phrase de crainte que  can be translated as for fear that  or lest . This phrase can be followed by the ne explétif .

• J’ai de la preuve, de crainte qu ’ on  ne me doute . – I have proof, lest   anyone doubt  me.
• Il se prépare de crainte que   je  le choisisse . – He is preparing himself, for fear that   I choose  him.

de peur que

Our second and final fear conjunction is de peur que , which can translate as for fear of , out of fear that , or lest . As with de crainte que , de peur que  can be followed by the ne explétif .

• Nous avons tout nettoyé de peur que   vous veniez . – We cleaned everything out of fear that   you would come .
• Je n’ouvrais pas la porte de peur que   quelqu’un ne soit  à l’autre côté. – I didn’t open the door lest   someone be  on the other side.

Other conjunctions

So far, this post has given a very thorough overview of the subordinating conjunctive phrases  that trigger the use of the subjunctive. Before we go, we’ll introduce two final French words that trigger the subjunctive , even though they don’t fall into the same grammatical categories as the ones we’ve focused on so far.

il faut que

No lesson on subjunctive French phrases would be complete without mentioning il faut que . This is one of the classic subjunctive phrases in French that’s often taught alongside the conjugation of the mood since it’s so common, and since it always triggers the use of the subjunctive.

The phrase il faut que is an impersonal way to state it is necessary that . As indicated, il faut que  introduces necessity without needing to be conjugated to a particular subject.

• Il faut que   tu fasses  la vaisselle ! – It is necessary that   you do  the dishes!
• Il faut que   les politiciens comprennent  qu’on en a marre ! – The politicians   need to   understand  that we’re fed up!

Il faut que  is one of the many ways of expressing obligation in French  that we cover in our dedicated post, alongside other equivalents of must , to need to , and to have to .

Our final French subjunctive word is que , which generally translates here as that . Hopefully you’ve noticed by now that que  appears in all of the subjunctive conjunctions  we’ve seen so far!

Que  can also be used on its own  to introduce a new clause in the sentence. However, the conjunction que  only triggers the subjunctive when it is used with a main clause that expresses subjectivity: hope, doubt, opinion, preference, or hypothetical. Additionally, que  is used more often in French than in English, because its equivalent is often optional in English.

• Je doute que   tu aies fait  la lessive. – I doubt [ that ] you did  the laundry.
• Il me semble que   vous  ne soyez  pas heureux. – It seems to me that   you are  not happy.

In this post, we’ve covered the meanings and uses of some common French subjunctive phrases , specifically subjunctive conjunctions . These uses range from prerequisite conditions to preventative conditions.

In more formal language, a few of these conjunctions can be followed by the ne explétif , which we introduced with à moins que  and then mentioned in the other subjunctive French sentences where it can be used.

Using the subjunctive with conjunctions  as we’ve seen here will help you express different ideas in sophisticated language, and will go a long way to having you sound like a native French speaker in no time!

To close, we’ll just leave you with the full list of subjunctive French phrases  we’ve covered in this post, along with their usual English translations. We also note which of these subjunctive conjunctions commonly take the ne explétif .

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French Subjunctive - Le Subjonctif - Rules And Examples

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The subjunctive  mood  is used to express actions or ideas which are subjective or otherwise uncertain: will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment...

It is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by  que  or  qui , and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different.

• Je veux que tu le fasses. I want you to do it.
• Il faut que nous partions. it is necessary that we leave.

The following pages of this lesson include lists of verbs, expressions, and conjunctions which require the subjunctive in French. They are divided into categories to help you remember them.

The subjunctive can seem overwhelming, but the thing to remember is the subjunctive = subjectivity, unreality. That should help you figure it out at least 90% of the time.

On the last page of this article (page 8), you'll find many more links to subjunctive related articles on About.com, including verb conjugations in the subjunctive mood. NOTE: There is no future subjunctive. Even if the action is to happen in the future, the present subjunctive is used. However, there is a  past subjunctive .

French subjunctive: Expressions of will - orders, advice, desires

Verbs and expressions which express someone's will, an order , a need, a piece of advice, or a desire require the subjunctive.

aimer mieux que:    to like better / to prefer that

commander que:    to order that

demander que:    to ask (someone to do something

désirer que:    to desire that

donner l'ordre que:    to order that

empêcher que*:    to prevent (someone from doing something)

éviter que*:    to avoid

exiger que:    to demand that

il est à souhaiter que:    it is to be hoped that

il est essentiel que:    it is essential that

il est important que:    it is important that

il est naturel que:    it is natural that

il est nécessaire que:  it is necessary that

il est normal que:    it is normal that

il est temps que:    it is time that

il est urgent que:    it is urgent that

il faut que:    it is necessary that

il vaut mieux que:    it is better that

interdire que:    to forbid that

s'opposer que:    to oppose that

ordonner que:    to order that

permettre que:    to permit that

préférer que:    to prefer that

proposer que:    to propose that

recommander que:    to recommend

souhaiter que:    to wish that

suggérer que:    to suggest that

tenir à ce que:    to insist that

vouloir que:    to want that

*These verbs are followed by the ne explétif : Évitez qu'il ne parte. Prevent him from leaving.

French subjunctive: Emotions and feelings

Verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling - fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or any other sentiments - require the subjunctive. adorer que:    to love that aimer que:    to like that apprécier que:    to appreciate that avoir honte que:    to be ashamed that avoir peur que *:   to be afraid that craindre que *:   to fear that déplorer que:   to deplore that détester que:    to hate that être content que:    to be happy that être désolé que:    to be sorry that être étonné que:    to be amazed that être heureux que:    to be happy that être surpris que:    to be surprised that être triste que:    to be sad that il est bizarre que:    it is odd that il est bon que:    it is good that il est dommage que:    it is too bad that il est étonnant que:    it is amazing that il est étrange que:    it is strange that il est heureux que:    it is fortunate that il est honteux que:    it is shameful that il est inutile que:    it is useless that il est rare que:    it is rare that il est regrettable que:    it is regrettable that il est surprenant que:    it is surprising that il est utile que:    it is useful that redouter que*:   to dread that regretter que:    to regret that se réjouir que:    to be delighted that *These verbs are followed by the ne explétif : Je crains qu'il ne parte. I'm afraid he'll leave.

French subjunctive: Opinion, possibility, doubt

Verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion accepter que:    to accept s'attendre à ce que:    to expect chercher ... qui *:   to look for détester que:    to hate douter que **:   to doubt that il est convenable que:    it is proper/fitting that il est douteux que **:   it is doubtful that il est faux que:    it is false that il est impossible que:    it is impossible that il est improbable que:    it is improbable that il est juste que:    it is right/fair that il est possible que:    it is possible that il est peu probable que:    it is improbable that il n'est pas certain que:    it is not certain that il n'est pas clair que:   it is not clear that il n'est pas évident que:    it is not obvious that il n'est pas exact que:    it is not correct that il n'est pas probable que:    it is improbable that il n'est pas sûr que:    it is not certain that il n'est pas vrai que:    it is not true that il semble que:    it seems that il se peut que:    it may be that le fait que:    the fact that nier que ***:   to deny that refuser que:    to refuse supposer que:    to suppose, hypothesize *When you are looking for someone who may not exist, that indicates doubt and therefore requires the subjunctive: Je cherche un homme qui sache la vérité. I'm looking for a man who knows the truth. **These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively: Je doute qu'il vienne, Je ne doute pas qu'il vient. I doubt he's coming, I don't doubt he's coming. ***When nier is in the negative, it's followed by the ne explétif : Il n'a pas nié qu'elle ne soit partie. He didn't deny that she left.

French subjunctive: Affirmative vs negative statements

The following verbs and expressions do not take the subjunctive when they are used in the affirmative, because they express facts which are considered certain - at least in the speaker's mind.

