What is le subjonctif?

Le subjonctif (the subjunctive) is a grammatical mood similar to the indicative, the

passive, the conditional or the imperative. The subjunctive emphasises the
subjectivity of a sentence, and it is mostly used in dependent clauses that start with
que. The subjunctive expresses possibilities, hypotheses, feelings, thoughts, wishes,
doubts, uncertainty, or advice.

The French subjunctive

Like we said, the French subjunctive is one of the special verb forms, called moods,
that is used to express or indicate some subjectivity, uncertainty, or unreality in the
speaker’s mind. The French language requires us to use the subjunctive to speak
about feelings like doubt or desire, or to talk about necessity, possibility, and
judgment.

There are three themed groups that can make it easier to consider when trying to
decide if you need the subjunctive in French:
Learning Group 1: PANDO

Preferences, Advice, Needs, Desires, PANDO in English

Orders (PANDO)

Commander que To order that

Demander que To ask (someone or something)

Désirer que To desire that

Empêcher que To prevent (someone from doing

something)

Il faut que It is necessary that

Il est nécessaire que It is necessary that

Préférer que To prefer that

Vouloir que To want that

Souhaiter que To wish that

Learning Group 2: JEF

Judgments, Emotions, Feelings (JEF) JEF in English

Adorer que To love that

Aimer que To like that

Avoir peur que To be afraid that

Être content que To be happy that

Être désolé que To be sorry that

II est bon que It’s good that

Être heureux que To be happy that

Il est dommage que It’s a shame that

Il vaut mieux que It is better that

Learning Group 3: PODS

Possibilities, Opinions, Doubts, PODS in English

Suppositions (PODS)

Douter que To doubt that

S’attendre à ce que To expect

Il est possible que It is possible that

Il se peut que It may be that

Il n’est pas clair que It’s not clear that

Le fait que The fact that

 Refuser que To refuse

Il est impossible que It’s impossible that

Il n’est pas certain que It’s not certain that

Que and subjunctive variables

As you’ve probably noticed, all of the above expressions end in que. That is a pretty
good indicator that the phrase requires the subjunctive conjugation.

If a phrase ends with the preposition de, then you would need to use the infinitive.

Subjunctive or Infinitive

Subjunctive or Infinitive English

Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs. I want you to do your homework.

(subjunctive)

Il est important de faire tes devoirs. It’s important to do your homework.

(infinitive)

There are a few subjunctive variables. Meaning that some verbs that typically don’t
require the subjunctive, like croire, do in fact require subjunctive conjugation in the
negative.

For example:

● Je crois qu’il est sympa. (I think he’s nice.)

This sentence doesn’t require the subjunctive. But if there’s doubt, as in, je ne crois
pas qu’il soit sympa (I don’t think he’s nice), you need to use the subjunctive
conjugation.
Subjunctive French conjugation
Speaking of conjugation, it’s time for us to look at how to conjugate the subjunctive
mood in French. The French subjunctive can be used in four different verb tenses
(présent, passé composé, imparfait, and plus-que-parfait), but it most commonly
used in the présent and passé composé.

Just like with other verb tenses, there are regular and irregular verbs. We’ll be
looking at a few of each.

Regular subjunctive conjugation

Conjugating verbs ending in -er in the present tense of the subjunctive is easy. The
conjugation for je/j’, tu, il/elle/on, and ils/elles is the same as the present tense of the
indicative (indicatif).

For nous and vous, you have to use the imparfait forms. See below for the verb
parler (to talk):

Regular subjunctive conjugation

Subject Root Ending

je parl e

tu parl es

ils/elles/on parl e

nous parl ions

vous parl iez

ils/elles parl ent

Like all verb tenses, there are irregular verbs. Some of the more common ones are
faire, aller, avoir, and être. Like other irregular verbs, there are some identifiable
patterns, but mostly you just have to memorize them.

Exercise

Complete the gaps with the subjonctif form of the verbs in brackets.

1. Pourvu que nous n’(arriver) ______ pas trop tard!

2. Tu feras des exercices jusqu’à ce que tu (comprendre) _____ ta leçon.

3. J’ai acheté de la farine pour que vous (pouvoir) _______ faire un gâteau.

4. Sophie est allée à la fête bien que ses parents le lui (interdire)_____ .

5. Jean viendra à condition qu’il (finir) ______ son travail.

Complete the gaps with the subjonctif présent of the verbs in brackets.

1. Il est possible que le rendez-vous (être) _______ annulé.

2. J’ai peur que vous ne (faire)_______ des bêtises si la baby-sitter ne vient

pas ce soir.

3. Nous aimerions que les jumeaux (avoir) _________le même cadeau pour
leur anniversaire.

4. Tu avais si faim! Je suis surprise que tu ne (manger) ________pas tout.

5. Nous nous levons si tard le matin qu’il arrive que nous (manquer) _______ le
petit-déjeuner.

Decide if you need to use the indicatif or the subjonctif in the sentences.
1. Je ne pense pas que nous (aller) ______ au cinéma ce soir.

2. David espère qu’il (pouvoir) _______ aller à la fête chez son ami.

3. Il semble que les distributeurs de monnaie (être) _____ en panne.

4. Je préfère que tu (venir) ______ déjà à 8 heures.

5. Vous avez décidé que vous (partir)______ en vacances en France.