Éviter le subjonctif
Between the conjugations and especially knowing when to use it, the subjunctive is very difficult verb mood for many French learners. Although the subjunctive is commonly used in French, there are numerous ways to avoid it,* with varying meaning changes.
Replace que with a preposition
Impersonal expressions
Replace the subordinating conjunction que with the preposition de and change the conjugated verb to an infinitive.
Par exemple…
Il est important que tu sois à l’heure.![]() |
It’s important that you be on time.![]() |
|
C’est utile que Manon connaisse trois langues.![]() |
It’s useful that Manon knows three languages.![]() |
|
Il n’est pas bon que tu aies faim.![]() |
It’s not good that you’re hungry.![]() |
|
C’est honteux qu’il mente.![]() |
It’s shameful that he lies.![]() |
Note that this substitution slightly changes the meaning of the sentence. When using the subjunctive, you are making an observation or giving advice to/about a specific person. By avoiding the subjunctive, you are changing it to a general observation or piece of advice.
Impersonal verbs
Instead of que + subjunctive, drop que and use the infinitive.
Par exemple…
Il faut que tu sois là .![]() |
It’s necessary for you to be there.![]() |
|
Il importe qu’elle le fasse.![]() |
It’s important that she do it.![]() |
Conjunctions
Likewise, for many conjunctions that end in que and require the subjunctive, you can change que to de and use the infinitive instead – but only if the subject of the main and dependent clauses are the same, or if you are speaking in general.
Par exemple…
Il m’aide à condition qu’il soit payé.![]() |
He’s helping me on the condition that he is paid.![]() |
|
On doit travailler avant que l’on ne puisse prendre sa retraite.![]() |
You need to work before you can retire.![]() |
Some sentences with conjunctions that require the subjunctive can be reworded: change the conjunction into a preposition and replace the subjunctive with a noun.
Par exemple…
Il est toujours gentil jusqu’Ã ce que tu arrives.![]() |
He’s always nice until you arrive.![]() |
|
Nous pouvons le faire sans que tu paies.![]() |
We can do it without you paying.![]() |
Replace que with si
When the subjunctive is expressing doubt, you can replace que with si.
Par exemple…
Je ne suis pas sûr qu’il soit là .![]() |
I’m not sure he’s there. | |
Elle doute que nous ayons assez de temps.![]() |
She doubts that we have enough time. |
Eliminate a subject
When a sentence has two subjects, you might be able to get rid of one of them and use an infinitive to avoid the subjunctive:
Par exemple…
Il aide pour que tu sois content.![]() |
He’s helping so that you will be happy.![]() |
|
Maryse lit à haute voix afin que le bébé s’endorme.![]() |
Maryse is reading out loud so that the baby falls asleep.![]() |
Use an adverb
Sometimes you can just take out the entire subjunctive structure and use an adverb instead.
Par exemple…
Il est possible que je vienne.![]() |
It’s possible that I’ll come.![]() |
|
Il est heureux qu’elle soit travailleuse.![]() |
It is fortunate that she is hard-working.![]() |
Change negative to affirmative
For structures that require the subjunctive only when used negatively, you can avoid the subjunctive by inverting the negative and affirmative.
Par exemple…
Je ne crois pas qu’il soit là .![]() |
I don’t think he’s there.![]() |
|
Il n’est pas évident qu’il ait de l’argent.![]() |
It’s not obvious that he has money.![]() |
Note that this changes the meaning to a certain extent by removing the doubt.
En résumé
As you can see, there is usually at least one way to avoid the French subjunctive in any given sentence, but there is often some change in meaning that you need to be aware of.
* These techniques are not meant to make you believe that you don’t need to know how to use the subjunctive, because you certainly do.
But for those times when an alternative is available and the meaning change is acceptable, feel free to go ahead and avoid the subjunctive.
More French subjunctive
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