Subjunctive

French subjunctive
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Subjonctif

The French subjunctive is a special verb form, called a mood, that is used in dependent clauses to indicate some sort of subjectivity, uncertainty, or unreality in the mind of the speaker. In French, feelings like doubt and desire require the subjunctive, as do expressions of necessity, possibility, and judgment. It can be helpful to consider them in themed groups:

  1. Preferences, Advice, Needs, Desires, Orders
  2. Judgments, Emotions, Feelings
  3. Possibilities, Opinions, Doubts, Suppositions
  4. Additional Subjunctive Triggers

 Note that there are two additional conditions to meet before using the French subjunctive:

1) Que or qui

The expression in the main clause must end with the relative pronoun que or qui. If it ends with the preposition de, you need to use the infinitive.

Par exemple…

Il est important que tu fasses tes devoirs.   It’s important for you to do your homework.
Il est important de faire tes devoirs.   It’s important to do your homework.
Il est important de fasses tes devoirs.    

2) Two subjects

The subject of the main clause and that of the dependent clause must be different. If they’re the same, just use the infinitive.

Par exemple…

Je veux que tu ailles Ă  la banque.   I want you to go to the bank.
Je veux aller Ă  la banque.   I want to go to the bank.
Je veux que j’aille Ă  la banque.    

 À noter : There is no future subjunctive in French. Even for subjective situations that are clearly set in the future, the present subjunctive is used.

Il faut que tu prennes le bus demain. You’ll have to take the bus tomorrow.

Subjunctive Triggers

There are hundreds of verbs, expressions, and conjunctions that call for the subjunctive, so it’s helpful to divide them into themes.

French subjunctive

Preferences, Advice, Needs, Desires, Orders (PANDO)

aimer mieux que   to like better / to prefer that
commander que   to order that
dĂ©fendre que   to forbid
demander que   to ask (someone to do something)
dĂ©sirer que   to desire that
donner l’ordre que   to order that
empĂȘcher que*   to prevent (someone from doing something)
Ă©viter que*   to avoid
exiger que   to demand that
il est Ă  souhaiter que   it is to be hoped that
il est capital que   it is crucial that
il est essentiel que   it is essential that
il est impĂ©ratif que   it is imperative that
il est nĂ©cessaire que   it is necessary that
il est temps que   it is time that
il est urgent que   it is urgent that
il faut que   it is necessary that
interdire que   to forbid that
s’opposer que   to oppose that
ordonner que   to order that
permettre que   to permit that
prĂ©fĂ©rer que   to prefer that
proposer que   to propose that
recommander que   to recommend
souhaiter que   to wish that
suggĂ©rer que   to suggest that
tenir Ă  ce que   to insist that
vouloir que   to want that

* These verbs call for the ne explétif.


French subjunctive

Judgments, Emotions, Feelings (JEF)

accepter que   to accept
adorer que   to love that
aimer que   to like that
apprĂ©cier que   to appreciate that
avoir honte que   to be ashamed that
avoir peur que*   to be afraid that
craindre que*   to fear that
dĂ©plorer que   to deplore that
dĂ©tester que   to hate that
ĂȘtre content que   to be happy that
ĂȘtre dĂ©solĂ© que   to be sorry that
ĂȘtre Ă©tonnĂ© que   to be amazed that
ĂȘtre heureux que   to be happy that
ĂȘtre surpris que   to be surprised that
ĂȘtre triste que   to be sad that
il est bizarre que   it is odd that
il est bon que   it is good that
il est convenable que   it is proper/fitting that
il est dommage que   it is too bad that
il est Ă©tonnant que   it is amazing that
il est Ă©trange que   it is strange that
il est faux que   it is false that
il est heureux que   it is fortunate that
il est honteux que   it is shameful that
il est important que   it is important that
il est inutile que   it is useless that
il est juste que   it is right/fair that
il est naturel que   it is natural that
il est normal que   it is normal 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
il n’est pas exact que   it is not correct that
il n’est pas vrai que   it is not true that
il vaut mieux que   it is better that
redouter que*   to dread that
regretter que   to regret that
se rĂ©jouir que   to be delighted that

* These verbs call for the ne explétif.


French subjunctive

Possibilities, Opinions, Doubts, Suppositions (PODS)

s’attendre Ă  ce que   to expect
chercher … qui*   to look for
douter que**   to doubt that
il est douteux que**   it is doubtful that
il est impossible que   it is impossible that
il est improbable que   it is improbable 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 Ă©vident que   it is not obvious that
il n’est pas probable que   it is improbable that
il n’est pas sĂ»r que   it is not certain 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

* Whether to use the subjunctive chercher depends on whether you know the person or thing exists – learn more.

** These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively.

*** When nier is in the negative or interrogative, it calls for the ne explétif.

 Subjunctive Quizzes

Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on the French subjunctive with these fill-in-the-blanks exercises.

Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless French account to take these tests. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!

Additional French Subjunctive Triggers

 More French Subjunctive

Conjugations

Usage

French Subjunctive Tenses

French lesson plans French Lesson Plans

Learn Spanish En español

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French subjunctive

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2 Responses

  1. Neta Labi 5 August 2018 / 0:55

    Hi Laura.
    I’m studying French again after a 42 year hiatus. (My daughter’s potential in-laws are French).
    I was really good at French back then, and have been frustrated in class at not being able to remember all I once knew.
    I LOVE this page – it’s giving me shortcuts to remembering words and structures I’d forgotten.
    I’m a former teacher of languages – and not easily impressed. I think your website is excellent!!! I’m so glad I discovered it.

    • lkl 6 August 2018 / 10:02

      Bonjour Neta,

      Merci bien et bonne continuation ! 🙂

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