When negative or interrogatory, they require the subjunctive: c'est que:    it's that/because connaître (quelqu'un) qui:    to know (someone) that croire que:    to believe that dire que:    to say that espérer que:    to hope that être certain que:    to be certain that être sûr que:    to be sure that il est certain que:    it is certain that il est clair que:    it is clear/obvious that il est évident que:    it is obvious that il est probable que:    it is probable that il est exact que:    it is correct/true that il est sûr que:    it is certain that il est vrai que:    it is true that il me (te, lui...) semble que:    it seems to me (you, him...) that il paraît que:    it appears that penser que:    to think that savoir que:    to know that trouver que:    to find/think that vouloir dire que:    to mean that Penses-tu qu'il soit sympa ? Oui, je pense qu'il est sympa, Non, je ne pense pas qu'il soit sympa . Do you think he's nice? Yes, I think he's nice. No, I don't think he's nice.

French subjunctive with conjunctions

A number of French conjunctive phrases require the subjunctive: à condition que:    provided that à moins que *:   unless à supposer que:    assuming that afin que:    so that avant que *:   before bien que:    although de crainte que *:   for fear that de façon que:    so that, in order that, in such a way that de manière que:    so that de peur que *:   for fear that de sorte que:    so that en admettant que:    assuming that en attendant que:    while, until encore que:    even though jusqu'à ce que:    until pour que:    so that pourvu que:    provided that quoique:    even though quoi que:    whatever, no matter what sans que *:   without *These conjunctions are followed by the ne explétif : Mangeons avant que nous ne partions. Let's eat before we leave. On the other hand, the following conjunctions do not take the subjunctive, because they express facts which are considered certain: ainsi que:    just as, so as alors que:    while, whereas après que **:   after, when aussitôt que **:   as soon as car    since, because en même temps que:    at the same time that depuis que:    since dès que **:   as soon as, immediately lorsque **: when parce que:    because pendant que:    while plutôt que:    instead of, rather than puisque:    since, as quand **: when tandis que:    while, whereas une fois que **:   once **These conjunctions are followed by the future tense in French, even though in English we use the present tense. Mangeons quand il arrivera. Let's eat when he arrives.

French Subjunctive with Superlatives

After main clauses which contain adjectives like principal , seul , unique , premier , dernier , or any superlative , the subjunctive is optional - it depends on how concrete the speaker feels about what is being said. Hélène est la seule personne qui puisse nous aider. Hélène is the only person who can help us. (Hélène may be the only person I think can help us, but there may be others.) Hélène est la seule personne que je vois. Hélène is the only person I see. (No subjunctive, because I know this for a fact - I only see Hélène.) C'est le meilleur livre que j'aie pu trouver. That's the best book I could find. (But it's not necessarily the best that exists.) C'est le meilleur livre que j'ai écrit. That's the best book I've written. (I wrote three, and I know for a fact that this is the best one.)

French subjunctive with negative and indefinite pronouns

In a subordinate clause with the negative pronouns ne ... personne or ne ... rien , or the indefinite pronouns quelqu'un or quelque chose . Je ne connais personne qui veuille m'aider. I don't know anyone who wants to help me. Il n'y a rien que nous puissions faire. There's nothing that we can do. Y a-t-il quelqu'un qui puisse m'aider ? Is there someone who can help me? J'aimerais inventer quelque chose qui fasse une différence. I'd like to invent something that will make a difference.

Voilà—there are a lot of rules about when to use the French Subjunctive!

Updated by  Camille Chevalier Karfis

• Are You Hypothesizing With 'Supposer'? Then Use the French Subjunctive
• Is 'le Fait Que' Fact or Fantasy? If It's the Latter, Use Subjunctive
• French Grammar Glossary: Future Subjunctive Is Present Subjunctive
• Does the French Expression 'Malgré Que' Take the Subjunctive?
• Does 'Sans Que' Introduce a Supposition?
• Does the French Verb 'Souhaiter' Need the Subjunctive?
• French Verb 'Vouloir Que' Wants the Emotional Subjunctive
• Introduction to French Conjunctions
• The French Phrase 'À Condition Que' Takes the Subjunctive
• French Subordinate Clause: French Grammar and Pronunciation Glossary
• Does The French Conjunction 'Tant Que' Need the Subjunctive?
• Conjugating Regular French Verbs in the Subjunctive
• Formal French Negation: Ne... point
• Does 'Il Est Important Que' Need the Subjunctive?
• All About Paraître
• All About Que

French Subjunctive (Subjonctif): Explanation and Examples

The subjunctive is a mood of the French language, just like the indicative, the imperative, the conditional…

It might be the most feared element in French for French learners, because indeed, it’s a bit tough to understand. But you should rejoice, because it’s probably the easiest among all the other Latin languages, since it’s always used with one tense: the present.

In French (unlike in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian…), there are no past or even future subjunctive. Well in fact, there is a past subjunctive, but it’s not used anymore.

But still, as I said, the subjunctive is really not the easiest thing in French. That’s why if you are beginner in French, I recommend to focus first on the present, passé composé, imparfait, future… and leave the subjunctive for another time.

1) What is the subjunctive?

2) how to learn the subjunctive, 3) ways to avoid using the subjunctive in french, some verbs can either have a subjunctive or an indicative in negative sentences.

• The “ne explétif”

The subjunctive to give an order

Subjunctive or indicative in some relative clause, share this:.

The subjunctive is used to express subjective or uncertain ideas and actions. Feelings like doubt, desire, will, judgement, emotion, possibility, fear, hope, necessity, possibility…

Often, two different subjects are involved: one is doubting, fearing, wanting, hoping… that the other one does something.

Moreover, the subjunctive is nearly always introduced by “ que ” (or “ qui ” sometimes).

I don’t know if you are aware of it, but the subjunctive exists in English as well, but it’s rare and growing rarer. Besides, the subjunctive form of a verb is often similar to the indicative form, hence subjunctive is not a very visible grammatical feature of English.

As you can guess, since the subjunctive is used to express so many feelings, it’s used quite frequently in French.

Basically, it works like this: there are many expressions and conjunctions in French (of doubt, desire, possibility, necessity…) that finish with “ que ”, and that are followed by a subjunctive.

Now I don’t recommend to learn all of them, because there are hundreds of them. In addition, not only it’s difficult to know when to use the subjunctive, but it’s also quite difficult to conjugate the irregular verbs with it (knowing that they are the most frequent verbs).

So I think if you are just starting to learn the subjunctive, the best is to get used with some of the most common expressions, and practice your conjugation with them.

First, let’s take a look at the regular conjugation in the subjunctive.

You may notice that for the 1 st group verbs (in “- er ”), there is no difference between the present indicative and the present subjunctive for “ je , tu , il/elle/on and ils/elles ”.

Concerning the 3 rd group verbs (irregular verbs), you have to know them by heart. I will give you some of the most common ones at the end of this article.

Now, I want to give you 15 of the most common expressions followed by the subjunctive in French, with an example for each:

1) Il faut que … > It is necessary that… / to have to…

If there is one expression you should remember, it’s this one. It comes from the verb falloir , which can only be used that way, with the impersonal pronoun “ il ”. French people use it all the time, maybe even more than the verb devoir , must .

Note that in modern spoken French, people often omit the “ il ” and start directly with “ Faut ”.

2) Avoir besoin que … > to need (smth/so) to…

3) Vouloir que … > To want (smth/so) to…

4) Préférer que … > Prefer that…

5) C’est possible que … > It’s possible that…

6) C’est pas sûr que … > It’s not sure that…

Maybe you noticed, normally it should be “ Ce n’est pas sûr que… ”, but once again, in modern French, most people never pronounce the “ ne ” for the negation.

7) S’attendre à ce que … > to expect that… / to expect (smth/so) to…

8) Il semble que … > It seems that…

9) Avoir peur que … > To be afraid that…

10) Être content que … > To be happy that…

11) Être triste que … > To be sad that…

12) Il vaut mieux que … > It’s better if…

13) C’est dommage que … > It’s a shame that…

14) C’est important que … > It’s important that…

15) Proposer que … > to propose that…

As I said, there are also conjunctions that require the subjunctive. Here is 10 of the most common ones:

1) Pour que… > So that…

He bought me a football so that I can practice

2) Jusqu’à ce que… > Until…

We will wait until the moon appears

3) Avant que… > Before…

Do it before it’s too late

4) Sans que… > Without…

I left without them realizing it

5) Bien que… > Although…

He was not accepted, although he had good grades

6) À condition que… > Provided that…

I will go to Paris, provided that you comme with me

7) À moins que… > Unless…

Can we leave? Unless you want something else

8) Qui que… > Whoever…

No one can enter, whoever it is!

