The subjunctive is rumored to be the most difficult thing in French, but it’s not true. Watch the video lesson and follow along reading the text below. I will not teach every exception in this lesson. Let’s keep it simple for now.
Watch my video lesson on the French subjunctive. Take the quiz at the end of the video. See the exercise at the bottom of this page, and I’ll tell you the answers during the video.
👉 When and why do we use the subjunctive in French?
👉 How do you form the subjunctive?
👉 Examples using the subjunctive in meaningful context.
French Subjunctive
The present French subjunctive refers to actions in the present or future.
Use the subjunctive when the sentence contains a dependent and a main clause.
The dependent and main clauses are connected by the word QUE.
One of the clauses will demonstrate a WEIRDO condition.
If what follows QUE is subjective in nature, you must use the subjunctive.
What do sentences with main and dependent clauses connected by QUE look like? Here are some examples from my video lesson (scroll down to watch it).
Wishing / Wanting
Je voudrais que tu finisses tes devoirs.
Je voudrais means I would like, so it demonstrates wanting.
The Je voudrais and the tu finisses tes devoirs are connected by QUE.
Just because I want THAT you finish your homework doesn’t mean you’re actually going to do it.
Emotions
Je suis triste qu’elle ne vienne pas.
Je suis triste means I am sad, so it demonstrates an emotion.
The Je suis triste and the elle ne vienne pas are connected by QUE.
I am sad THAT she’s not coming.
So why use the subjunctive here? There’s not really a doubt associated with she’s not coming, but anytime you’re dealing with emotion you do have to use the subjunctive.
Impersonal expressions
Il est important que nous répondions à toutes les questions.
Il est important means It is important, so that’s an impersonal expression.
The Il est important and the nous répondions à toutes les questions are connected by QUE.
It is importantTHATwe respond to all of the questions, but just because it’s important doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to happen. Right?
Requests / Requirements / Recommendations
Je suggère que vous arriviez un peu en avance.
Je suggère means I suggest, so that’s a recommendation.
Je suggère and the vous arriviez un peu en avance are joined by QUE.
Just because I suggest THAT you arrive a little early doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.
Il faut means It is necessary, so that’s a demand.
You can easily use Il faut followed by an infinitive and avoid the subjunctive altogether, but many times you’ll want to say Il faut que followed by another clause that begins with a subject.
In this example Il faut and je mette la table are joined by QUE.
Just because It is necessary THAT I set the table doesn’t mean I’ll do it.
Opinions
Je ne crois pas que ce soit une bonne idée.
Je ne crois pas means I don’t believe, so that demonstrates an Opinion.
The Je ne crois pas and the ce soit une bonne idée are connected by QUE.
Just because I don’t believe THAT it is a good idea doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not.
How to Form the Present French Subjunctive
Before doing some exercises together I will show you how to form the subjunctive. There are just a few irregular verbs to learn. As you may have guessed, the irregular verbs are the ones we use all the time.
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