The French Subjunctive: A Practical Guide

What Is the Subjunctive Mood?

Think of the indicative mood as the mood for facts and reality. It states things you believe are true and certain. For example, "Il est à Paris" (He is in Paris) is an objective statement.

The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, is for everything else: things that are not certain or are colored by emotion or judgment. It often appears in a clause beginning with "que" (that). For example, "Il faut qu'il soit à Paris" (It is necessary that he be in Paris) does not state a fact, but a necessity.

How to Form the Present Subjunctive

For most verbs, forming the present subjunctive is a straightforward, three step process:

• Start with the present tense form of the verb for 'ils' or 'elles'.
• Drop the final '-ent' to find the subjunctive stem.
• Add the appropriate present subjunctive ending: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

Notice that for 'nous' and 'vous', the subjunctive endings (-ions, -iez) are the same as the imperfect indicative endings. The key difference is the stem. For example, for the verb 'finir', the imperfect is 'nous finissions' and the subjunctive is also 'que nous finissions'. But for 'parler', the imperfect is 'nous parlions' and the subjunctive is also 'que nous parlions'.

Irregular Subjunctive Verbs

Several of the most common French verbs are irregular in the subjunctive. These forms are essential and must be memorized.

When to Use the Subjunctive: Key Triggers

The use of the subjunctive is triggered by the meaning of the main clause. The easiest way to learn it is by remembering the types of expressions that require it.

Here are the main categories of triggers, often called W.E.I.R.D.O. (Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Recommendations, Doubt, Orders).

Expressing Wishes, Will, and Necessity

Use the subjunctive to express what you want, prefer, or need someone else to do.

• Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs. (It is necessary that you do your homework.)
• Je veux que vous veniez avec nous. (I want you to come with us.)
• J'aimerais qu'elle soit plus ponctuelle. (I would like her to be more punctual.)

Expressing Emotions

If the main clause expresses a feeling about the action in the second clause, the verb in that second clause is in the subjunctive.

• Je suis content que tu aies réussi ton examen. (I am happy that you passed your exam.)
• Il a peur qu'il soit trop tard. (He is afraid that it is too late.)
• C'est dommage que nous ne puissions pas rester. (It's a shame that we cannot stay.)

Expressing Doubt and Opinion

Verbs of doubt require the subjunctive. Verbs of certainty and opinion (like penser, croire, être sûr) use the indicative in the affirmative, but switch to the subjunctive in the negative or when phrased as a question, because uncertainty is introduced.

• Doubt: Je doute qu'il dise la vérité. (I doubt that he is telling the truth.)
• Certainty (indicative): Je pense qu'il dit la vérité. (I think that he is telling the truth.)
• Uncertainty (subjunctive): Je ne pense pas qu'il dise la vérité. (I don't think that he is telling the truth.)

A major exception is the verb 'espérer' (to hope). Even though it expresses a hope for the future, it is followed by the indicative in standard French. For example: J'espère qu'il fera beau. (I hope the weather will be nice.)

Conjunctions That Require the Subjunctive

Some connecting words (conjunctions) always trigger the subjunctive because they introduce a relationship of purpose, condition, or time that is not a simple fact.

• pour que (so that): Il travaille dur pour que sa famille ait tout ce dont elle a besoin. (He works hard so that his family has everything it needs.)
• avant que (before): Parle-lui avant qu'il ne parte. (Talk to him before he leaves.)
• bien que (although): Bien qu'il soit malade, il est venu. (Although he is sick, he came.)
• à moins que (unless): Je viendrai à moins qu'il pleuve. (I will come unless it rains.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The Same Subject Rule: When the subject of both clauses is the same, you must use an infinitive after the first verb, not 'que' plus the subjunctive. This is a very common error for English speakers. Compare these sentences:

• Different subjects: Je veux que tu partes. (I want you to leave.)
• Same subject (correct): Je veux partir. (I want to leave.)
• Same subject (incorrect): Je veux que je parte.

'Après que' takes the indicative: The conjunction 'après que' (after) refers to an event that is considered a fact, so it should be followed by the indicative. Many native speakers use the subjunctive here out of habit, but in writing and formal situations, the indicative is standard.

• Standard: Nous sommes sortis après que la pluie a cessé. (We went out after the rain stopped.)
• Common mistake: Nous sommes sortis après que la pluie ait cessé.

Quick self-check

1. How do you form the present subjunctive of 'choisir' for 'vous'?

   Show answer

   Start with 'ils choisissent', remove '-ent' to get the stem 'choisiss-', and add '-iez'. The result is 'que vous choisissiez'.

2. Does 'espérer que' (to hope that) take the subjunctive or the indicative?

   Show answer

   It takes the indicative. For example, 'J'espère que tu vas bien'.

3. Why is 'Je suis triste que je suis malade' incorrect?

   Show answer

   It has two mistakes. The verb in the second clause should be in the subjunctive because of the emotion ('je suis triste que'). Also, because the subject is the same in both clauses, you should use the infinitive: 'Je suis triste d'être malade'.

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