9) Quoi que… > Whatever…

Whatever you do, I won’t give up

10) Où que… > Wherever…

I will follow you wherever you go

Depending on which expression or conjunction you use, there are some ways to avoid the subjunctive.

For example, you can sometimes remove the “ que ” and use an infinitive to make a general statement.

It’s better if we stop > It’s better to stop

You can also try to use a noun:

You are sad that he is leaving > His departure makes you sad

Reformulate the sentence in different way:

Do it before it’s too late > Do it now, otherwise it will be too late

But as you can see, it’s quite difficult to change the sentence without affecting its original meaning a minimum.

4) Some remarks on the subjunctive

Some of the most common are: penser , to think , croire , to believe , trouver , to find

I think he is right > I don’t think he is right

He believes you are dead > He doesn’t believe you are dead

I hope he is right > I don’t think he is right

The “ ne explétif ”

Some verbs and expressions can add a “ ne ” when they are used in the subjunctive, even though the sentence is affirmative. Guess what? It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just there to look nice and posh, and confuse French learners… Nowadays, people rarely use it when they speak, but you can find it from time to time.

It’s quite rare, but the subjunctive can offset the lack of a 3 rd person in the imperative mood. It can happen when someone tells to someone to give an order to another person.

–Sir, the trainee has arrived… –Well, tell him to get ready for his first mission!

In certain types of relative clauses, it’s possible to have the subjunctive or the indicative.

I’m looking for someone who can give me advices

The subjunctive in this sentence ( qui puisse me donner … ) indicates the criterion of the person you are looking for, without affirming that this person really exists.

With the indicative however, the sentence presupposes the existence of that person (even though there might not be one).

5) Some common irregular French verbs in the subjunctive

Here are 20 of the most common 3 rd  group French verbs in the subjunctive:

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What is the French Subjunctive?

Students often ask what is the French subjunctive ? When to use the French subjunctive? I’ll provide clear explanations + lists of French subjunctive phrases & verbs + examples

In English, the subjunctive is very rare (I wish I were in Paris – like the girl in the picture!).

In French, it is quite common. However, if you are a beginner in French , I would not worry about the subjunctive right now but concentrate on the tenses of the indicative.

So, now, let me answer this question: “what is the French subjunctive?”

What is the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive is a mood: a grammatical term which describes the subject’s attitude.

In English, using the subjunctive is rare and formal. Nowadays, most people no longer use it.

The subjunctive in French is very common. It shows the subject’s mood (wish, hope, fear, uncertainty…) toward a fact or an idea – often involving another person.

The French subjunctive in a nutshell:

You will need to memorize by heart which expressions are followed by the subjunctive (versus the expressions followed by the indicative) – I will explain why certain French phrases use the French subjunctive , and why others use the indicative + provide lists of subjunctive French phrases.

This is a long lesson. I suggest you take your time to go through it, let the concepts sink in, and bookmark it for future reference. You won’t conquer Subjunctive in one reading!

How To Memorize the French Subjunctive?

In my opinion, to memorize your French irregular Subjunctive forms, drilling with audio is the only solution: you need to create reflexes, “hear” the form in your head.

Concentrate on the most common verbs : aller, être, avoir, prendre .

This is pure memorization, it has nothing to do with understanding, so I won’t talk about it here.

The French subjunctive uses and conjugations are explained in depth in my Advanced French audiobook learning method , and then illustrated by an ongoing novel recorded at several levels of enunciation (traditional French and modern spoken French).

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.

More Details & Audio Samples

Does Que = Subjunctive in French?

The conjunction that is followed by the subjunctive is mostly “que”.

Yet, a sentence with que doesn’t mean the verb is going to be in the subjunctive. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy! This is why you need to understand the conditions that need to exist to have a subjunctive in French.

French Subjunctive = 2 Conditions

To have a Subjunctive in French, you need to have 2 conditions:

• At least 2 subjects = subject 1 wanting, wishing, ordering, fearing… that subject 2 do this action.
• or an expression which is specifically followed by the subjunctive (list below to be learned by heart)

6 French Subjunctive Examples

Let’s take some examples of sentences using the Subjunctive and the Indicative and examine the conditions of the situations.

• Je veux que vous fassiez la vaisselle. (me wanting you to do it = several involved   = subjunctive)
• Je veux faire la vaisselle. (me wanting me to do the dishes = only me involved = infinitive)
• Il faut que tu fasses la vaisselle  (this condition applies only to you = subjunctive)
• Il faut faire la vaisselle  (true for everybody = infinitive)
• Je suis contente que tu fasses la vaisselle. (me being happy that you do the dishes = 2 people – subjunctive)
• Je suis contente de faire la vaisselle. (me being happy that I do the dishes = one person = indicative)

No interrogative Form With the French Subjunctive

You can use a subjunctive clause in a question, for example « Voulez-vous que je vienne avec vous? », but there is no way to turn a subjunctive clause itself into a question.

Now that the ground rules are established, let me explain in details the French Subjunctive.

What follows works most of the time, I’m sure you’ll find exceptions, but I hope it helps making most cases clearer.

French Subjunctive Uses

The French Subjunctive States 2 things:

1 – One person influencing/having feeling for a DIFFERENT person’s action.

• Je veux que tu fasses la vaisselle. I = first person, want = verb of influence, you = different person, do the dishes = the action the first person is trying to influence.
• Je suis contente que tu fasses la vaisselle. I = first person, am happy = feeling, you = different person, do the dishes = the action the first person has a feeling about.

2 – The percentage of chance FOR THE SPEAKER of this wish/fear/order/… becoming a reality.

• Je constate qu’il est là. Actually, I can see him, FOR ME, this is a 100% sure thing = indicative. The actual reality is that he is an holographic projection… but the truth lies in the eyes of the beholder…
• J’aimerais qu’il soit là. But I know his plane is stuck in NY. Probability of my wish becoming a reality is almost zero = subjunctive.

So, between 100% chance (indicative) and 0% chance (subjunctive), what mood should you use? Where do you draw the line?

•  If you know for sure it’s the reality = Indicative in French.
• Over 70% chance of the action becoming a reality = Indicative in French.
• If there is under 70% chance of the action becoming a reality =   Subjunctive in French.

So as you can see, the French subjunctive is quite… subjective!

8 Indicative vs Subjunctive Phrases

• Il est certain qu’il sera là demain 100% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Il est probable qu’il sera là demain 70% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Il est possible qu’il soit là demain 50% chance of becoming a reality = subjunctive
• Je crois qu’il va partir. I’m positive about it. Say 90% he’s going to leave = indicative.
• Je désire qu’il parte. But he really wants to stay… So there is only a 2% chance he is going to leave = subjunctive.
• J’exige que tu ailles à l’école. OK, but you have no intention of going. So even if I want it, it’s not the reality, and I know it… = little chance of becoming a reality = subjunctive
• Regarde! Une maison avec un toit orange au milieu d’un grand jardin. I am actually looking at this house. 100% chance of the house existing = indicative.
• Je rêve d’une maison qui ait un toit orange et soit entourée d’un grand jardin. I am at a realtor’s place and describing my dream house. He might or might not have one, I am not sure it exists – for my budget that is :-) = subjunctive

French Subjunctive Negative Form

In French, verbs of hope and belief introduce the subjunctive in the negative, since now the percentage of chance of the action becoming a reality is very low:

• Je pense qu’il viendra His coming, to me, has a 90% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne His coming, to me, has a 5% of becoming a reality = subjunctive

Watch out: “I don’t think he will come” is not the same thing as “I think he will not come”….

• Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne. I don’t think he will come.
• Je pense qu’il ne viendra pas . I think he will not come .

You have to keep the action you are talking about very clear, and make sure you are applying the negative the the correct part of the sentence and not changing your sentence altogether.

The Ne Expletif – A Ne Without any Negative Value

• Je crains qu’elle ne mente.  I am afraid she is lying to me (not that she is NOT lying to me…)

The “ne” here has no negative value. It’s a rather formal concept, called “le ne explétif” and it comes with verbs of fear and some expressions.

