subjunctive essay phrases french

Verbs and phrases that take the subjunctive in French

The following list presents an overview of the most common verbs and phrases that are followed by the subjunctive in French.

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French Subjunctive - Le Subjonctif - Rules And Examples

• Pronunciation & Conversation
• Resources For Teachers

The subjunctive  mood  is used to express actions or ideas which are subjective or otherwise uncertain: will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment...

It is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by  que  or  qui , and the subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different.

• Je veux que tu le fasses. I want you to do it.
• Il faut que nous partions. it is necessary that we leave.

The following pages of this lesson include lists of verbs, expressions, and conjunctions which require the subjunctive in French. They are divided into categories to help you remember them.

The subjunctive can seem overwhelming, but the thing to remember is the subjunctive = subjectivity, unreality. That should help you figure it out at least 90% of the time.

On the last page of this article (page 8), you'll find many more links to subjunctive related articles on About.com, including verb conjugations in the subjunctive mood. NOTE: There is no future subjunctive. Even if the action is to happen in the future, the present subjunctive is used. However, there is a  past subjunctive .

French subjunctive: Expressions of will - orders, advice, desires

Verbs and expressions which express someone's will, an order , a need, a piece of advice, or a desire require the subjunctive.

aimer mieux que:    to like better / to prefer that

commander que:    to order that

demander que:    to ask (someone to do something

désirer que:    to desire that

donner l'ordre que:    to order that

empêcher que*:    to prevent (someone from doing something)

éviter que*:    to avoid

exiger que:    to demand that

il est à souhaiter que:    it is to be hoped that

il est essentiel que:    it is essential that

il est important que:    it is important that

il est naturel que:    it is natural that

il est nécessaire que:  it is necessary that

il est normal que:    it is normal that

il est temps que:    it is time that

il est urgent que:    it is urgent that

il faut que:    it is necessary that

il vaut mieux que:    it is better that

interdire que:    to forbid that

s'opposer que:    to oppose that

ordonner que:    to order that

permettre que:    to permit that

préférer que:    to prefer that

proposer que:    to propose that

recommander que:    to recommend

souhaiter que:    to wish that

suggérer que:    to suggest that

tenir à ce que:    to insist that

vouloir que:    to want that

*These verbs are followed by the ne explétif : Évitez qu'il ne parte. Prevent him from leaving.

French subjunctive: Emotions and feelings

Verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling - fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or any other sentiments - require the subjunctive. adorer que:    to love that aimer que:    to like that apprécier que:    to appreciate that avoir honte que:    to be ashamed that avoir peur que *:   to be afraid that craindre que *:   to fear that déplorer que:   to deplore that détester que:    to hate that être content que:    to be happy that être désolé que:    to be sorry that être étonné que:    to be amazed that être heureux que:    to be happy that être surpris que:    to be surprised that être triste que:    to be sad that il est bizarre que:    it is odd that il est bon que:    it is good that il est dommage que:    it is too bad that il est étonnant que:    it is amazing that il est étrange que:    it is strange that il est heureux que:    it is fortunate that il est honteux que:    it is shameful that il est inutile que:    it is useless 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 redouter que*:   to dread that regretter que:    to regret that se réjouir que:    to be delighted that *These verbs are followed by the ne explétif : Je crains qu'il ne parte. I'm afraid he'll leave.

French subjunctive: Opinion, possibility, doubt

Verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion accepter que:    to accept s'attendre à ce que:    to expect chercher ... qui *:   to look for détester que:    to hate douter que **:   to doubt that il est convenable que:    it is proper/fitting that il est douteux que **:   it is doubtful that il est faux que:    it is false that il est impossible que:    it is impossible that il est improbable que:    it is improbable that il est juste que:    it is right/fair 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 évident que:    it is not obvious that il n'est pas exact que:    it is not correct that il n'est pas probable que:    it is improbable that il n'est pas sûr que:    it is not certain that il n'est pas vrai que:    it is not true 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 *When you are looking for someone who may not exist, that indicates doubt and therefore requires the subjunctive: Je cherche un homme qui sache la vérité. I'm looking for a man who knows the truth. **These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively: Je doute qu'il vienne, Je ne doute pas qu'il vient. I doubt he's coming, I don't doubt he's coming. ***When nier is in the negative, it's followed by the ne explétif : Il n'a pas nié qu'elle ne soit partie. He didn't deny that she left.

French subjunctive: Affirmative vs negative statements

The following verbs and expressions do not take the subjunctive when they are used in the affirmative, because they express facts which are considered certain - at least in the speaker's mind.

When negative or interrogatory, they require the subjunctive: c'est que:    it's that/because connaître (quelqu'un) qui:    to know (someone) that croire que:    to believe that dire que:    to say that espérer que:    to hope that être certain que:    to be certain that être sûr que:    to be sure that il est certain que:    it is certain that il est clair que:    it is clear/obvious that il est évident que:    it is obvious that il est probable que:    it is probable that il est exact que:    it is correct/true that il est sûr que:    it is certain that il est vrai que:    it is true that il me (te, lui...) semble que:    it seems to me (you, him...) that il paraît que:    it appears that penser que:    to think that savoir que:    to know that trouver que:    to find/think that vouloir dire que:    to mean that Penses-tu qu'il soit sympa ? Oui, je pense qu'il est sympa, Non, je ne pense pas qu'il soit sympa . Do you think he's nice? Yes, I think he's nice. No, I don't think he's nice.

French subjunctive with conjunctions

A number of French conjunctive phrases require the subjunctive: à condition que:    provided that à moins que *:   unless à supposer que:    assuming that afin que:    so that avant que *:   before bien que:    although de crainte que *:   for fear that de façon que:    so that, in order that, in such a way that de manière que:    so that de peur que *:   for fear that de sorte que:    so that en admettant que:    assuming that en attendant que:    while, until encore que:    even though jusqu'à ce que:    until pour que:    so that pourvu que:    provided that quoique:    even though quoi que:    whatever, no matter what sans que *:   without *These conjunctions are followed by the ne explétif : Mangeons avant que nous ne partions. Let's eat before we leave. On the other hand, the following conjunctions do not take the subjunctive, because they express facts which are considered certain: ainsi que:    just as, so as alors que:    while, whereas après que **:   after, when aussitôt que **:   as soon as car    since, because en même temps que:    at the same time that depuis que:    since dès que **:   as soon as, immediately lorsque **: when parce que:    because pendant que:    while plutôt que:    instead of, rather than puisque:    since, as quand **: when tandis que:    while, whereas une fois que **:   once **These conjunctions are followed by the future tense in French, even though in English we use the present tense. Mangeons quand il arrivera. Let's eat when he arrives.

French Subjunctive with Superlatives

After main clauses which contain adjectives like principal , seul , unique , premier , dernier , or any superlative , the subjunctive is optional - it depends on how concrete the speaker feels about what is being said. Hélène est la seule personne qui puisse nous aider. Hélène is the only person who can help us. (Hélène may be the only person I think can help us, but there may be others.) Hélène est la seule personne que je vois. Hélène is the only person I see. (No subjunctive, because I know this for a fact - I only see Hélène.) C'est le meilleur livre que j'aie pu trouver. That's the best book I could find. (But it's not necessarily the best that exists.) C'est le meilleur livre que j'ai écrit. That's the best book I've written. (I wrote three, and I know for a fact that this is the best one.)

French subjunctive with negative and indefinite pronouns

In a subordinate clause with the negative pronouns ne ... personne or ne ... rien , or the indefinite pronouns quelqu'un or quelque chose . Je ne connais personne qui veuille m'aider. I don't know anyone who wants to help me. Il n'y a rien que nous puissions faire. There's nothing that we can do. Y a-t-il quelqu'un qui puisse m'aider ? Is there someone who can help me? J'aimerais inventer quelque chose qui fasse une différence. I'd like to invent something that will make a difference.

Voilà—there are a lot of rules about when to use the French Subjunctive!

Updated by  Camille Chevalier Karfis

• Are You Hypothesizing With 'Supposer'? Then Use the French Subjunctive
• Is 'le Fait Que' Fact or Fantasy? If It's the Latter, Use Subjunctive
• French Grammar Glossary: Future Subjunctive Is Present Subjunctive
• Does the French Expression 'Malgré Que' Take the Subjunctive?
• Does 'Sans Que' Introduce a Supposition?
• Does the French Verb 'Souhaiter' Need the Subjunctive?
• French Verb 'Vouloir Que' Wants the Emotional Subjunctive
• Introduction to French Conjunctions
• The French Phrase 'À Condition Que' Takes the Subjunctive
• French Subordinate Clause: French Grammar and Pronunciation Glossary
• Does The French Conjunction 'Tant Que' Need the Subjunctive?
• Conjugating Regular French Verbs in the Subjunctive
• Formal French Negation: Ne... point
• Does 'Il Est Important Que' Need the Subjunctive?
• All About Paraître
• All About Que

What is the French Subjunctive?

Students often ask what is the French subjunctive ? When to use the French subjunctive? I’ll provide clear explanations + lists of French subjunctive phrases & verbs + examples

In English, the subjunctive is very rare (I wish I were in Paris – like the girl in the picture!).

In French, it is quite common. However, if you are a beginner in French , I would not worry about the subjunctive right now but concentrate on the tenses of the indicative.

So, now, let me answer this question: “what is the French subjunctive?”

What is the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive is a mood: a grammatical term which describes the subject’s attitude.

