Guide to Using the French Present Subjunctive Mood
Understanding the Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is a verb form that expresses doubt, uncertainty, desires, or hypothetical situations. In English, we often use it after phrases like "I wish" or "it's important that," but in French, it's frequently used and more formalized.
When to Use the Present Subjunctive in French
Use the present subjunctive in French mainly after expressions of necessity, possibility, doubt, desire, and after certain conjunctions.
Il faut que tu parles
It's necessary that you speak
Il est possible qu'elle vienne
It's possible that she is coming
Je veux qu'il finisse
I want him to finish
Forming the Present Subjunctive
To form the present subjunctive, take the third-person plural form of the present indicative, remove the ending, and add the subjunctive endings.
Subjunctive Endings
- -e
- -es
- -e
- -ions
- -iez
- -ent
Examples – Regular and Irregular Verbs
Regular Verbs
que tu parles
that you speak
que nous finissions
that we finish
Irregular Verbs
qu'elle aille
that she goes
que nous fassions
that we do
Key Conjunctions Triggering the Subjunctive
Some key conjunctions that trigger the use of the subjunctive include: "pour que" (so that), "bien que" (although), "à condition que" (provided that).
- bien que
- pour que
- à condition que
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A common mistake is using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after expressions and verbs that require it. Another is forgetting the irregular forms, which can lead to misunderstandings.
Further Reading
- Expressions Using the Subjunctive
Learn common expressions that require the subjunctive in French.
- Subjunctive Mood Overview
A comprehensive look into the subjunctive mood in French.
- Mastering the Present Subjunctive in French
Practical advice on mastering the present subjunctive.