Now, with all these explanations, I hope you are starting to understand the French subjunctive better.

Another method to approach the French subjunctive is to learn by heart verbs and expressions followed by the subjunctive.

Here is a list of common verbs and conjunctions followed by indicative or subjunctive:

13 French Indicative Verbs

French verbs expressing the reality.

The verbs listed below describe a reality, so it’s logical that they are followed by the mood that indicates the reality: the indicative.

• constater que – to note, witness
• observer que – to observe
• remarquer que – to remark
• savoir que – to know
• trouver que – to find
• affirmer que – to declare
• déclarer que – to declare
• dire que – to say + indicatif.

Je constate qu’il est ici. I’m witnessing the fact that he’s here.

French verbs expressing belief & hope

These verbs are also followed by the indicative in French. Why? Only one possible answer: the French take their beliefs for the reality!

• imaginer – to imagine
• penser – to think
• supposer – to suppose
• croire – to believe
• espérer – to hope + indicatif.

The speaker really believes that the situation is real or hopes it will become real.

Note that these verbs are usually followed by a future in French. Probably to show that somehow, we are aware it’s not a sure thing… Fascinating how languages work!

J’imagine qu’il viendra. I imagine he will be coming.

16 French Indicative Phrases

All these French expressions indicate that the speaker think the situation is real.

• il est clair que – it’s clear
• il est certain que – it’s obvious
• il est sûr que – it’s sure
• il est probable que – it’s probable + indicatif

Then, some conjunctions express a “simple reality” – that’s how French grammars explain they are followed by indicative… I’m not quite sure what that means…

For most of them, I think you have to learn them by heart!

• alors que – while
• aussitôt que – as soon as
• en même temps que – at the same time that
• depuis que – since
• dès que – as soon as
• lorsque – when
• parce que – because
• pendant que – while
• plutôt que – instead of, rather than
• puisque – since
• tandis que – while
• une fois que – once

Now that we’ve studied the lists of verbs and expressions followed by the indicative, let’s see which verbs and expressions take the subjunctive.

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21 French Subjunctive Verbs `

Now let’s see common verbs followed by the subjunctive.

These verbs can be classified in 6 categories: wish, likes and dislikes, fear, regrets, doubt, order.

• French verbs expressing wish = souhaiter, désirer, suggérer, proposer, conseiller… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing likes and dislikes = aimer, préférer, détester, adorer… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing fear = avoir peur, craindre, redouter… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing regrets = regretter, être désolé… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing doubt = douter… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing order = vouloir, ordonner, exiger, permettre, refuser, supplier… + que + subjunctive

You’ll find longer lists on the web but I don’t see the need for them… Do you really need to know “all” the verbs that can be followed by the subjunctive?

Beliefs & hopes versus wishes

We’ve studied above that “croire” and “espérer” are followed by the indicative.

Yet, “souhaiter” and “désirer” are followed by the subjunctive.

The difference is quite subtle… it’s really a question of ‘mood’: how the speaker feels about the situation… Does s/he think there’s a good chance or not? What’s her/his mood about the situation?

That’s exactly what the subjunctive expresses: a mood…

29 French Subjunctive Phrases

You need to learn by heart these French subjunctive phrases.

• il faut que – it’s necessary
• il vaut mieux que – it’s better
• il est/ c’est important que – it’s important
• il est / c’est dommage que – it’s too bad + subjunctive
• il est / c’est impossible – it’s impossible that
• il est / c’est possible que – it’s possible that
• serait-il possible que – would it be possible that
• serait-il probable que – would it be probable that
• il est / c’est improbable que – it’s improbable that
• il est / c’est peu probable que – it’s improbable that
• il / ce n’est pas clair que – it’s not clear that
• il / ce n’est pas évident que – it’s not obvious that
• il / ce n’est pas sûr que – it’s not sure that

As I explained before, with some expressions, you can easily avoid the subjunctive by making a general statement and using an infinitive construction Il faut manger ≠ il faut que vous mangiez.

Yet with other expressions, you just need to learn them by heart.

• Pour que – for
• afin que – for
• de sorte que – so that
• de crainte que – in fear of
• de peur que – in fear of
• avant que – before
• en attendant que – awaiting
• jusqu’à ce que – until
• bien que – so that
• à moins que – unless
• à condition que – provided that
• pourvu que – provided that
• qui que – whoever
• quoique – even though
• quoi que – whatever
• sans que – without

Avant Que + Subjunctive BUT Après Que + Indicative !!!

“Avant que” is followed by the subjunctive = it’s logical, there is a notion of uncertainty: you won’t know for sure beforehands.

• Tu devras partir avant qu’il ne vienne. (This ne expletif again)…

However, “après que” is followed by the indicative – logical again, now you know for sure.

• En général, je pars après qu’il vient.

Although many French people use the subjunctive – myself included… It’s a mistake but a very common one: the indicative sounds awful there… I wouldn’t be surprised if this rule actually changed to allow the subjunctive in the near future.

I would actually never say that, and find an alternative:

• En général, je pars après son arrivée.

3 Ways to Avoid the Subjunctive in French

In same cases, you can avoid the subjunctive by changing your sentence a little bit. The French do it all the time!

Use a noun to avoid the French subjunctive

If you used a noun instead of a verb, there would be no problem at all… this applies mostly to “avant que”.

• Il finit avant le départ de sa femme (instead of Il finit avant que sa femme ne parte).

Make a general statement (indicative) instead of a specific (subjunctive)

Instead of applying your sentence to one specific person, make a general statement.

• Il faut faire du sport  (instead of “il faut que tu fasses du sport”)

Find a way around the subjunctive – use two sentences if need be

• Tu dois partir immédiatement. Je l’exige. (instead of “j’exige que tu partes immédiatement”)

The French Subjunctive and the French People

To make things worse, you can’t always rely on what you hear (or even read) to learn the French subjunctive… A lot of French people make mistakes when it comes to the use of subjunctive.

If a French person didn’t get constantly corrected by their parents as a kid, or didn’t do a lot of formal studying, then chances are that s/he’ll make mistakes in the subjunctive.

Furthermore, times are changing. There are some situations where French grammar still demands the use of the subjunctive… but people will use the indicative instead. Why? Because it sounds weird, that’s why! And most French people rely on their ears to tell them what to say… or maybe “instinct” would be a better word.

You see, French people don’t speak French the way you do. I mean, we don’t think the same way: we don’t write the French in our heads, we rely a lot on “how it sounds”. I strongly suggest you read my article about  modern spoken French . This article will show you – with many examples – how the traditional French you are likely to have learned in school contrast from the reality of the French language spoken today, and give you many tips to simplify the way you speak French.

In any case, the average French person doesn’t know all the grammar rules. They speak the way they do because… well, once again, their parents and teachers corrected them enough that they know what they are supposed to say and what sounds “natural” to their ear.

When it comes to saying complicated things, however, then they don’t know for sure anymore… They may use the subjunctive in one situation, because it sounds good, and use the indicative the next day, because that day, it sounded better to them. We all make mistakes, for sure!

“Que” + Subjunctive or “Que” + Indicative?

Now that I’ve explained everything about the subjunctive, let’s get really crazy…

Can you figure out why I don’t use the subjunctive in this sentence: Elle est si heureuse qu’elle rit tout le temps. First, one could argue that it is the same speaker doing both actions.

But the meaning is deeper… Here, the “que” means “hence”. It’s a consequence: she is very happy, hence she laughs all the time.

It’s not the fact that she laughs that makes her happy… It’s actually the contrary: it’s because she is happy that she laughs.

There is no doubt, no uncertainty, no change of mood (pun intended). She is happy, so she laughs. With just a tiny change, we could turn the sentence around to use a subjunctive.

Elle est si heureuse qu’IL rie tout le temps .

Now we have two different people involved. And the subjunctive is right because it is the fact that he laughs all the time that makes her happy. It is the action he does that affects her mood.

If I wanted to apply this logic to one single person, I would have to use an infinitive construction.

Elle est si heureuse de rire tout le temps.

Translating in English won’t work. It’s only by fully understanding the context, and the use of the subjunctive in French, that you could avoid that mistake.

