French Subjunctive: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Still in the dark about the French subjunctive? Learn all about the subjunctive and how to use it in this short but concise guide.

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1. What exactly is the French subjunctive?2. The French Subjunctive’s English Counterpart3. When to use the French subjunctive4. How to form the French subjunctive5. The IrregularsQuick RecapHere are some FAQs about the French Subjunctive

French subjunctive? What is it?? I can almost see the question marks hovering around your head right now. But no worries, this article will strive to replace those question marks with a huge light bulb that will make you go…

To make things  a lot easier for you, I have listed down five things that you need to know about the French subjunctive.

So here are the 5 must-know things about the subjunctive in French.

1. What exactly is the French subjunctive?

The subjunctive is a grammatical mood which is found in different languages including English and French. When it comes to frequency of usage, however, it is so much more widely used in French than in English.

The subjunctive is used after expressions of wishes, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment, or emotion. It can also refer to a known fact: Je suis content que tu sois ici means “I am glad you are here.”

The image below is a useful reminder of common subjunctive meanings. It is a memory aid, rather than a rule that every opinion or unreal situation requires the subjunctive.

The expression introducing the clause matters. For example, Je pense qu’il vient (“I think he is coming”) normally uses the indicative, while Il est important qu’il vienne (“It is important that he come”) uses the subjunctive.

There is no separate future tense in the subjunctive. The present subjunctive can refer to a future event.

2. The French Subjunctive’s English Counterpart

I have mentioned that the English subjunctive is not used as often as in French, but we use it in everyday modern English. This happens when we say “If I were you”, “It is important that you stop to read the signs”, and similar subjunctive statements.

The subjunctive often appears in subordinate clauses especially that-clauses.

More examples:

“Is it really necessary that we stop to read each and every sign?”

He suggested that you continue with your noble path.

3. When to use the French subjunctive

In French, the subjunctive often appears in a subordinate clause introduced by certain verbs, expressions, or conjunctions. With wishes about someone else, the two clauses have different subjects; with the same subject, an infinitive is normally used: Je veux partir (“I want to leave”).

Example: Nous voulons qu’elle soit heureuse. (We want her to be happy).

The first part uses nous as the subject, while the second uses elle. Vouloir que expresses a wish, so soit is in the subjunctive. Having two different subjects alone does not require this mood.

The subjunctives usually appear after the following verbs:

• wishing something: vouloir que and désirer que (which means to wish that or to want) aimer que (meaning to like that), aimer mieux que and préférer que (which means to prefer that)
• fearing something: avoir peur que (which means to be afraid that)
• giving your opinion: valoir mieux que (which means would be better)
  
• Saying how you feel:

regretter que (meaning to be sorry that)

être content que (meaning to be pleased that)

être surpris que (meaning to be surprised that)

…and more.

For more details about this particular topic, proceed to this link  for the compiled list of verbs and expressions that need to be followed with a subjunctive. You can also read this article about the subjunctive (subjonctif) in French.

The subjunctive may also appear in some expressions that begin with il.

Some examples:

il faut que (it is necessary that)

il vaut mieux que (it is better that)

4. How to form the French subjunctive

For regular -er verbs such as donner, here is how you form the subjunctive:

These are the endings to be added, depending on which pronoun it is being used with.

• For je (j’),  add the ending -e (example: je donne)
• For tu, add the ending -es (example: tu donnes)
• For il, elle, or on, add the ending  -e (examples: il donne, elle donne, on donne)
  
• For nous, add the ending -ions (example: nous donnions)
  
• For vous, add the ending -iez (example: vous donniez)
  
• For ils or elles, add the ending -ent (examples: ils donnent, elles donnent)

Take note that the endings are basically the same as the present tense endings, except for nous and vous, which are the same as the imperfect tense endings.

For regular -ir verbs of the finir type, use this simple formula:

• For je (j’),  add the ending -isse (example: je finisse)
• For tu, add the ending -isses (example: tu finisses)
• For il, elle, or on, add the ending  -isse (examples: il finisse, elle finisse, on finisse)
  
• For nous, add the ending -issions (example: nous finissions)
  
• For vous, add the ending -issiez (example: vous finissiez)
  
• For ils or elles, add the ending -issent (examples: ils finissent, elles finissent)

For regular -re verbs of the attendre type, follow this guide:

Please note that the endings are the same as the endings for the -er verbs:

• For je (j’),  add the ending -e (example: j’attende)
• For tu, add the ending -es (example: tu attendes)
• For il, elle, or on, add the ending  -e (examples: il attende, elle attende, on attende)
  
• For nous, add the ending -ions (example: nous attendions)
  
• For vous, add the ending -iez (example: vous attendiez)
  
• For ils or elles, add the ending -ent (examples: ils attendent, elles attendent)

5. The Irregulars

Unfortunately, in grammar just as in life, there is no way to avoid the irregular, rule-breaking few. And there’s nothing else we could do about these but to tolerate them while being wary of them at the same time.

Here are the irregular verbs in the subjunctive.

So with that, we end our lesson in the French subjunctive.

But wait!!!

Before you go, here are a few key points to wrap up our lesson.

Quick Recap

1. The subjunctive is used after expressions of wishes, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment, or emotion. It can also refer to a known fact: Je suis content que tu sois ici means “I am glad you are here.”
2. The subjunctive appears after certain verbs, expressions, and conjunctions, including il faut que. Two different subjects alone do not determine the mood.
3. For many verbs, the present subjunctive stem comes from present-tense ils/elles. Some use the nous stem for nous/vous: ils viennent → que je vienne, but nous venons → que nous venions.
4. Regular -er verbs and -re verbs of the attendre type take -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. Irregular stems and spelling changes still apply.
5. Regular -ir verbs of the finir type take -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent. Other -ir verbs can follow different patterns.

Here are some FAQs about the French Subjunctive

When do you use the subjunctive in French?

In French, certain expressions of wishes, fear, emotion, doubt, necessity, or evaluation take the subjunctive. Giving an opinion does not always require it: Je pense qu’il vient normally takes the indicative.

What is the subjunctive in French?

The subjunctive is a grammatical mood used after certain expressions of wishes, doubt, necessity, judgment, or emotion. It can refer to a real event as well as an uncertain one.

How do you form the subjunctive in French?

For many verbs, take present-tense ils/elles, remove -ent, and add the subjunctive endings. Some use the present-tense nous stem for nous/vous, and irregular verbs have their own forms; see the tables above.

How do you use the subjunctive in French?

Use the subjunctive after expressions that require it. With a wish about another person, use a que clause: Je veux qu’elle parte. With the same subject, normally use an infinitive: Je veux partir.