In English, using the subjunctive is rare and formal. Nowadays, most people no longer use it.

The subjunctive in French is very common. It shows the subject’s mood (wish, hope, fear, uncertainty…) toward a fact or an idea – often involving another person.

The French subjunctive in a nutshell:

You will need to memorize by heart which expressions are followed by the subjunctive (versus the expressions followed by the indicative) – I will explain why certain French phrases use the French subjunctive , and why others use the indicative + provide lists of subjunctive French phrases.

This is a long lesson. I suggest you take your time to go through it, let the concepts sink in, and bookmark it for future reference. You won’t conquer Subjunctive in one reading!

How To Memorize the French Subjunctive?

In my opinion, to memorize your French irregular Subjunctive forms, drilling with audio is the only solution: you need to create reflexes, “hear” the form in your head.

Concentrate on the most common verbs : aller, être, avoir, prendre .

This is pure memorization, it has nothing to do with understanding, so I won’t talk about it here.

The French subjunctive uses and conjugations are explained in depth in my Advanced French audiobook learning method , and then illustrated by an ongoing novel recorded at several levels of enunciation (traditional French and modern spoken French).

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.

More Details & Audio Samples

Does Que = Subjunctive in French?

The conjunction that is followed by the subjunctive is mostly “que”.

Yet, a sentence with que doesn’t mean the verb is going to be in the subjunctive. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy! This is why you need to understand the conditions that need to exist to have a subjunctive in French.

French Subjunctive = 2 Conditions

To have a Subjunctive in French, you need to have 2 conditions:

• At least 2 subjects = subject 1 wanting, wishing, ordering, fearing… that subject 2 do this action.
• or an expression which is specifically followed by the subjunctive (list below to be learned by heart)

6 French Subjunctive Examples

Let’s take some examples of sentences using the Subjunctive and the Indicative and examine the conditions of the situations.

• Je veux que vous fassiez la vaisselle. (me wanting you to do it = several involved   = subjunctive)
• Je veux faire la vaisselle. (me wanting me to do the dishes = only me involved = infinitive)
• Il faut que tu fasses la vaisselle  (this condition applies only to you = subjunctive)
• Il faut faire la vaisselle  (true for everybody = infinitive)
• Je suis contente que tu fasses la vaisselle. (me being happy that you do the dishes = 2 people – subjunctive)
• Je suis contente de faire la vaisselle. (me being happy that I do the dishes = one person = indicative)

No interrogative Form With the French Subjunctive

You can use a subjunctive clause in a question, for example « Voulez-vous que je vienne avec vous? », but there is no way to turn a subjunctive clause itself into a question.

Now that the ground rules are established, let me explain in details the French Subjunctive.

What follows works most of the time, I’m sure you’ll find exceptions, but I hope it helps making most cases clearer.

French Subjunctive Uses

The French Subjunctive States 2 things:

1 – One person influencing/having feeling for a DIFFERENT person’s action.

• Je veux que tu fasses la vaisselle. I = first person, want = verb of influence, you = different person, do the dishes = the action the first person is trying to influence.
• Je suis contente que tu fasses la vaisselle. I = first person, am happy = feeling, you = different person, do the dishes = the action the first person has a feeling about.

2 – The percentage of chance FOR THE SPEAKER of this wish/fear/order/… becoming a reality.

• Je constate qu’il est là. Actually, I can see him, FOR ME, this is a 100% sure thing = indicative. The actual reality is that he is an holographic projection… but the truth lies in the eyes of the beholder…
• J’aimerais qu’il soit là. But I know his plane is stuck in NY. Probability of my wish becoming a reality is almost zero = subjunctive.

So, between 100% chance (indicative) and 0% chance (subjunctive), what mood should you use? Where do you draw the line?

•  If you know for sure it’s the reality = Indicative in French.
• Over 70% chance of the action becoming a reality = Indicative in French.
• If there is under 70% chance of the action becoming a reality =   Subjunctive in French.

So as you can see, the French subjunctive is quite… subjective!

8 Indicative vs Subjunctive Phrases

• Il est certain qu’il sera là demain 100% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Il est probable qu’il sera là demain 70% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Il est possible qu’il soit là demain 50% chance of becoming a reality = subjunctive
• Je crois qu’il va partir. I’m positive about it. Say 90% he’s going to leave = indicative.
• Je désire qu’il parte. But he really wants to stay… So there is only a 2% chance he is going to leave = subjunctive.
• J’exige que tu ailles à l’école. OK, but you have no intention of going. So even if I want it, it’s not the reality, and I know it… = little chance of becoming a reality = subjunctive
• Regarde! Une maison avec un toit orange au milieu d’un grand jardin. I am actually looking at this house. 100% chance of the house existing = indicative.
• Je rêve d’une maison qui ait un toit orange et soit entourée d’un grand jardin. I am at a realtor’s place and describing my dream house. He might or might not have one, I am not sure it exists – for my budget that is :-) = subjunctive

French Subjunctive Negative Form

In French, verbs of hope and belief introduce the subjunctive in the negative, since now the percentage of chance of the action becoming a reality is very low:

• Je pense qu’il viendra His coming, to me, has a 90% chance of becoming a reality = indicative
• Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne His coming, to me, has a 5% of becoming a reality = subjunctive

Watch out: “I don’t think he will come” is not the same thing as “I think he will not come”….

• Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne. I don’t think he will come.
• Je pense qu’il ne viendra pas . I think he will not come .

You have to keep the action you are talking about very clear, and make sure you are applying the negative the the correct part of the sentence and not changing your sentence altogether.

The Ne Expletif – A Ne Without any Negative Value

• Je crains qu’elle ne mente.  I am afraid she is lying to me (not that she is NOT lying to me…)

The “ne” here has no negative value. It’s a rather formal concept, called “le ne explétif” and it comes with verbs of fear and some expressions.

Now, with all these explanations, I hope you are starting to understand the French subjunctive better.

Another method to approach the French subjunctive is to learn by heart verbs and expressions followed by the subjunctive.

Here is a list of common verbs and conjunctions followed by indicative or subjunctive:

13 French Indicative Verbs

French verbs expressing the reality.

The verbs listed below describe a reality, so it’s logical that they are followed by the mood that indicates the reality: the indicative.

• constater que – to note, witness
• observer que – to observe
• remarquer que – to remark
• savoir que – to know
• trouver que – to find
• affirmer que – to declare
• déclarer que – to declare
• dire que – to say + indicatif.

Je constate qu’il est ici. I’m witnessing the fact that he’s here.

French verbs expressing belief & hope

These verbs are also followed by the indicative in French. Why? Only one possible answer: the French take their beliefs for the reality!

• imaginer – to imagine
• penser – to think
• supposer – to suppose
• croire – to believe
• espérer – to hope + indicatif.

The speaker really believes that the situation is real or hopes it will become real.

Note that these verbs are usually followed by a future in French. Probably to show that somehow, we are aware it’s not a sure thing… Fascinating how languages work!

J’imagine qu’il viendra. I imagine he will be coming.

16 French Indicative Phrases

All these French expressions indicate that the speaker think the situation is real.

• il est clair que – it’s clear
• il est certain que – it’s obvious
• il est sûr que – it’s sure
• il est probable que – it’s probable + indicatif

Then, some conjunctions express a “simple reality” – that’s how French grammars explain they are followed by indicative… I’m not quite sure what that means…

For most of them, I think you have to learn them by heart!

• alors que – while
• aussitôt que – as soon as
• en même temps que – at the same time that
• depuis que – since
• dès que – as soon as
• lorsque – when
• parce que – because
• pendant que – while
• plutôt que – instead of, rather than
• puisque – since
• tandis que – while
• une fois que – once

Now that we’ve studied the lists of verbs and expressions followed by the indicative, let’s see which verbs and expressions take the subjunctive.

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21 French Subjunctive Verbs `

Now let’s see common verbs followed by the subjunctive.

These verbs can be classified in 6 categories: wish, likes and dislikes, fear, regrets, doubt, order.

• French verbs expressing wish = souhaiter, désirer, suggérer, proposer, conseiller… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing likes and dislikes = aimer, préférer, détester, adorer… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing fear = avoir peur, craindre, redouter… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing regrets = regretter, être désolé… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing doubt = douter… + que + subjunctive
• French verbs expressing order = vouloir, ordonner, exiger, permettre, refuser, supplier… + que + subjunctive

You’ll find longer lists on the web but I don’t see the need for them… Do you really need to know “all” the verbs that can be followed by the subjunctive?

Beliefs & hopes versus wishes

We’ve studied above that “croire” and “espérer” are followed by the indicative.

Yet, “souhaiter” and “désirer” are followed by the subjunctive.

The difference is quite subtle… it’s really a question of ‘mood’: how the speaker feels about the situation… Does s/he think there’s a good chance or not? What’s her/his mood about the situation?

That’s exactly what the subjunctive expresses: a mood…

29 French Subjunctive Phrases

You need to learn by heart these French subjunctive phrases.

• il faut que – it’s necessary
• il vaut mieux que – it’s better
• il est/ c’est important que – it’s important
• il est / c’est dommage que – it’s too bad + subjunctive
• il est / c’est impossible – it’s impossible that
• il est / c’est possible que – it’s possible that
• serait-il possible que – would it be possible that
• serait-il probable que – would it be probable that
• il est / c’est improbable que – it’s improbable that
• il est / c’est peu probable que – it’s improbable that
• il / ce n’est pas clair que – it’s not clear that
• il / ce n’est pas évident que – it’s not obvious that
• il / ce n’est pas sûr que – it’s not sure that

As I explained before, with some expressions, you can easily avoid the subjunctive by making a general statement and using an infinitive construction Il faut manger ≠ il faut que vous mangiez.