1. Elle est si heureuse qu’elle rit tout le temps. She is so happy that she laughs all the time.

2. Elle est si heureuse qu’il rie tout le temps. She is so happy that he laughs all the time.

3. Elle est si heureuse de rire tout le temps. She is so happy to be laughing all the time.

Let’s look at another really tricky situation.

Je te téléphonerai de sorte que tu aies l’information à temps = subjunctive I will call you so that you’ll have the info on time.

The action is taking place in the future… So the outcome is not certain, hence the subjunctive.

Il l’avait prévenue de sorte qu’elle n’est pas sortie = indicative He had warned her hence she didn’t go out.

The action already took place. The outcome is certain, hence the indicative.

Now, as I said before, these sentences do exist. But thankfully there are ways around them!

Je te téléphonerai et donc tu auras l’information à temps. I will call you and therefore you’ll have the info on time.

Il l’avait prévenue et donc elle n’est pas sortie. He had warned her hence she didn’t go out.

To be really fluent in a language, you have to be able to anticipate and avoid tricky constructions, and quickly transform your sentence to find a simpler way to express what you want to say.

Sometimes, when you are sure of yourself (often because you’ve memorized a sentence by heart), you may drop a subjunctive construction and gloat (if only just on the inside, for yourself)… Then just give yourself a high five :-)

What is the Best Way to Understand French Subjunctive?

The best way to develop a feeling for when to use the French Subjunctive is to learn it in context. C heck out French Today’s downloadable French audiobooks : French Today’s bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on today’s modern glided pronunciation. 

I hope this long lesson make things clearer about the French Subjunctive. If you like it, share it on your social medias – it’s a huge help for us!

You may also be interested in:

• understanding the French conditional
• understanding the French imperative
• the differences between French Passé-Composé and Imperfect

I post new articles every week, so make sure you subscribe to the French Today newsletter – or follow me on  Facebook , Twitter  and  Pinterest .

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Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

The French Subjunctive Demystified: How To Master This Surprisingly Simple Aspect Of French Grammar

When you're learning French , you'll come across  a few sticky points of grammar that can be a little challenging to grasp.

And among these, one of the most notorious is the French subjunctive .

For native English speakers at least, this reputation may come partly from the fact that the subjunctive in English has all but disappeared, so you can't compare it with anything. 

But, although the concept might seem strange and unfamiliar, it really isn’t so hard.

So here, I’ll make this mysterious verb form clearer and show you why there’s really nothing much to be afraid of.

In fact, once you've got over your fear of using the subjunctive, you'll experience a huge fluency boost , as you'll be able to express many finer points of meaning such as wishes, preferences and doubt.

By the way, if you want to learn French through stories, not rules, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

In the meantime, back to the subject at hand…

Introducing The French Subjunctive… Through English 

There are many different levels of understanding when it comes to the subjunctive.

While grammarians may enjoy debating the finer points of its use, we don’t need to lose ourselves in that level of detail.

Our goal is simply to be able to use it and understand it correctly in French . 

To keep things simple, let’s start with English. Have you ever noticed some of the more peculiar expressions we use, like:

• “God save the Queen!”
• or “if I were you…”

They're a bit strange, right? But have you ever  wondered why we use the “wrong” form of the verb in these situations?

Why don’t we say “God saves the Queen!” or “if I was you…”?

These sentences would seem correct, wouldn’t they? Except we just know instinctively that they’re wrong.

The reason is that in these sentences, we're seeing the last remnants of the English subjunctive.

English has practically lost its subjunctive and now it only ever appears in a few set expressions such as these.

In French, however, it is still commonly used – although much less than in closely related languages like Spanish and Italian.

As is usually the case with grammar, trying to explain the subjunctive makes it sound abstract and complicated.

But with a few of good examples , it suddenly becomes much easier to understand. So that's what we're going to focus on here!

Before we look at the examples, let me give you a brief explanation of what the subjunctive actually is, just so you know what to expect.

What Is The French Subjunctive Anyway?

The subjunctive is usually referred to as a mood rather than a tense , as you use it to show a certain amount of emotion or personal interpretation of what is being said.

A tense, on the other hand, is for indicating when something happened , such as the past, present or future for example.

So right away, we can see that the subjunctive is different because it is a mood, instead of  a “normal” verb form  (known technically as “indicative” forms) which are usually used simply to state a fact.

In a nutshell, the subjunctive expresses:

• preferences
• other similar feelings towards what is being said

You can also use it to talk about hypothetical situations.

In short, the subjunctive is usually found when what we are saying is something other than a simple statement of fact.

That’s the theory, but in practice, it’s a little easier to understand because, in modern French, the choice of subjunctive or indicative is almost entirely determined by what comes before it. 

The simple rule is that some verbs are followed by the subjunctive and some are followed by the indicative.

This means that all you have to do to master the basics is to remember which verbs take the subjunctive . There’s no real need to think about whether you're talking about hopes, desires, fears etc.

Ok, so now you know what the subjunctive basically is. But how does it actually work?

Don’t worry too much if it still seems quite vague. With a few examples, everything will become much clearer.

Verbs That Take The Subjunctive In French

As we just saw, the most frequent occasion when you will meet or need to use the subjunctive is after certain verbs .

Since there's usually no choice of whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative, you simply need to follow the rule.

You'll notice that verbs taking the subjunctive are verbs that express some kind of emotion , like desire , fear , or  preference , etc.

At the beginning, remembering this will help you learn which verbs require a subjunctive. After a while, knowing which verbs are followed by a subjunctive will become instinctive.

Here are some common examples to get you started: 

For example:

• Je veux que tu saches – I want you to know
• Il faut que je parte – it is necessary for me to leave, I have to leave
• Je doute que ça soit possible – I doubt (that) that’s possible

Some common impersonal verbs also take the subjunctive:

• Il est nécessaire it is necessary
• Il faut must
• Il semble it seems

Il faut que j’ aille chercher ma mère – It is necessary that I go and collect my mother

(In English, this is more naturally translated as “I need to go and collect my mother”.)

A Few Tricky Cases: The French Subjunctive After A Negative

There are a few verbs that only take the subjunctive with the negative forms:

• Croire believe
• Penser think
• (Compare with je pense qu’elle est capable – I think she is capable)

Notice that in English, very often, it's more natural to use an infinitive (the “to” form) with the verb. In French, however, this is not possible, so we must use que + subjunctive:

• Je veux qu’il parte – I want him to leave

Note also that the verb espérer (to hope) doesn't take the subjunctive even though you might expect it to since it's a verb of “hoping”. This is just a strange exception so try to memorise it and move on!

Linking Expressions That Take A Subjunctive In French

Another common use of the subjunctive in French is following certain linking words and expressions (also known as “conjunctions”).

This is actually very simple as it's just a rule you need to follow– there’s no need to try to understand why it is this way. It's just the way it is!

Some of the most common examples are:

• Il ne m’écoute pas, quoi que je dise – he doesn’t listen to me, whatever I say
• Je te préviens juste pour que tu saches – I’m warning you just so (that) you know
• Avant que je ( ne *) parte – before I leave

The full list is longer, but these are some of the most useful examples.

Since there are not so many of them, you should just treat them as fixed expressions and remember that they are always followed by a subjunctive . That way, you won’t have to expend too much brainpower thinking about why!

* Notice the addition of ne here – à moins que , avant que and some others add ne in written French and careful speech without changing the meaning. In informal spoken French , native speakers often drop it. 

Shortcuts And Avoiding The French Subjunctive

One piece of good news is that many of the subjunctive forms in French are the same as the ‘normal’, indicative forms .

The largest group of verbs in French is the – er verbs. And the first-person forms are the same for the subjunctive and the indicative, meaning you don’t even need to think about the subjunctive when you use them! Easy!

However, the French- re and  -ir verbs change slightly, so you should learn them and get used to using them.

For example, if we add the endings above to the -ir verb partir (leave) to make the subjunctive forms, we get:

• je part e  
• tu part es  
• elle part e ,  etc.

In the indicative, or normal verb forms, the equivalents are

The subjunctive belongs to a higher register of speech in French, so it sounds more formal or more educated than everyday colloquial speech.

