French Subjunctive Phrases: List of Words and Expressions

By Frederic Bibard Published: April 29, 2019

6 min read

Looking for a list of French subjunctive phrases? Check out this article for subjunctive phrases in French and their English translation.

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1. French subjunctive phrases related to expressions of feelings or emotions 2. French subjunctive phrases related to expressions of will such as orders, advice or desires 3. French subjunctive phrases related to expressions of opinion, possibility or doubt 4. Expressions that can take the subjunctive in negative statements or questions 5. Conjunctions used with the subjunctive Pin this!

Looking to make some phrases using the French subjunctive and subjunctive sentence examples? The list below might be useful for you.

In a previous article, we talked at length about the French subjunctive. If you want to check that out, go here. The list in this article will serve as an additional resource to help you understand the topic better.

You’ll find that the list below is sorted according to their meaning or use.

adorer queto love that
aimer queto like that
apprécier queto appreciate that
avoir honte queto be ashamed that
avoir peur queto be afraid that
craindre queto fear that
déplorer queto deplore that
détester queto hate that
être content queto be happy that
être désolé queto be sorry that
être étonné queto be amazed that
être heureux queto be happy that
être surpris queto be surprised that
être triste queto be sad that
il est bizarre queit is odd that
il est bon queit is good that
il est dommage queit is too bad that
il est étonnant queit is amazing that
il est étrange queit is strange that
il est heureux queit is fortunate that
il est honteux queit is shameful that
il est inutile queit is useless that
il est rare queit is rare that
il est regrettable queit is regrettable that
il est surprenant queit is surprising that
il est utile queit is useful that
redouter queto dread that
regretter queto regret that
se réjouir queto be delighted that

aimer mieux queto like better / to prefer that
commander queto order that
demander queto ask (someone to do something)
désirer queto desire that
donner l’ordre queto order that
empêcher queto prevent (someone from doing something)
éviter queto avoid that
exiger queto demand that
il est à souhaiter queit is to be hoped that
il est essentiel queit is essential that
il est important queit is important that
il est naturel queit is natural that
il est nécessaire queit is necessary that
il est normal queit is normal that
il est temps queit is time that
il est urgent queit is urgent that
il faut queit is necessary that
il vaut mieux queit is better that
interdire queto forbid that
s’opposer à ce queto oppose (the fact) that
ordonner queto order that
permettre queto permit that
préférer queto prefer that
proposer queto propose that
recommander queto recommend that
souhaiter queto wish that
suggérer queto suggest that
tenir à ce queto insist that
vouloir queto want that

Some expressions here depend on context. Supposons qu’il soit là introduces a hypothesis, while Je suppose qu’il est là presents an assumption as likely. Le fait que can take the indicative or subjunctive. After chercher… qui, the subjunctive describes a person or thing being sought whose existence is uncertain; an identified person normally takes the indicative.

accepter queto accept that
s’attendre à ce queto expect
chercher … quito look for
douter queto doubt that
il est convenable queit is proper/fitting that
il est douteux queit is doubtful that
il est faux queit is false that
il est impossible queit is impossible that
il est improbable queit is improbable that
il est juste queit is right/fair that
il est possible queit is possible that
il est peu probable queit is unlikely that
il n’est pas certain queit is not certain that
il n’est pas clair queit is not clear that
il n’est pas évident queit is not obvious that
il n’est pas exact queit is not correct that
il n’est pas probable queit is not likely that
il n’est pas sûr queit is not certain that
il n’est pas vrai queit is not true that
il semble queit seems that
il se peut queit may be that
le fait quethe fact that
nier queto deny that
refuser queto refuse to accept that
supposer queto suppose, hypothesize

4. Expressions that can take the subjunctive in negative statements or questions

Negation or a question does not automatically require the subjunctive. Many expressions below take it when doubt is expressed, but the indicative is possible when a fact is accepted. For example, Je ne savais pas qu’il était là (“I did not know he was there”) uses the indicative.

ce n’est pas queit’s not that
connaître (quelqu’un) quito know (someone) who
croire queto believe that
dire queto say that
espérer queto hope that
être certain queto be certain that
être sûr queto be sure that
il est certain queit is certain that
il est clair queit is clear/obvious that
il est évident queit is obvious that
il est probable queit is probable that
il est exact queit is correct/true that
il est sûr queit is certain that
il est vrai queit is true that
il me (te, lui…) semble queit seems to me (you, him…) that
il paraît queit appears that
penser queto think that
savoir queto know that
trouver queto find/think that
vouloir dire queto mean that

5. Conjunctions used with the subjunctive

De façon que, de manière que, and de sorte que take the subjunctive when they express an intended result or purpose. They take the indicative when they state a result that actually happens.

For more linking words to use in a written argument, see these 61 French essay phrases and connectors, with examples.

à condition queprovided that
à moins queunless
à supposer queassuming that
afin queso that
avant quebefore
bien quealthough
de crainte quefor fear that
de façon queso that, in order that, in such a way that
de manière queso that
de peur quefor fear that
de sorte queso that
en admettant queassuming that
en attendant queuntil, while
encore queeven though
jusqu’à ce queuntil
pour queso that
pourvu queprovided that
quoiqueeven though
quoi quewhatever, no matter what
sans quewithout

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