Yet with other expressions, you just need to learn them by heart.

• Pour que – for
• afin que – for
• de sorte que – so that
• de crainte que – in fear of
• de peur que – in fear of
• avant que – before
• en attendant que – awaiting
• jusqu’à ce que – until
• bien que – so that
• à moins que – unless
• à condition que – provided that
• pourvu que – provided that
• qui que – whoever
• quoique – even though
• quoi que – whatever
• sans que – without

Avant Que + Subjunctive BUT Après Que + Indicative !!!

“Avant que” is followed by the subjunctive = it’s logical, there is a notion of uncertainty: you won’t know for sure beforehands.

• Tu devras partir avant qu’il ne vienne. (This ne expletif again)…

However, “après que” is followed by the indicative – logical again, now you know for sure.

• En général, je pars après qu’il vient.

Although many French people use the subjunctive – myself included… It’s a mistake but a very common one: the indicative sounds awful there… I wouldn’t be surprised if this rule actually changed to allow the subjunctive in the near future.

I would actually never say that, and find an alternative:

• En général, je pars après son arrivée.

3 Ways to Avoid the Subjunctive in French

In same cases, you can avoid the subjunctive by changing your sentence a little bit. The French do it all the time!

Use a noun to avoid the French subjunctive

If you used a noun instead of a verb, there would be no problem at all… this applies mostly to “avant que”.

• Il finit avant le départ de sa femme (instead of Il finit avant que sa femme ne parte).

Make a general statement (indicative) instead of a specific (subjunctive)

Instead of applying your sentence to one specific person, make a general statement.

• Il faut faire du sport  (instead of “il faut que tu fasses du sport”)

Find a way around the subjunctive – use two sentences if need be

• Tu dois partir immédiatement. Je l’exige. (instead of “j’exige que tu partes immédiatement”)

The French Subjunctive and the French People

To make things worse, you can’t always rely on what you hear (or even read) to learn the French subjunctive… A lot of French people make mistakes when it comes to the use of subjunctive.

If a French person didn’t get constantly corrected by their parents as a kid, or didn’t do a lot of formal studying, then chances are that s/he’ll make mistakes in the subjunctive.

Furthermore, times are changing. There are some situations where French grammar still demands the use of the subjunctive… but people will use the indicative instead. Why? Because it sounds weird, that’s why! And most French people rely on their ears to tell them what to say… or maybe “instinct” would be a better word.

You see, French people don’t speak French the way you do. I mean, we don’t think the same way: we don’t write the French in our heads, we rely a lot on “how it sounds”. I strongly suggest you read my article about  modern spoken French . This article will show you – with many examples – how the traditional French you are likely to have learned in school contrast from the reality of the French language spoken today, and give you many tips to simplify the way you speak French.

In any case, the average French person doesn’t know all the grammar rules. They speak the way they do because… well, once again, their parents and teachers corrected them enough that they know what they are supposed to say and what sounds “natural” to their ear.

When it comes to saying complicated things, however, then they don’t know for sure anymore… They may use the subjunctive in one situation, because it sounds good, and use the indicative the next day, because that day, it sounded better to them. We all make mistakes, for sure!

“Que” + Subjunctive or “Que” + Indicative?

Now that I’ve explained everything about the subjunctive, let’s get really crazy…

Can you figure out why I don’t use the subjunctive in this sentence: Elle est si heureuse qu’elle rit tout le temps. First, one could argue that it is the same speaker doing both actions.

But the meaning is deeper… Here, the “que” means “hence”. It’s a consequence: she is very happy, hence she laughs all the time.

It’s not the fact that she laughs that makes her happy… It’s actually the contrary: it’s because she is happy that she laughs.

There is no doubt, no uncertainty, no change of mood (pun intended). She is happy, so she laughs. With just a tiny change, we could turn the sentence around to use a subjunctive.

Elle est si heureuse qu’IL rie tout le temps .

Now we have two different people involved. And the subjunctive is right because it is the fact that he laughs all the time that makes her happy. It is the action he does that affects her mood.

If I wanted to apply this logic to one single person, I would have to use an infinitive construction.

Elle est si heureuse de rire tout le temps.

Translating in English won’t work. It’s only by fully understanding the context, and the use of the subjunctive in French, that you could avoid that mistake.

1. Elle est si heureuse qu’elle rit tout le temps. She is so happy that she laughs all the time.

2. Elle est si heureuse qu’il rie tout le temps. She is so happy that he laughs all the time.

3. Elle est si heureuse de rire tout le temps. She is so happy to be laughing all the time.

Let’s look at another really tricky situation.

Je te téléphonerai de sorte que tu aies l’information à temps = subjunctive I will call you so that you’ll have the info on time.

The action is taking place in the future… So the outcome is not certain, hence the subjunctive.

Il l’avait prévenue de sorte qu’elle n’est pas sortie = indicative He had warned her hence she didn’t go out.

The action already took place. The outcome is certain, hence the indicative.

Now, as I said before, these sentences do exist. But thankfully there are ways around them!

Je te téléphonerai et donc tu auras l’information à temps. I will call you and therefore you’ll have the info on time.

Il l’avait prévenue et donc elle n’est pas sortie. He had warned her hence she didn’t go out.

To be really fluent in a language, you have to be able to anticipate and avoid tricky constructions, and quickly transform your sentence to find a simpler way to express what you want to say.

Sometimes, when you are sure of yourself (often because you’ve memorized a sentence by heart), you may drop a subjunctive construction and gloat (if only just on the inside, for yourself)… Then just give yourself a high five :-)

What is the Best Way to Understand French Subjunctive?

The best way to develop a feeling for when to use the French Subjunctive is to learn it in context. C heck out French Today’s downloadable French audiobooks : French Today’s bilingual novels are recorded at different speeds and enunciation, and focus on today’s modern glided pronunciation. 

I hope this long lesson make things clearer about the French Subjunctive. If you like it, share it on your social medias – it’s a huge help for us!

You may also be interested in:

• understanding the French conditional
• understanding the French imperative
• the differences between French Passé-Composé and Imperfect

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Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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The French Subjunctive

The bane of most intermediate French learners’ existence is the subjunctive: The verb mood used to express desire, uncertainty and opinions, among others. It’s notoriously challenging, but something you’ll need to master in order to speak French fluently. 

We’ll give you a great overview of what it is, when to use it, and how to do basic conjugations, with lots of examples. Keep reading to learn everything you’ll need to start acing le subjoncif (the subjunctive).

What is the French Subjunctive?

How to use the french subjunctive, when to use the french subjunctive, common verbs which use the subjunctive, verbs for expressing a wish or desire, verbs for expressing emotion, verbs for expressing possibility or doubt, verbs for expressing preferences and opinions, verbs for expressing necessity, verbs for expressing regret, phrases and expressions that trigger the subjunctive, when not to use the subjunctive, regular verbs in the subjunctive, how to conjugate verbs in the subjunctive, irregular verbs in the subjunctive, verbs with multiple subjunctive stems, and one more thing....

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The French subjunctive is a verb mood, used primarily to express uncertainty, doubt and emotions.

As we will cover, there are certain phrases and verbs that trigger this. Like the indicative , the subjunctive has present and past tense forms. 

We use subjunctive phrases in English, but they are nowhere near as common as they are in French. Here are some examples of the subjunctive in use in French:

Je veux que vous fassiez la vaisselle.  (I want you to do the dishes.)

Il ne croit pas qu’elle l’aime .  (He doesn’t believe that she loves him.)

The French subjunctive usually has this structure: 

Subject 1 + verb + que / qui (that/who) + subject 2 + verb

You’ll need the following components for the subjunctive: 

• Two separate subjects
• The expression of uncertainty, desire, doubt, regret, preference, opinion or emotion

The subjunctive is also always a dependent clause.

As detailed above, the subjunctive is used after certain verbs or phrases and preceded by the connecter que . Let’s look at what you can express using the subjunctive: 

• Regret   Il est regrettable qu’il pleuve aujourd’hui.  (It’s regrettable that it’s raining today.) Elle regrette qu’elle l’ ait fait.  (She regrets that she did that.)
• Preferences Je préfère que nous allions maintenant.  (I prefer that we go now.) Je préfère que vous chantiez maintenant.  (I prefer that you sing now.)
• Désirer (to desire)
• Souhaiter (to wish)
• Vouloir (to want)
• Conseiller (to advise)
• Aimer (to like or love)
• Avoir envie (to want)
• Convoiter (to hope)

The verb espérer is always followed by the indicative. For example: J’espère qu’il est heureux. (I hope that he is happy.)

• Craindre (to fear)
• Être + triste , heureux / heureuse , fâché / fâchée … (to be sad, happy, angry…)
• Avoir + peur , honte de   (to be scared, ashamed of)
• Se sentir (to feel)
• S’ennuyer (to be bored)
• S’inquiéter (to be worried or anxious)
• Douter (to doubt)
• Sembler (to seem)
• Paraître (to appear)
• Negations such as ne pas être sûr (to not be sure) or ne pas être clair  (to not be clear)

Il est probable que (it is probable that) is always followed by the indicative, not the subjunctive. For example: Il est probable qu’elle l’aime. (It’s probable that she likes it.)