In many situations, native speakers avoid it in favour of something simpler. Take this sentence in English:

• We need to speak to Paul about it

In French, you could translate this by saying: 

• Il faut que nous en parlions avec Paul

But two other ways to say this might be:

• On a besoin d’en parler avec Paul
• Il faut en parler avec Paul

These two sentences use the infinitive, avoiding the subjunctive altogether.

In many cases, it's preferable and more natural to avoid the subjunctive , which in certain situations could sound a bit pompous or contrived.

The Perfect Subjunctive In French

French also has a perfect (or past) form of the subjunctive, although you won't often come across it. 

You form it in the same way as the “normal” perfect tense. But you use the subjunctive version of avoir or être rather than the indicative forms. Here's an example of a simple sentence where you need to use it: 

• Je ne crois pas qu’elle soit venue – I don’t believe (that) she came

Note also that this is another example of the verb croire (to believe) requiring the subjunctive in a negative sentence. In a positive sentence, you would say it like this: 

• Je crois qu’elle est venue – I believe (that) she came

Obsolete French Subjunctive Forms

There are two additional subjunctive forms in French, the imperfect subjunctive and the pluperfect subjunctive .   However, before you panic, there’s more good news – these two forms are now considered literary or obsolete !  No native speaker would ever use them in normal speech.

And the only time you will ever come across them is when reading works of literature.

This means that if your goal is simply using French for communication, you'll never have any reason to learn or use them.

As Easy As “Bonjour”

So hopefully you have seen that the subjunctive in French is relatively easy. As the French say:

• C'est simple comme bonjour

In other words, it's “as easy as saying hello”, or “as easy as pie” to use an equivalent English expression.

It’s just a case of remembering which verbs and conjunctions take the subjunctive.

As I said at the beginning, you can lose yourself in the theory. But since all we want to do is use French to communicate, there’s really no need.

And if you’re still feeling a little puzzled, you can console yourself with the fact that it’s still a lot easier in French than it is in Italian or Spanish! And remember, like all other aspects of French, mastering the subjunctive takes time. So stick with it and it will soon start to sink in.

Master French Grammar The Natural Way

That said, if you want your French grammar to sink in a little quicker so you can express yourself with confidence and accuracy, there is a way.

And it doesn't involve pouring over verb tables or memorising grammar rules out of context.

In fact, it's the complete opposite. It's my programme, French Grammar Hero   where you discover the core of French grammar the natural way, through an immersive story.

Grammar Hero condenses potentially years of frustrating, traditional study into a “fast-track” experience that will transform your grammar in the next 90 days. Click here to find out more.

After all that, what are your thoughts on the French subjunctive? Is it a structure you feel you could use confidently in your French after reading this article? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Learning French Grammar: The French Subjunctive

The French subjunctive mood is an essential part of French grammar for expressing your thoughts and feelings. Learn how to use it in this article!

Intermediate

What Is the Subjunctive in French?

Conditions for the subjunctive mood, how to form the subjunctive, the four french subjunctive forms, the bottom line.

The French subjunctive mood may seem complicated and intimidating to learn, but you probably use it in English all the time without thinking about it. Statements like “if I were you…,” “it’s important that…,” and “I suggest…” are all the English subjunctive — they express opinions, desires, and other subjective statements.

However, the subjunctive is much more widely used in French, and there are some special conditions you need to meet before using it. Read on, and learn everything you need to know about using the subjunctive in French !

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The French subjunctive, or subjonctif French, is a special form of verb called a grammatical mood. As the name implies, it indicates subjectivity in the dependent clause of a sentence. That is, statements in the French subjunctive may not be factual — they are influenced by possibility, judgment, preference, emotion, and other personal triggers.

Learning to use the subjunctive in French is a crucial step towards being able to express your thoughts, opinions, desires, and feelings. You can also use it to discuss theoretical scenarios. With that all said, the highly versatile French subjunctive is actually even easier to learn than you think. Once you memorize a few phrases and how to conjugate the French verbs in this form, you’ll be ready to go!

Understanding when and how the subjunctive mood can be used will not only help you construct subjunctive phrases yourself — it will also help you learn to identify them when you read and listen to others.

Sentences With Two Subjects

One of the conditions for using the subjunctive in French is that the sentence must have two different subjects in the independent and dependent clause. The verb being acted by the second subject will use the subjunctive, unless it is an impersonal verb.

Nous voulons tu fasses tes devoirs.

We want you to do your homework.

Our two subjects in the sentence above are nous and elle. Since the verb être — to be — is being acted by the second subject, it is conjugated in the subjunctive form.

You can also tell that the subjunctive should be used here because of the sentence’s content. “You” doing your homework is not something that’s actually happening. Rather, it is something “we” want to happen. In other words, a subjective desire.

“Que” and Subjunctive Phrases

The other main condition for using the subjunctive is the conjunction que, meaning “that.” The subjunctive is always indicated with a phrase ending in this conjunction. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used phrases and verbs below. As you’ll notice, certain verbs used usually express some kind of emotion, opinion, or desire.

Il faut que tu

You have to

Il vaut mieux que

It is better that

Il est nécessaire que

It is necessary that

Il est regrettable que

It is regrettable that

Il est peu probable que

It is unlikely that

Il est essentiel que

It is essential that

Il est utile que

It is useful that

Il est étonnant que

It is astonishing that

Il est naturel que

It is natural that

Il est urgent que

It is urgent that

Il est normal que

It is normal that

Il est dommage que

It is shameful that

Il est temps que

It is time to

Notice how all of these phrases start with the pronoun il; this is a very common formulation to express one’s opinion or feeling. However, there are other phrase constructions you can use.

Recommander que

to recommend that

Être triste que

to be sad that

Avoir peur que

to fear that

Avoir honte que

to be ashamed that

Aimer mieux que

to like better than

to think that

Tenir à ce que

hold on to that

Être surpris que

to be surprised that

Regretter que

to regret that

À moins que

unless that

Negative phrases can be formed in the same way by using the common ne…pas phrase around the verb in the main clause.

Il n'est pas vrai que

It is not true that

Il n'est pas sûr que

It is not sure that

Il n'est pas clair que

It is not clear that

Il n'est pas évident que

It is not evident that

Je ne pense pas que

I don’t think that

There are dozens more common phrases that are used with the French subjunctive, but this list should give you some great ideas on how to express yourself! Now that you know how to set up the main clause, let’s talk about forming the subjunctive.

To form a subjunctive verb , simply take the present tense verb stem and add appropriate subjunctive endings.

Conjugating Regular French Verbs

For -er and -re verbs:

• (Il/Elle) -e
• (Nous) -ions
• (Vous) -iez
• (Ils/Elles) -ent

Notice how, except for the nous and vous forms, these endings are the same as those for the present tense.

For -ir verbs:

• (Tu) -isses
• (Il/Elle) -isse
• (Nous) -issions
• (Vous) -issiez
• (Ils/Elles) -issent

Conjugating Irregular Verbs

As you probably already know, French has many irregular verbs, and the subjunctive forms are no exception. However, once you start learning them, you will notice that most follow their own kind of patterns. Let’s go over some of the most common ones.

• Il/Elle aille
• Nous allions
• Vous alliez
• Ils/Elles aillent
• Il/Elle ait
• Ils/Elles aient
• Il/Elle soit
• Nous soyons
• Ils/Elles soient

to make, to do

• Il/Elle fasse
• Nous fassions
• Vous fassiez
• Ils/Elles fassent

to can, to be able to

• Il/Elle puisse
• Nous puissions
• Vous puissiez
• Ils/Elles puissent

What we’ve talked about mostly so far is the present subjunctive, which is the most commonly used, there are three other forms you should know: the imperfect subjunctive, the past subjunctive, and the pluperfect subjunctive.

Let’s dive in!

The Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive is a unique tense that is largely defunct except for literary and historical writing. Still, it is important to be familiar with its unique conjugations, so you can recognize it while reading.

Luckily, all verbs share the same conjugation. Keeping the verb stem, including the last vowel, the following subjunctive endings are added:

• (Il/Elle) -^t
• (Nous) -ssions
• (Vous) -ssiez
• (Ils/Elles) -ssent

The Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive has two different functions: to express how someone feels now about something that happened in the past, or to express how they felt in the past when something happened or didn’t happen.