• Préférer (to prefer)
• Aimer (to like)
• Ne pas aimer (to dislike)
• Détester (to hate)
• Adorer (to love)
• Vaut mieux (it’s better)
• Il est important (it is important)
• Falloir (to require)
• Interdire (to forbid)
• Être + nécessaire , essentiel , impératif  (it is necessary, essential, imperative)
• Devoir (to must)
• Regretter (to regret)
• Être désolé (to be sorry)
• C’est dommage (it’s a shame)
• Pardonner (to excuse)
• Avoir le regret de + infinitive (to regret)
• Être au regret de + infinitive (to regret)

You can spot the subjunctive easily by looking out for certain phrases. Most of these express one of the five categories for the subjunctive: emotion, desire, doubt, regret, preferences/opinions or uncertainty.

These are usually variations of “provided that” and “although.”

• Sans que (without)
• Bien que (so that)
• Pourvu que (provided that)
• Jusqu’à ce que (until)
• Afin que (for)
• Pour que (for)
• Avant que (before)

Avant que is always followed by the subjunctive, but après que (after) is always followed by the indicative.

There’s a logical reason for this! Since avant que means before, there’s a bit of doubt and uncertainty because the event or action hasn’t happened yet. But après que translates to after, when there would be certainty since the event has already taken place.

Phrases that talk about an opinion, desire or emotion aren’t always followed by the subjunctive.

This is the case when doubt isn’t expressed or the event has already taken place and is thus clear. For example:

Il est clair qu’il ne veut pas le faire. (It’s obvious that he doesn’t want to do it.)

Il est certain que vous aurez besoin d’aide.  (It’s certain that you will need help.)

Il est sûr que le train est supprimé.  (It is sure that the train is canceled.)

All of these examples express clarity (“obvious,” “certain,” “surely”), so you don’t need the subjunctive.

Here’s a less intuitive example: 

Il est probable que la banque soit fermée aujourd’hui. (It’s probable that the bank is closed today.)

In English, it sounds like there is some doubt because of the word “probably,” but in French, this is considered an indicative-triggering phrase.

Forming the subjunctive is pretty simple for regular verbs:

Subjunctive Present

Start with the conjugated form of the verb for ils/elles  (third-person plural), then remove the “- ent ” ending to get the present stem. You can then add the following subjunctive endings depending on the pronoun :

Here’s how you’d conjugate different verbs for the subjunctive present: 

Subjunctive Past

The past tense is formed by conjugating either avoir or être (both irregular verbs detailed above) in the subjunctive followed by the past participle of the verb.

For example:

Il est triste qu’elle ne soit pas venue. (He is sad that she did not come.)

C’est dommage qu’il n’ait pas neigé à Noël. (It’s a shame that it did not snow on Christmas.)

Subjunctive Future

There is no future for the subjunctive in French. If the action or event will take place in the future, the subjunctive present is used to describe it.

Like many rules in French, there are, of course, exceptions—yes, irregular verbs! Below is a list of the most common irregular subjunctive conjugations. These include avoir and être , which you’ll need to form the past tense of the subjunctive.

Another quirk of the subjunctive in French is that some verbs have multiple stems.

Many irregular verbs above like aller and avoir also fall into this category. But a lot of these are also verbs that follow regular conjugation rules for most pronouns ( je, tu, il/elle  and ils/elles), but then use the  nous  conjugation without “ ons ” for the  nous  and  vous  stem.

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All of these may seem like a lot to remember, but with practice, they’ll come naturally! To get used to the French subjunctive, try looking out for these phrases in French movies , TV series , podcasts and other media. This way, you can pause and then check the verbs if needed in a dictionary . 

Now that you’ve learned all about the essentials for the subjunctive, you can set forth and express your emotions, opinions, desires, doubts, necessities and regrets in French. It’s one of the toughest parts of the language to master, but by practicing everything listed in this post, you should be off to a great start!

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French Subjunctive (Subjonctif): Explanation and Examples

The subjunctive is a mood of the French language, just like the indicative, the imperative, the conditional…

It might be the most feared element in French for French learners, because indeed, it’s a bit tough to understand. But you should rejoice, because it’s probably the easiest among all the other Latin languages, since it’s always used with one tense: the present.

In French (unlike in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian…), there are no past or even future subjunctive. Well in fact, there is a past subjunctive, but it’s not used anymore.

But still, as I said, the subjunctive is really not the easiest thing in French. That’s why if you are beginner in French, I recommend to focus first on the present, passé composé, imparfait, future… and leave the subjunctive for another time.

1) What is the subjunctive?

2) how to learn the subjunctive, 3) ways to avoid using the subjunctive in french, some verbs can either have a subjunctive or an indicative in negative sentences.

• The “ne explétif”

The subjunctive to give an order

Subjunctive or indicative in some relative clause, share this:.

The subjunctive is used to express subjective or uncertain ideas and actions. Feelings like doubt, desire, will, judgement, emotion, possibility, fear, hope, necessity, possibility…

Often, two different subjects are involved: one is doubting, fearing, wanting, hoping… that the other one does something.

Moreover, the subjunctive is nearly always introduced by “ que ” (or “ qui ” sometimes).

I don’t know if you are aware of it, but the subjunctive exists in English as well, but it’s rare and growing rarer. Besides, the subjunctive form of a verb is often similar to the indicative form, hence subjunctive is not a very visible grammatical feature of English.

As you can guess, since the subjunctive is used to express so many feelings, it’s used quite frequently in French.

Basically, it works like this: there are many expressions and conjunctions in French (of doubt, desire, possibility, necessity…) that finish with “ que ”, and that are followed by a subjunctive.

Now I don’t recommend to learn all of them, because there are hundreds of them. In addition, not only it’s difficult to know when to use the subjunctive, but it’s also quite difficult to conjugate the irregular verbs with it (knowing that they are the most frequent verbs).

So I think if you are just starting to learn the subjunctive, the best is to get used with some of the most common expressions, and practice your conjugation with them.

First, let’s take a look at the regular conjugation in the subjunctive.

You may notice that for the 1 st group verbs (in “- er ”), there is no difference between the present indicative and the present subjunctive for “ je , tu , il/elle/on and ils/elles ”.

Concerning the 3 rd group verbs (irregular verbs), you have to know them by heart. I will give you some of the most common ones at the end of this article.

Now, I want to give you 15 of the most common expressions followed by the subjunctive in French, with an example for each:

1) Il faut que … > It is necessary that… / to have to…

If there is one expression you should remember, it’s this one. It comes from the verb falloir , which can only be used that way, with the impersonal pronoun “ il ”. French people use it all the time, maybe even more than the verb devoir , must .

Note that in modern spoken French, people often omit the “ il ” and start directly with “ Faut ”.

2) Avoir besoin que … > to need (smth/so) to…

3) Vouloir que … > To want (smth/so) to…

4) Préférer que … > Prefer that…

5) C’est possible que … > It’s possible that…

6) C’est pas sûr que … > It’s not sure that…

Maybe you noticed, normally it should be “ Ce n’est pas sûr que… ”, but once again, in modern French, most people never pronounce the “ ne ” for the negation.

7) S’attendre à ce que … > to expect that… / to expect (smth/so) to…

8) Il semble que … > It seems that…

9) Avoir peur que … > To be afraid that…

10) Être content que … > To be happy that…

11) Être triste que … > To be sad that…

12) Il vaut mieux que … > It’s better if…

13) C’est dommage que … > It’s a shame that…

14) C’est important que … > It’s important that…

15) Proposer que … > to propose that…

As I said, there are also conjunctions that require the subjunctive. Here is 10 of the most common ones:

1) Pour que… > So that…

He bought me a football so that I can practice

2) Jusqu’à ce que… > Until…

We will wait until the moon appears

3) Avant que… > Before…

Do it before it’s too late

4) Sans que… > Without…

I left without them realizing it

5) Bien que… > Although…

He was not accepted, although he had good grades

6) À condition que… > Provided that…

I will go to Paris, provided that you comme with me

7) À moins que… > Unless…

Can we leave? Unless you want something else

8) Qui que… > Whoever…

No one can enter, whoever it is!

9) Quoi que… > Whatever…

Whatever you do, I won’t give up

10) Où que… > Wherever…

I will follow you wherever you go

Depending on which expression or conjunction you use, there are some ways to avoid the subjunctive.

For example, you can sometimes remove the “ que ” and use an infinitive to make a general statement.

It’s better if we stop > It’s better to stop

You can also try to use a noun:

You are sad that he is leaving > His departure makes you sad

Reformulate the sentence in different way:

Do it before it’s too late > Do it now, otherwise it will be too late

But as you can see, it’s quite difficult to change the sentence without affecting its original meaning a minimum.

4) Some remarks on the subjunctive

Some of the most common are: penser , to think , croire , to believe , trouver , to find

I think he is right > I don’t think he is right

He believes you are dead > He doesn’t believe you are dead

I hope he is right > I don’t think he is right

The “ ne explétif ”

Some verbs and expressions can add a “ ne ” when they are used in the subjunctive, even though the sentence is affirmative. Guess what? It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just there to look nice and posh, and confuse French learners… Nowadays, people rarely use it when they speak, but you can find it from time to time.

It’s quite rare, but the subjunctive can offset the lack of a 3 rd person in the imperative mood. It can happen when someone tells to someone to give an order to another person.

–Sir, the trainee has arrived… –Well, tell him to get ready for his first mission!

In certain types of relative clauses, it’s possible to have the subjunctive or the indicative.

I’m looking for someone who can give me advices

The subjunctive in this sentence ( qui puisse me donner … ) indicates the criterion of the person you are looking for, without affirming that this person really exists.

With the indicative however, the sentence presupposes the existence of that person (even though there might not be one).

5) Some common irregular French verbs in the subjunctive

Here are 20 of the most common 3 rd  group French verbs in the subjunctive:

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StoryLearning

Learn A Language Through Stories

The French Subjunctive Demystified: How To Master This Surprisingly Simple Aspect Of French Grammar

When you're learning French , you'll come across  a few sticky points of grammar that can be a little challenging to grasp.

And among these, one of the most notorious is the French subjunctive .

For native English speakers at least, this reputation may come partly from the fact that the subjunctive in English has all but disappeared, so you can't compare it with anything. 

But, although the concept might seem strange and unfamiliar, it really isn’t so hard.

So here, I’ll make this mysterious verb form clearer and show you why there’s really nothing much to be afraid of.

In fact, once you've got over your fear of using the subjunctive, you'll experience a huge fluency boost , as you'll be able to express many finer points of meaning such as wishes, preferences and doubt.

By the way, if you want to learn French through stories, not rules, my top recommendation for language learners is my Uncovered courses, which teach you through StoryLearning®.  Click here  to find out more and try out the method for free.

In the meantime, back to the subject at hand…

Introducing The French Subjunctive… Through English 

There are many different levels of understanding when it comes to the subjunctive.

While grammarians may enjoy debating the finer points of its use, we don’t need to lose ourselves in that level of detail.

Our goal is simply to be able to use it and understand it correctly in French . 

To keep things simple, let’s start with English. Have you ever noticed some of the more peculiar expressions we use, like:

• “God save the Queen!”
• or “if I were you…”

They're a bit strange, right? But have you ever  wondered why we use the “wrong” form of the verb in these situations?

Why don’t we say “God saves the Queen!” or “if I was you…”?

These sentences would seem correct, wouldn’t they? Except we just know instinctively that they’re wrong.

The reason is that in these sentences, we're seeing the last remnants of the English subjunctive.

English has practically lost its subjunctive and now it only ever appears in a few set expressions such as these.

In French, however, it is still commonly used – although much less than in closely related languages like Spanish and Italian.

As is usually the case with grammar, trying to explain the subjunctive makes it sound abstract and complicated.

But with a few of good examples , it suddenly becomes much easier to understand. So that's what we're going to focus on here!

Before we look at the examples, let me give you a brief explanation of what the subjunctive actually is, just so you know what to expect.

What Is The French Subjunctive Anyway?

The subjunctive is usually referred to as a mood rather than a tense , as you use it to show a certain amount of emotion or personal interpretation of what is being said.

A tense, on the other hand, is for indicating when something happened , such as the past, present or future for example.

So right away, we can see that the subjunctive is different because it is a mood, instead of  a “normal” verb form  (known technically as “indicative” forms) which are usually used simply to state a fact.

In a nutshell, the subjunctive expresses:

• preferences
• other similar feelings towards what is being said

You can also use it to talk about hypothetical situations.

In short, the subjunctive is usually found when what we are saying is something other than a simple statement of fact.

That’s the theory, but in practice, it’s a little easier to understand because, in modern French, the choice of subjunctive or indicative is almost entirely determined by what comes before it. 

The simple rule is that some verbs are followed by the subjunctive and some are followed by the indicative.

This means that all you have to do to master the basics is to remember which verbs take the subjunctive . There’s no real need to think about whether you're talking about hopes, desires, fears etc.

Ok, so now you know what the subjunctive basically is. But how does it actually work?

Don’t worry too much if it still seems quite vague. With a few examples, everything will become much clearer.

Verbs That Take The Subjunctive In French

As we just saw, the most frequent occasion when you will meet or need to use the subjunctive is after certain verbs .

Since there's usually no choice of whether to use the subjunctive or the indicative, you simply need to follow the rule.

You'll notice that verbs taking the subjunctive are verbs that express some kind of emotion , like desire , fear , or  preference , etc.

At the beginning, remembering this will help you learn which verbs require a subjunctive. After a while, knowing which verbs are followed by a subjunctive will become instinctive.

Here are some common examples to get you started: 

For example:

• Je veux que tu saches – I want you to know
• Il faut que je parte – it is necessary for me to leave, I have to leave
• Je doute que ça soit possible – I doubt (that) that’s possible

Some common impersonal verbs also take the subjunctive:

• Il est nécessaire it is necessary
• Il faut must
• Il semble it seems

Il faut que j’ aille chercher ma mère – It is necessary that I go and collect my mother

(In English, this is more naturally translated as “I need to go and collect my mother”.)

A Few Tricky Cases: The French Subjunctive After A Negative

There are a few verbs that only take the subjunctive with the negative forms:

• Croire believe
• Penser think
• (Compare with je pense qu’elle est capable – I think she is capable)

Notice that in English, very often, it's more natural to use an infinitive (the “to” form) with the verb. In French, however, this is not possible, so we must use que + subjunctive:

• Je veux qu’il parte – I want him to leave

Note also that the verb espérer (to hope) doesn't take the subjunctive even though you might expect it to since it's a verb of “hoping”. This is just a strange exception so try to memorise it and move on!

Linking Expressions That Take A Subjunctive In French

Another common use of the subjunctive in French is following certain linking words and expressions (also known as “conjunctions”).

This is actually very simple as it's just a rule you need to follow– there’s no need to try to understand why it is this way. It's just the way it is!

Some of the most common examples are:

• Il ne m’écoute pas, quoi que je dise – he doesn’t listen to me, whatever I say
• Je te préviens juste pour que tu saches – I’m warning you just so (that) you know
• Avant que je ( ne *) parte – before I leave

The full list is longer, but these are some of the most useful examples.

Since there are not so many of them, you should just treat them as fixed expressions and remember that they are always followed by a subjunctive . That way, you won’t have to expend too much brainpower thinking about why!

* Notice the addition of ne here – à moins que , avant que and some others add ne in written French and careful speech without changing the meaning. In informal spoken French , native speakers often drop it. 

Shortcuts And Avoiding The French Subjunctive

One piece of good news is that many of the subjunctive forms in French are the same as the ‘normal’, indicative forms .

The largest group of verbs in French is the – er verbs. And the first-person forms are the same for the subjunctive and the indicative, meaning you don’t even need to think about the subjunctive when you use them! Easy!

However, the French- re and  -ir verbs change slightly, so you should learn them and get used to using them.

For example, if we add the endings above to the -ir verb partir (leave) to make the subjunctive forms, we get:

• je part e  
• tu part es  
• elle part e ,  etc.

In the indicative, or normal verb forms, the equivalents are

The subjunctive belongs to a higher register of speech in French, so it sounds more formal or more educated than everyday colloquial speech.

In many situations, native speakers avoid it in favour of something simpler. Take this sentence in English:

• We need to speak to Paul about it

In French, you could translate this by saying: 

• Il faut que nous en parlions avec Paul

But two other ways to say this might be:

• On a besoin d’en parler avec Paul
• Il faut en parler avec Paul

These two sentences use the infinitive, avoiding the subjunctive altogether.

In many cases, it's preferable and more natural to avoid the subjunctive , which in certain situations could sound a bit pompous or contrived.

The Perfect Subjunctive In French

French also has a perfect (or past) form of the subjunctive, although you won't often come across it. 

You form it in the same way as the “normal” perfect tense. But you use the subjunctive version of avoir or être rather than the indicative forms. Here's an example of a simple sentence where you need to use it: 

• Je ne crois pas qu’elle soit venue – I don’t believe (that) she came

Note also that this is another example of the verb croire (to believe) requiring the subjunctive in a negative sentence. In a positive sentence, you would say it like this: 

• Je crois qu’elle est venue – I believe (that) she came

Obsolete French Subjunctive Forms

There are two additional subjunctive forms in French, the imperfect subjunctive and the pluperfect subjunctive .   However, before you panic, there’s more good news – these two forms are now considered literary or obsolete !  No native speaker would ever use them in normal speech.

And the only time you will ever come across them is when reading works of literature.

This means that if your goal is simply using French for communication, you'll never have any reason to learn or use them.

As Easy As “Bonjour”

So hopefully you have seen that the subjunctive in French is relatively easy. As the French say:

• C'est simple comme bonjour

In other words, it's “as easy as saying hello”, or “as easy as pie” to use an equivalent English expression.

It’s just a case of remembering which verbs and conjunctions take the subjunctive.

As I said at the beginning, you can lose yourself in the theory. But since all we want to do is use French to communicate, there’s really no need.

And if you’re still feeling a little puzzled, you can console yourself with the fact that it’s still a lot easier in French than it is in Italian or Spanish! And remember, like all other aspects of French, mastering the subjunctive takes time. So stick with it and it will soon start to sink in.

Master French Grammar The Natural Way

That said, if you want your French grammar to sink in a little quicker so you can express yourself with confidence and accuracy, there is a way.

And it doesn't involve pouring over verb tables or memorising grammar rules out of context.

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After all that, what are your thoughts on the French subjunctive? Is it a structure you feel you could use confidently in your French after reading this article? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Special Uses of the Subjunctive

Usages particuliers du subjonctif.