Depending on which idea you want, the verb in your main clause will be in either the present or past tense. Then, it’s on to the subjunctive clause.

To construct the past subjunctive, two things need to happen.

First, an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) must be conjugated in the subjunctive mood. Second, the main verb of the dependent clause must be conjugated in the past participle.

Je suis heureux que tu sois venu à la fête.

I am happy that you came to the party.

The Pluperfect Subjunctive

The pluperfect subjunctive is another tense that is not used in modern French language but exists exclusively in literature and historical documents. All you need to form it is an auxiliary verb conjugated into the imperfect subjunctive combined with the past participle of the acting verb.

This tense is only used when the verb of the main clause is also in the past.

Je ne croyais pas qu'il fût revenu.

I didn't think he had come back.

While this mood may seem odd at first, knowing how to formulate the subjunctive in French is essential for expressing yourself in French — and, it’s easier than you think!

For more practice with the subjunctive mood and other fun French grammar things, why not head over to Langster ? With free stories, grammar explanations, and audio by native speakers, you’ll feel comfortable using the French subjunctive in no time!

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French Subjunctive Tense – Everything You Need To Know

The French subjunctive tense is used to express wishes, emotions and doubts. For example, je veux que tu fasses te devoirs (I want you to do your homework). Many students have a hard time with the subjunctive because its conjugations are different from normal verb endings and there are many rules for when to use it. This page takes about 10 minutes to read through. After, you’ll have a much stronger grasp of the subjunctive. Keep reading!

What is the French subjunctive mood?

The French subjunctive (le subjonctif) is a mood. It called a mood because it is used to express the subject’s attitudes, feelings and perceptions. The French language utilizes the subjunctive in order to stress a sentence’s subjectivity (personal perceptions). An example of the subjunctive is: Il faut que vous fassiez votre travail (You need to do your work).

Sentences including the subjunctive often include the word que (that). The French use the subjunctive to express the subject’s feelings regarding the other person.

More French subjunctive examples

In the example sentences below, the verb forms are different form the present tense (indicative). In addition, each sentence has two subjects separated by que (that).

• Je veux  que  tu  fasses  tes devoirs.  I want you to do your homework.
• Je suis heureux  que   tu  sois  ici.  I’m happy you’re here.
• Je doute  qu ’il vienne .  I doubt he’s coming.

French subjunctive conjugation tables

For most French verbs, the subjunctive is formed by removing the -ent from the third-person plural (ils/elles) form in the present tense and adding the following subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, ions, -iez  and  -ent.

The pronunciation of the subjunctive is mostly based on the the pronunciation of the present tense ils forms.

The following table shows how to form the subjunctive for regular -er, -ir and -re verbs .

The subjunctive conjugation of most irregular verbs is the same: Drop the -ent from the ils form in the present tense and add the subjunctive endings.

Dual-stem subjunctive conjugations

Some verbs has dual-stem subjunctive conjugations.

This means that the je, tu, il, elle and ils subjunctive forms are made from the present tense ils form and the nous and vous subjunctive from are made from the present tense nous form.

In the table below, note that the je, tu, il, elle and ils subjunctive forms of boire (to drink) are based of the present tense ils form boivent and the nous and vous subjunctive forms are based off of the present tense nous form (buvons) .

The subjunctive conjugations for the verbs aller (to go), avoir (to have), être (to be) and vouloir (to want) are irregular. They are not related to the present tense forms. In addition, they all have dual-stems.

The verbs faire (to make, do), savoir (to know) and pouvoir (to be able, can) are irregular in that the subjunctive forms are not related to the present tense. Unlike the table above, they have a single subjunctive stem.

French subjunctive examples and phrases

In this section we will look at some example sentences and phrases which require the usage of the subjunctive.

The subjunctive usage can be broken down into three categories: Wish, emotion and doubt.

1. Examples of wish

In the example sentences, below, the subject is expressing a feeling of wishing or wanting, or making a demand.

• Je veux que tu sois plus polis.  I want that you be more polite.
• J’exige que vous arriviez à l’heure.  I demand that you arrive on time.
• Elle souhaite que je fasse mes devoirs. She wants me to to do my homework.

The following verbs require the subjunctive and fall in this “wish” category:

• aimer meiux que  to prefer
• avoir besoin que  to need
• demander que  to request, ask for
• désirer que  to want, wish, desire
• exiger que  to demand
• ordonner que  to order
• préférer que  to prefer
• recommander que  to recommend
• souhaiter que  to wish
• suggérer que  to suggest
• vouloir que  to want

The following impersonal expressions (an expression that starts with il , meaning “it”) require the subjunctive.

• il faut que  it’s necessary that, you have/one has to
• il est necessaire que  it’s necessary that
• il est essentiel que  it’s essential that
• il est important que  it’s important that
• il est utile que  it’s useful that

Il faut que is very common. It translates to “It’s necessary that” or “You have to”. This lesson covers il faut in detail.

• Il faut que tu sois à l’heure. You have to be on time.
• Il faut que je fasse attention. I need to pay attention.

2. Examples of emotion

The second group of phrases which require the subjunctive fall into the category of emotion (happy, sad, fearful, etc.).

• Je suis content qu’elle vienne. I’m happy she’s coming.
• Je suis triste qu’il ne soit pas avec nous. I’m sad he’s not with us.
• Elle a peur qu’il ne fasse pas son travail. She’s afraid he’s no doing his work.

The following verbs require the usage of the subjunctive and fall into the emotion category:

• avoir peur que  to fear that
• craindre que  to fear that
• s’étonner que  to be surprised that
• être content, heureux que  to be happy that
• être triste que  to be sad that
• regretter que  to be sorry that
• se plaindre que  to complain that
• se fâcher que  to be angry that
• être faché, fureux que  to be angry that
• avoir honte que  to be ashamed that

The following impersonal expressions use the subjunctive and fall into the emotion category:

• il est étonnant que  it’s surprising that
• il est bizarre que  it’s strange that
• il est curieux que  it’s strange that
• il est ennuyeux que  it’s annoying that
• il est énervant que  it’s annoying that
• il est embêtant que  it’s annoying that
• Il est énervant qu’il fasse tant de bruit.  It’s annoying that he’s making so much noise.
• Il est curieux qu’elle n’aille pas en France.  It’s strange that she’s not going to France.
• Il est étonnant vous ne comprenniez pas.  It’s surprising that you don’t understand.

3. Examples of doubt

The following example sentences require the usage of the subjunctive and fall into the category of doubt.

• Je doute qu’elle vienne avant 18h00.  I doubt she’ll come before 6pm.
• Je ne pense pas qu’il comprenne ce qui se passe.  I don’t think he knows what’s happening.
• Je ne suis pas convaincu que tu aies raison.  I’m not convinced you’re right.

The following verbs are associated with doubt and require the subjunctive:

• nier que  to deny that
• douter que  to doubt that
• ne pas penser que  to not think that
• ne pas croire que  to not believe that
• ne pas être sûr(e)/certain(e) que  to not be sure that

The following impersonal expressions require the subjunctive and fall into the category of doubt.

• il n’est pas certain que  it’s not certain that
• il n’est pas sûr que  it’s not sure that
• il n’est pas évident que  it’s not obvious/evident that
• il n’est pas clair que  it’s not clear that
• il n’est pas exact que  it’s not accurate that
• il n’est pas vrai que  it’s not true that

Two subjects vs. one subject

The subjunctive requires two subjects on both sides of the word que . However, when there is only one subject an infinitive is used.

For example, you cannot say, Je veux que j’aille au magasin for “I want that I go to the store”. In this situation use the infinitive of the verb: Je veux aller au magasin (I want to go to the store).

Verbs which take the indicative

There are some verbs which take the indicative. This is because there is no element of subjectivity, meaning they are not based on subjective personal or individual perceptions.

In other words, the topic that’s being discussed is known to be a reality.

The verb penser (to think) can take both the subjunctive or the indicative.

• Je pense que Paul est en retard. I think Paul is late.
• Je ne pense pas que Paul soit en retard. I don’t think Paul is late.

The first sentence starting with Je pense que (I think that), the indicative because what’s being expressed is believed to be a reality. Paul is late.