The French subjunctive is most often found in subordinate clauses (e.g., Il faut que tu partes ), but it can also be used in main or independent clauses.*  In general, this latter usage tends to be formal.

  À noter : This is an advanced lesson on using the French subjunctive. Before you continue, make sure that you understand the basics of the subjunctive .

1) Third person commands: que + subjunctive

The subjunctive can be used after que as a third person imperative , for indirect commands, wishes, concessions, suppositions, and exclamations.

Par exemple…

2) Polite and/or literary imperative: que + subjunctive

The subjunctive can be used without que for polite and/or literary commands, wishes, etc., but only for a few verbs:

3) Fixed expressions

 * Note: For many of the fixed expressions, you can see why the subjunctive is needed if you consider that a main clause has been dropped, leaving what used to be a subordinate clause to stand alone.

(On veut que) Dieu vous entende. (Nous souhaitons que) Grand bien vous fasse !

 More French subjunctive

• Introduction to the subjunctive
• Subjunctive conjugations
• The Subjunctivisor!

Related lessons

• Types of clauses
• Giving orders
• Formal French

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More Lawless French Support Lawless French If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation . Your support is entirely optional but tremendously appreciated. Leave a Reply Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Subscribe to the free Lawless French newsletter Get new lessons and features in your inbox 2x per week Grammar, vocab, pronunciation lessons Expression of the week Quizzes and exercises Listening and reading comprehension Cultural content Occasional product reviews + offers Lawless French is a free website . Please disable your ad-blocker donate to support my work . Donate US$5 / month to unlock le Mot du jour . Which language do you want to learn? Mastering the French Subjunctive: A Comprehensive Guide The French subjunctive, or “le subjonctif,” is a vital aspect of French grammar . As a mood, rather than a tense, it expresses the speaker’s attitude, emotions, or uncertainties regarding an action or state. Mastering the French subjunctive can be a challenge, but it’s an essential component of fluency in the language. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the subjunctive mood in-depth, including its forms, uses, and various rules and exceptions. Table of Contents Understanding the french subjunctive mood, regular verbs, irregular verbs, expressions of doubt or uncertainty, expressions of necessity or desire, impersonal expressions, conjunctions, the subjunctive in subordinate clauses, the subjunctive versus the indicative, the past subjunctive, common mistakes and how to avoid them, practice exercises. The subjunctive mood is used to express a variety of attitudes, emotions, and uncertainties. It can convey doubt, possibility, necessity, desire, and more. Unlike the indicative mood, which is used to express facts and objective statements, the subjunctive mood is subjective and deals with the speaker’s feelings, opinions, or perceptions. It’s important to recognize that the subjunctive is not a tense, but a mood. This means that it does not indicate when an action takes place, but rather the speaker’s attitude toward the action. Forming the French Subjunctive For regular verbs, the subjunctive is formed by taking the third person plural form of the verb in the present indicative, dropping the “-ent” ending, and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings. Here are the subjunctive endings for regular verbs: il/elle/on : -e nous : -ions vous : -iez ils/elles : -ent For example, the verb “parler” (to speak) would be conjugated in the subjunctive as follows: il/elle/on parle nous parlions vous parliez ils/elles parlent Several verbs have irregular subjunctive forms that must be memorized. Some of the most common irregular verbs include: être (to be): je sois, tu sois, il/elle/on soit, nous soyons, vous soyez, ils/elles soient avoir (to have): j’aie, tu aies, il/elle/on ait, nous ayons, vous ayez, ils/elles aient aller (to go): j’aille, tu ailles, il/elle/on aille, nous allions, vous alliez, ils/elles aillent faire (to do/make): je fasse, tu fasses, il/elle/on fasse, nous fassions, vous fassiez, ils/elles fassent prendre (to take): je prenne, tu prennes, il/elle/on prenne, nous prenions, vous preniez, ils/elles prennent Common Triggers for the French Subjunctive The subjunctive is often used after expressions of doubt or uncertainty, such as “il est possible que” (it is possible that), “il est douteux que” (it is doubtful that), or “je ne pense pas que” (I don’t think that). Il est possible qu’elle vienne demain. (It’s possible that she’ll come tomorrow.) The subjunctive is also used after expressions of necessity or desire, like “il faut que” (it is necessary that), “je veux que” (I want that), or “j’aimerais que” (I would like that). Il faut que nous finissions le travail. (It’s necessary that we finish the work.) Impersonal expressions like “il est important que” (it’s important that), “il est préférable que” (it’s preferable that), or “il est dommage que” (it’s a pity that) are also common triggers for the subjunctive. Il est important que vous compreniez cette règle. (It’s important that you understand this rule.) Certain conjunctions like “pour que” (so that), “bien que” (although), “à condition que” (provided that), or “avant que” (before) require the subjunctive. Je vais étudier, pour que je réussisse à l’examen. (I’ll study so that I pass the exam.) In a sentence with two clauses, if the main clause contains a verb that triggers the subjunctive and the second clause has a different subject, you must use the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Je suis content que tu sois là. (I’m happy that you’re here.) It’s crucial to understand the difference between the subjunctive and the indicative. The indicative mood expresses facts, objective statements, or actions that are certain or real. The subjunctive, on the other hand, deals with the speaker’s attitude, emotions, or uncertainties regarding an action or state. Je sais qu’il est à Paris. (I know that he’s in Paris.) – Indicative Je doute qu’il soit à Paris. (I doubt that he’s in Paris.) – Subjunctive The past subjunctive is formed by using the present subjunctive of “avoir” or “être” (depending on the verb) and the past participle of the verb. Il est dommage qu’il n’ait pas pu venir. (It’s a pity that he couldn’t come.) Confusing the subjunctive with the indicative : Make sure you understand the difference between the two and use the subjunctive when expressing doubt, uncertainty, desire, or emotion. Not recognizing irregular verbs : Familiarize yourself with the most common irregular verbs and their subjunctive forms. Ignoring subjunctive triggers : Learn common expressions and conjunctions that require the subjunctive and use them correctly in sentences. Conjugate the verb “finir” (to finish) in the subjunctive. Rewrite the following sentence using the subjunctive: Il est sûr qu’elle va réussir. Write a sentence using the subjunctive with the conjunction “à moins que” (unless). Mastering the French subjunctive can be challenging, but it’s essential for achieving fluency in the language. By understanding its forms, uses, and rules, as well as practicing regularly, you’ll be well on your way to mastering this crucial aspect of French grammar. Learn a Language With AI 5x Faster Talkpal is AI-powered language tutor. Learn 57+ languages 5x faster with revolutionary technology. Start Free Trial When to use subjunctive French: A beginner’s guide to Le Subjonctif Ah, the infamous French subjunctive ! French learners and native speakers alike have a certain difficulty knowing exactly when to use subjunctive French, so this verb mood has quite the reputation. It’s not that complicated though! At its core, the French subjunctive is known as a verbal mood that is used to express a couple of underlying sentiments: Uncertainty : the fact that a statement is not definitively known to be true Subjectivity : the fact that a statement is influenced by personal views or ideas As for sentence structure , the French subjunctive always follows the word que . Le subjonctif is used in one clause  of a multi-clause sentence, and each clause has its own subject . This article is brought to you by LingoCulture, Where you can get unlimited private French classes via Zoom with native teachers for a flat monthly rate. It’s the closest thing to immersion you can get without living in a French-speaking country. Click here to learn more. Translating from English is rarely helpful, because the English subjunctive is usually indistinguishable . Sometimes you have slightly different forms to express the English subjunctive, but for the most part, it’s best to focus on French  when thiking about the subjunctive. With these basic rules  in mind, we can move on to our discussion of when to use the subjunctive  in French. In this post we’ll focus on the different scenarios that call for le subjonctif , breaking it down by context and providing plenty of subjunctive French examples. This is not a lesson on subjunctive conjugation, although we’ll be sure to only use examples where the verbs show unique subjunctive forms, all highlighted in italics . For specifics on conjugation, check out our dedicated post on le subjonctif présent , and our big post on French verb conjugation . Now let’s dive in and learn when to use subjunctive French ! Understanding the French subjunctive To begin with, what is the subjunctive  in French? Fundamentally, imagine it as a way to express uncertainty and subjectivity . When we use the indicative mood  in French (like le présent  or le passé composé ), we’re stating facts  and events as they are . But when we use the subjunctive mood  in French (usually le subjonctif présent or le passé du subjonctif ), we’re entering the realm of possibilities , emotions , and what-ifs . So, we need to use the French subjunctive when we’re not certain or definite  about what’s happening or how we feel. Take a look at the following examples that illustrate this idea. Ils sont  à la maison. – They are  home. Il se peut qu’ ils soient  à la maison. – It’s possible that they are  home. In the first example, we use the indicative mood  to express that they are definitely at home . We can see them through the window and we are certain they are home. However, in the second example, we use the subjunctive mood  to express that they might be home , but we are not sure. We can see a light on, but we don’t see anyone in the window. When to use the French subjunctive In the following sections we’ll outline exactly when to use the French subjunctive, providing examples for each linguistic prompt. To demonstrate the lessons in each of our example sentences, we’ll put the prompt in bold , and the resulting subjunctive French in italics . Expressing doubt or uncertainty The fundamental prompt  for when to use the French subjunctive is when we express doubt or uncertainty . Whether you don’t know  what’s happening, you don’t believe  what’s happening, or you’re in denial  about what’s happening, you’ll need to use le subjonctif to express your thoughts. French verbs that are often used to introduce uncertainty include include douter que (to doubt that) and ne pas être sûr que  (to not be sure that). Je doute qu’ il puisse  le faire. – I doubt that   he is able to  do it. Nous ne sommes pas sûrs que   ce soit  la bonne réponse. – We are not sure that   this is  the right answer. We can also use the French subjunctive when we want to be intentionally vague , as with expressions like peu importe que (no matter how) or quoi que (whatever, however). Note that in many instances, this notion of vagueness is introduced by a specific set of French expressions that trigger the subjunctive . Peu importe que   tu aies  peu de temps, fais de ton mieux. – No matter how  little time you have , do your best. Quoi que   je fasse , il n’est jamais assez. – Whatever   I do , it’s never enough. Expressing emotions or desires The next prompt for when to use the French subjunctive is when we want to express an emotion or a desire . Note that these prompts must follow a certain structure to use the French subjunctive, such as I am happy that or I wish that , using que , whereas the English translations often omit the that . Many French verbs can be used to introduce emotions or wishes, including vouloir que  (to want that), souhaiter que (to wish that), désirer que (to desire that), and craindre que (to fear that). Ma mère est contente que   je revienne  plus tôt que prévu. – My mother is happy that   I’m coming back  earlier than planned. Nous voulons que   tu réussisses . – We want you   to succeed . Ses parents exigent qu’ il suive  cette formation. – His parents insist that   he take  this training. Je crains qu’ il soit  trop tard. – I’m afraid that   it’s  too late. Expressing opionions and preferences Regarding preference , we use subjunctive French when expressing the option we like best. Préférer que (to prefer that) is the formulation which triggers the subjunctive in the following verb, whereas without the que  the following verb is simply in the infinitive . Vous préférez manger  à votre poste de travail, mais nous préférons que   vous preniez  une pause et que   vous mangiez  à la cafétéria. – You prefer eating  at your workstation, but we prefer that   you take  a break and that   you eat  in the cafeteria. Je préfère écrire  en majuscules, mais mon professeur préfère que   j’écrive  en minuscules. – I prefer to write  in all-caps, but my professor prefers that   I write  in lowercase. Opinions  can sometimes be expressed through superlatives , in which case they trigger the subjunctive . When superlatives are used to state facts, on the other hand, the certainty is underlined through the use of the indicative. Le premier Harry Potter est le meilleur  livre que   j’aie  jamais lu . – The first Harry Potter is the best  book that   I’ve  ever read . (here we use subjunctive French to show that it’s an opinion with some measure of uncertainty: perhaps I’ve actually read a better book.) Le premier Harry Potter est le plus long  livre que  j’ai jamais lu. – The first Harry Potter is the longest  book that I’ve ever read. (we use the indicative because there’s no opinion or uncertainty here: this is the longest book I’ve ever read) In most cases, the French subjunctive is only used with the expressions penser que and croire que when they are negated  and therefore express uncertainty. When used affirmatively, these expressions are followed by the French indicative, since in this case they express certainty. Je crois que je sais  comment jouer au Quidditch, mais je ne crois pas que je sache  toutes les règles. – I believe that I know  how to play Quidditch, but I don’t believe that I know  all of the rules. Je pense qu’il peut  voler très bien sur son balai, mais je ne pense pas qu’ il puisse  attraper le vif d’or. – I think he can  fly very well on his broom, but I don’t think he can  catch the golden snitch. Impersonal expressions and hypothetical situations You’ll often see French phrases for necessity and obligation with impersonal expressions, which is a fancy way of referring to expressions that use the pronoun il to mean it  rather than point to a specific subject. The most common phrase in this category is certainly il faut que  (it is necessary that). Other common phrases include il est nécessaire  que (it is necessary that), il est important que (it is important that), and il est essentiel que (it is essential that). In many cases, these impersonal expressions are followed by le subjonctif . For other options, check out our related post with different ways to express obligation in French . Il est nécessaire que   vous fassiez attention  à la présentation. – It is necessary that   you pay attention  to the presentation. Il est essentiel que   vous soumettiez  votre rapport avant de partir en vacances. – It is essential that   you submit  your report before leaving on vacation. Impersonal expressions can also be used to convey doubt, emotions, desires, opinions, and preferences. Generally speaking, these expressions follow the structure il est + adjective  + que . Il est préférable que   tu refléchisses  avant de prendre une décision. – It is preferable that   you think  before making a decision. Il est étrange que   vous soyez  toujours en retard. – It is strange that   you are  always late. Il est dommage qu’ elles n’aient pas eu  l’occasion de parler. – It’s a shame that   they didn’t have  the chance to speak. Finally, some impersonal expressions introduce hypothetical situations. Such expressions include il est possible que (it is possible that), il se peut que (it may be that), and il est probable que (it is probable that). Il est possible qu’ elle  y aille . – It is possible that   she is going  there. Il se peut que   nous partions  chez ses parents pour Noël. – It may be that   we go  to her parents’ place for Christmas. The nuances of when to use the French subjunctive  are notorious, but with practice, you’ll sound like a pro in no time! Remember that the subjunctive mood  is more than just a set of trigger phrases  and conjugations  – it’s a gateway to conveying emotions, doubts, necessity, desires, and more, in a way that resonates with native French speakers. By understanding the underlying principles and embracing the subtle distinctions we covered here, you’re poised to use le subjonctif with confidence and finesse. So, whether you find yourself sharing doubts, expressing emotions, or exploring hypotheticals, let the French subjunctive  be your guide in captivating conversations and vivid verbalizations. Embrace the challenge and enjoy the impact that your words will undoubtedly have! KEEP READING Number words in french: fractions, age ranges, decades, collective nouns, big numbers, etc, french reflexive pronouns: an easy guide to me te se nous vous se, quel definition: understanding all the forms of quel in french, lingoda vs lingoculture: a review of french language classes online, our negative-risk guarantee. If at any point in the first 14 days you don’t absolutely love LingoCulture, we’ll not only give you a full refund, but we’ll send you $20 for wasting your time. Frenchlanguagebasics 🇫🇷 Learn French the fast and easy way! How to form the French subjunctive? (+Examples) Understanding the french subjunctive (for beginners). The French subjunctive is a grammatical mood used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and other non-real actions or states. It is used in dependent clauses that follow certain verbs, conjunctions, or expressions of doubt or emotion. 1. Formation: To form the French subjunctive, use the present tense of the third person plural form of the verb and then drop the -nt. For example: Parler (to speak) becomes qu’ils parlent (that they speak) Finir (to finish) becomes qu’ils finissent (that they finish) Être (to be) becomes qu’ils soient (that they be) The French subjunctive is used in several different situations, including: Expressing doubt or uncertainty : Il est possible qu’ils viennent. (It is possible that they come.) Expressing wishes, hopes, or desires : Je souhaite qu’ils réussissent. (I hope that they succeed.) Expressing emotions : Il est important que tu sois heureux. (It is important that you are happy.) Expressing non-real actions or states : Si j’étais riche, je voyagerais beaucoup. (If I were rich, I would travel a lot.) 3. Triggers: There are certain verbs, conjunctions, and expressions that trigger the use of the French subjunctive. Some of the most common include: Il faut que (it is necessary that) Il est bon que (it is good that) Il est important que (it is important that) Il est douteux que (it is doubtful that) 4. Practice: Practice using the French subjunctive in context. Look for opportunities to use it in conversation and writing, and pay attention to the verbs, conjunctions, and expressions that trigger its use. Conclusion: The French subjunctive is a valuable tool for expressing doubt, uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and non-real actions or states. By understanding how to form and use the subjunctive, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively in the French language and express yourself with greater nuance and precision. 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The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". viewed_cookie_policy 11 months The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data. ExamLearn Blog Leaving cert french subjunctive phrases. The subjunctive is a very difficult tense to grasp for students. In our grammar notes, we go through the subjunctive in detail, but often students avoid using it as they are afraid go grammatically incorrect in their usage. We strongly advise you to get to grips with the Leaving Cert French Subjunctive tense. If you include a few subjunctive phrases in each question you answer in the written production or the oral, the examiner will be very impressed. In our grammar section we have notes on the subjunctive tense but these set phrases are so useful as you know for sure that the grammar is correct. The use of the Subjunctive can be what separates the H1 students from H2/H3 students. General Leaving Cert French Subjunctive Phrases – Il faut qu’on fasse quelque chose pour résoudre à ce problème. = It is necessary that one does something to solve this problem. – Bien que la vie soit agréable (ici en Irlande), il y a des problèmes… = Although life is nice (here in Ireland), there are problems… – Il faut que nous puissions dire que certaines choses ne peuvent pas être acceptées dans notre société. = It is necessary that we can say that certain things cannot be accepted in our society. – Il faut que nous attaquions ensemble à ce problème. = It is necessary that we tackle this problem together. – Je suis ravi que nous ayons réussi à trouver une solution. = I am delighted that we have succeeded in finding a solution. – Il faut que nous fassions avancer ce projet avec énergie. = It is necessary that we move this project forward with energy. – Il faut que le gouvernement prenne ses responsabilités pour qu’on puisse lutter contre …. = It is