In the second sentence starting with Je ne pense pas que (I don’t think that), the subjunctive is used because whether Paul is late or not is subjective, meaning the topic is open for discussion.

2. Espérer

The verb espérer (to hope) take the indicative. This verb is often followed by the futur simple .

• J’espère qu’elle viendra. I hope she’ll come.
• J’espère que tu comprendras. I hope you’ll understand.

Impersonal expressions which take the indicative

The following impersonal expressions take the indicative as they suggest no element of subjectivity.

• Il est certain que it is certain that
• Il est évident que it is obvous that
• Il est probable que it is probable that
• Il est sûr que it is sure that
• Il est vrai que it is true that
• Il me semble que It seems to me that

Here are some example sentences.

• Il est certain que le subjonctif est très utile. It’s certain that the subjunctive is very useful.
• Il me semble que vous comprenez la leçon. It seems to me that you understand the lesson.

Past subjunctive

To form the past subjunctive, combine the auxiliary verb ( avoir or être ) in the present subjunctive with the verb’s past participle.

The French use the past subjunctive to create anteriority. The dependent clause (what comes after the  que ) occurs before the action of the main clause. 

Past subjunctive conjugation and examples

For the past subjunctive, the auxiliary verb is expressed in the present subjunctive.

Here are some example sentences using the past subjunctive.

• Je suis triste que tu sois tombé malade.  I’m sorry you fell ill.
• Je suis ravi que vous soyez venus.  I’m delighted you came.
• J’ai peur que tu aies manqué la réunion.  I’m afraid you missed the meeting.
• Je suis content que tu sois revenu.  I’m happy you came back. 

More lessons:

• Imparfait: Guide for Beginners
• Master The Passé Composé
• Guide to the Future Tense
• Reflexive Verb Guide

More resrouces:

• French Subjunctive (FrenchToday.com)
• French Subjunctive (Collins.com)

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Verbs and phrases that take the subjunctive in French

The following list presents an overview of the most common verbs and phrases that are followed by the subjunctive in French.

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The Subjunctive

Every year, the subjunctive instils fear into the hearts and minds of Leaving cert students up and down the country. It shouldn’t! It is only another form of expression. There are a few rules to respect, and the subjunctive is well within the grasp of any student. The key word to look for is the word QUE. If you have certain expressions which take que, then the verb will be in its subjunctive form. Students and teachers have asked me to give a quick synopsis of how and when to use the subjunctive, so here it is:[The subjunctive is not a tense but a mood! It is used to show that an action is viewed with some emotion:

One wants it to happen One fears it may have happened One is glad that it has happened One is not sure or doubtful whether it has happened.

Compare the following:

Je sais qu’elle est malade – I know that she is sick (fact takes indicative mood) Je regrette qu’elle soit malade – I am sorry that she is sick (emotion takes subjunctive)[/vc_message][vc_column_text]

Full version of Subjunctive available on our Leaving Cert or Teacher plans

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To view our sample Leaving & Junior Cert revision notes, please click on the following links 

https://www.frenchnotes.ie/free-junior-cert/

https://www.frenchnotes.ie/free-leaving-cert/

Remember…

• The subjunctive is always used after set phrases and conjunctions
• It is generally found in subordinate clauses
• It is generally NOT used if the subject of the main clause is the same as the subject of the subordinate clause (you usually use the infinitive construction in this case : je souhaite pouvoir regarder la télévision cet après-midi.)

How Do I Form The Subjunctive?

To form the subjunctive of a regular verb, take the stem of either the “nous” or the 3rd person plural in the present tense. Drop the –ons or the –ent and add the following endings:

Je > e Tu > es Il/elle/on > e Nous > ions Vous > iez Ils/elles > ent

THERE ARE OF COURSE IRREGULAR VERBS! Here are a few, but there are more!

• ALLER – TO GO : aille, es, e,, allions, alliez, aillent
• AVOIR : – TO HAVE aie, aies, ait, ayons, ayez, aient
• ETRE : TO BE sois, sois, soit, soyons, soyez, soient
• FAIRE : TO DO/MAKE fasse, es, e, fassions, fassiez, fassent

When Do I Use The Subjunctive?

On the grammar section of our website, we have a comprehensive list of every verb and conjunction that takes the subjunctive. Here is the section of important impersonal verbs which take the subjunctive :

• C’est dommage que – It is a pity that
• Il est douteux que – It is doubtful that
• Il est nécessaire que – It is necessary that
• Il est possible que – It is possible that

Finally, here are a few sample subjunctive sentences for you to use as you wish. Remember that in the Leaving cert, marks are awarded for both language and communication, so it would be ill-advised to use a sentence that doesn’t make sense in the context of your particular writing piece.

Il faut que je réfléchisse aux coûts environnementaux I need to think about the environmental costs

Il faut que nous puissions dire que certaines choses ne peuvent pas être acceptées dans notre société We need to be able to say that some things cannot be accepted in our society

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How to form the French subjunctive? (+Examples)

Understanding the french subjunctive (for beginners).

The French subjunctive is a grammatical mood used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and other non-real actions or states.

It is used in dependent clauses that follow certain verbs, conjunctions, or expressions of doubt or emotion.

1. Formation:

To form the French subjunctive, use the present tense of the third person plural form of the verb and then drop the -nt. For example:

• Parler (to speak) becomes qu’ils parlent (that they speak)
• Finir (to finish) becomes qu’ils finissent (that they finish)
• Être (to be) becomes qu’ils soient (that they be)

The French subjunctive is used in several different situations, including:

• Expressing doubt or uncertainty : Il est possible qu’ils viennent. (It is possible that they come.)
• Expressing wishes, hopes, or desires : Je souhaite qu’ils réussissent. (I hope that they succeed.)
• Expressing emotions : Il est important que tu sois heureux. (It is important that you are happy.)
• Expressing non-real actions or states : Si j’étais riche, je voyagerais beaucoup. (If I were rich, I would travel a lot.)

3. Triggers:

There are certain verbs, conjunctions, and expressions that trigger the use of the French subjunctive. Some of the most common include:

• Il faut que (it is necessary that)
• Il est bon que (it is good that)
• Il est important que (it is important that)
• Il est douteux que (it is doubtful that)

4. Practice:

Practice using the French subjunctive in context. Look for opportunities to use it in conversation and writing, and pay attention to the verbs, conjunctions, and expressions that trigger its use.

Conclusion:

The French subjunctive is a valuable tool for expressing doubt, uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and non-real actions or states.

By understanding how to form and use the subjunctive, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively in the French language and express yourself with greater nuance and precision.

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Leaving cert french subjunctive phrases.

The subjunctive is a very difficult tense to grasp for students. In our grammar notes, we go through the subjunctive in detail, but often students avoid using it as they are afraid go grammatically incorrect in their usage. We strongly advise you to get to grips with the Leaving Cert French Subjunctive tense.

If you include a few subjunctive phrases in each question you answer in the written production or the oral, the examiner will be very impressed. In our grammar section we have notes on the subjunctive tense but these set phrases are so useful as you know for sure that the grammar is correct.

The use of the Subjunctive can be what separates the H1 students from H2/H3 students.

General Leaving Cert French Subjunctive Phrases

– Il faut qu’on fasse quelque chose pour résoudre à ce problème. = It is necessary that one does something to solve this problem.

– Bien que la vie soit agréable (ici en Irlande), il y a des problèmes… = Although life is nice (here in Ireland), there are problems…

– Il faut que nous puissions dire que certaines choses ne peuvent pas être acceptées dans notre société. = It is necessary that we can say that certain things cannot be accepted in our society.

– Il faut que nous attaquions ensemble à ce problème. = It is necessary that we tackle this problem together.

– Je suis ravi que nous ayons réussi à trouver une solution. = I am delighted that we have succeeded in finding a solution.

– Il faut que nous fassions avancer ce projet avec énergie. = It is necessary that we move this project forward with energy.

– Il faut que le gouvernement prenne ses responsabilités pour qu’on puisse lutter contre …. = It is necessary that the government take their responsibility so that we can fight against … (insert issue).

– Il semble que ce problème soit grave. = It seems that this problem is serious.

– Je doute que ce soit vrai. = I doubt that this is true.

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