necessary that the government take their responsibility so that we can fight against … (insert issue). – Il semble que ce problème soit grave. = It seems that this problem is serious. – Je doute que ce soit vrai. = I doubt that this is true. Sign up now to ExamLearn now here to simplify your studies! Share this: Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Like puzzles? Check out this daily anagram game: Raganam ! Your Favourite Cheat Sheets Your Messages Your Badges Your Friends Your Comments View Profile Edit Profile Change Password New Cheat Sheet Live Cheat Sheets Draft Cheat Sheets Collaborations Cheat Sheet Downloads Download This Cheat Sheet (PDF) Rating: ( ) Education > French Cheat Sheets Writing essays in French Cheat Sheet by JAM Useful expressions to help structure your A level French essay. Introd­ucing the first argument Adding and listing arguments Listing arguments - start. Listing arguments - middle Listing arguments - end Indicating the reason for something Expressing contrast / concession Introd­ucing one's own point of view. In conclusion How's Your Readability? Cheatography is sponsored by Readable.com . Check out Readable to make your content and copy more engaging and support Cheatography! Measure Your Readability Now! Help Us Go Positive! We offset our carbon usage with Ecologi. Click the link below to help us! Languages: English français (French) Published: 21st September, 2013 Last Updated: 26th February, 2020 Rated: 5 out of 5 stars based on 9 ratings Favourited By these are very helpful thank you Simple et utile, j'aime. Add a Comment Please enter your name. Please enter your email address Please enter your Comment. Related Cheat Sheets Latest Cheat Sheet Random Cheat Sheet About Cheatography Behind the scenes. Recent Cheat Sheet Activity Subjunctive phrases for french a level essay Quick reply, related discussions. French AQA alevel paper 2 French - Higher Level Phrases? How big is the jump from GCSE to A level French? german gcse Passé simple in an essay french a level A Level Law or Spanish Higher Spanish GCSE French vs A-level French A-level French French writing Grade 9 French phrases GCSE anxiety Got a grade 9 in gcse 2023 for french- here to give any tips :> Edexcel A-Level French Paper 2 (9FR0 02) - 19th June 2023 [Exam Chat] Writing an evaluation of a foreign text in an exam How to keep up with a 9 in GCSE Spanish? Could I get all 9s at GCSE? How do you get from 7's and 8's to 9's? A Level French Essays Last reply 57 minutes ago Last reply 1 hour ago Last reply 2 hours ago Last reply 8 hours ago Last reply 20 hours ago Last reply 21 hours ago Last reply 1 day ago Last reply 2 days ago Last reply 3 days ago Last reply 4 days ago Last reply 6 days ago Last reply 1 week ago Last reply 2 weeks ago Articles for you How important is the personal statement on your Ucas application? Will artificial intelligence put legal graduates out of work? Why industry placements are so important for business students You don’t need to take a law conversion course for the SQE… but here’s why you should 427 IMAGES List of French subjunctive phrases [Free PDF] What is the French subjunctive 🤔 French Subjunctive Tense French subjunctive phrases: List of words and expressions Level B1 French subjunctive posters LE SUBJONCTIF by Mme R's French Resources VIDEO French B1 : The Subjunctive case (Le subjonctif en français) Partie I When to use the French subjunctive Le subjonctif partie 2.mp4 The Past Subjunctive in French French conjugation challenge : Can you conjugate these 3 common verbs in the subjunctive form? B2-C2 COMMENTS List of French subjunctive phrases [Free PDF] Do you want to master the French subjunctive mood and impress native speakers with your grammar skills? Then check out this comprehensive list of French subjunctive ... Le subjonctif: the subjunctive in French When to use the subjunctive in French Phrases that take the subjunctive in French. We use the French subjunctive in subordinate clauses that start with que and after certain verbs and conjunctions. The most common subjunctive construction in French is il faut que you have to. Example: Il faut que vous partiez tout de suite. You have to leave ... Subjunctive French phrases: French conjunctions that trigger the For every one of the conjunctive phrases we'll introduce here, its use triggers the use of the subjunctive in the subordinating clause which follows.For a general overview of French conjunctions, check out our post on essential linking words in French.. Throughout this lesson, you'll see plenty of subjunctive French sentences.To highlight the focus of our lesson in all of the example ... Verbs and phrases that take the subjunctive in French tâcher. attempt. tolérer. tolerate. trouver bon, drôle. find sth. good/odd. vouloir. want. The following list presents an overview of the most common verbs and phrases that are followed by the subjunctive in French. french subjunctive essay phrases Flashcards useful essay phrases that can be applied to many topics to ensure you get the use of the subjunctive in your writing pieces French Subjunctive French subjunctive: Expressions of will - orders, advice, desires. Verbs and expressions which express someone's will, an order, a need, a piece of advice, or a desire require the subjunctive. aimer mieux que: to like better / to prefer that. commander que: to order that. demander que: to ask (someone to do something. désirer que: to desire that. What is the French subjunctive The subjunctive is a mood: a grammatical term which describes the subject's attitude. In English, using the subjunctive is rare and formal. Nowadays, most people no longer use it. The subjunctive in French is very common. It shows the subject's mood (wish, hope, fear, uncertainty…) toward a fact or an idea - often involving another person. French Subjunctive 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 ... The French Subjunctive The French subjunctive is a verb mood, used primarily to express uncertainty, doubt and emotions. As we will cover, there are certain phrases and verbs that trigger this. Like the indicative, the subjunctive has present and past tense forms. We use subjunctive phrases in English, but they are nowhere near as common as they are in French. Here ... French Subjunctive (Subjonctif): Explanation and Examples Now, I want to give you 15 of the most common expressions followed by the subjunctive in French, with an example for each: 1) Il faut que… > It is necessary that… / to have to…. Il faut que je fasse mes devoirs > I have to do my homework. If there is one expression you should remember, it's this one. The French Subjunctive Demystified However, the French-re and -ir verbs change slightly, so you should learn them and get used to using them. For example, if we add the endings above to the -ir verb partir (leave) to make the subjunctive forms, we get: je parte. tu partes. elle parte, etc. In the indicative, or normal verb forms, the equivalents are. French Subjunctive The French subjunctive is most often found in subordinate clauses (e.g., Il faut que tu partes ), but it can also be used in main or independent clauses.*. In general, this latter usage tends to be formal. À noter : This is an advanced lesson on using the French subjunctive. Mastering the French Subjunctive: A Comprehensive Guide The French subjunctive, or "le subjonctif," is a vital aspect of French grammar. As a mood, rather than a tense, it expresses the speaker's attitude, emotions, or uncertainties regarding an action or state. Mastering the French subjunctive can be a challenge, but it's an essential component of fluency in the language. In this comprehensive guide, […] French Subjunctive: The Concise Guide Do you want to learn how to use the French subjunctive, one of the most challenging aspects of French grammar? In this webpage, you will find a concise guide to the French subjunctive, with clear explanations, examples, and tips to avoid common errors. You will also find exercises and quizzes to practice and improve your skills. Don't let the subjunctive scare you anymore, learn it with Talk ... Easy trigger phrases for the subjunctive in French Sometimes, French is "richer" than English and it gives you several options for an idea, a word, a structure…It can be the same in English. To express the consequence with "so that" in French, you have 3 trigger phrases for the subjunctive: pour que / qu'. afin que / qu'. de sorte que / qu'. They all mean the same and have a ... When to use subjunctive French: A beginner's guide to Le Subjonctif At its core, the French subjunctive is known as a verbal mood that is used to express a couple of underlying sentiments: Uncertainty: the fact that a statement is not definitively known to be true. Subjectivity: the fact that a statement is influenced by personal views or ideas. As for sentence structure, the French subjunctive always follows ... How to form the French subjunctive? (+Examples) The French subjunctive is a grammatical mood used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, emotions, and other non-real actions or states. It is used in dependent clauses that follow certain verbs, conjunctions, or expressions of doubt or emotion. 1. Formation: To form the French subjunctive, use the present tense of the third person plural form ... French essay phrases WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVE OMG WHAT il est possible que les Français soient. it's possible that the French are. il faut qu'on considère. we need to consider. On ne peut pas nier que ce soit. one cannot deny that it is. Il faut que j'admette que. I must admit that. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like bien que ce soit, il semble que ce soit, qu'on le ... Leaving Cert French Subjunctive Phrases General Leaving Cert French Subjunctive Phrases. - Il faut qu'on fasse quelque chose pour résoudre à ce problème. = It is necessary that one does something to solve this problem. - Bien que la vie soit agréable (ici en Irlande), il y a des problèmes… = Although life is nice (here in Ireland), there are problems…. - Il faut que ... Writing essays in French Cheat Sheet Useful expressions to help structure your A level French essay. Introd­uction. Il y en a qui pensent que - Some people think that. On entend souvent dire que - It is often said that. Tout le monde s'accorde à penser que - Everyone agrees that. Il est généra­lement admis que - It is generally agreed that. A-Level French Terms in this set (29) What is the subjunctive? - it is more of a mood than a tense. - used to express circumstances in French. How do you form the subjunctive? - start with the 'they' form of the conjugated present tense of the verb (ils/elles) - remove the 'ent'. - add the appropriate endings to the stem. What are the regular endings of the ... Subjunctive phrases for french a level essay A. JeSuisBaguette. Bien qu'ils/il soient/soit = Even though they are/he is. Autant que je sache = As far as I know. Tbh they're the main ones I use! You won't need many, maybe just throw in one or two and you'll be good! Good luck for tomorrow, I'm doing La Haine and Un Sac de Billes. Reply 2. assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review speech thesis