A Guide to Using the French Subjunctive Mood

In this post, we’ll take a look at using the French subjunctive. If you’re not sure how to form the subjunctive, take a look at this post. Once you’re mastered how to form the subjunctive, you can turn to how to use it. First, we’ll give an overview of the French subjunctive, compared to the indicative. Then we’ll turn to the major uses of the subjunctive, examining certain types of “triggers” that cause the subjunctive to be used. After that we’ll look at some common verbs that are triggers for the subjunctive. Next, we’ll see some conjunctions that are triggers for the subjunctive. Finally, we’ll bring everything together in a few practice exercises.

Overview of the French Subjunctive vs. the Indicative

First, let’s define what the subjunctive is. You’re no doubt familiar with verb tenses; they tell you when something happens, past, present, or future. You may also be familiar with the idea of verbal aspect; this tells you more about how something happens. Is it completed, is it repeated or habitual, is it ongoing? (Aspect is the difference between the passé composé and the imparfait.) The last verby thing that will help you understand the subjunctive is what’s called a mood. A mood is related to how the speaker feels about what they are saying. Is it true or hypothetical? How sure am I about it? Is it a subjective belief or an objective fact? Is it reality or a command or wish?

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The French subjunctive is a mood. It’s not a tense or an aspect, so it’s all about how the speaker feels about what is being said. If there’s an element of doubt or uncertainty, or if there’s a wish, necessity, or a demand that’s being expressed, or if it’s a subjective appraisal of something, French uses the subjunctive. (The “regular” mood is called the indicative, because it indicates reality as a speaker thinks it to be.) Compare these two:

Je sais qu’il vient.
I know that he is coming.
Indicative → Expresses certainty.
Je doute qu’il vienne.
I doubt that he is coming.
Subjunctive → Expresses doubt.

Dependent Clause with que

The subjunctive usually appears in dependent (subordinate) clauses introduced by que. There’s something in the main clause that triggers the use of the subjunctive in the dependent clause. English actually has a limited subjunctive, with exactly this kind of trigger:

It’s important that you be on time.
trigger: it’s important that…
The boss demands that everyone finish their projects.
trigger: to demand that…

In both examples, the that-clause is expressing something that isn’t necessarily true. It’s a wish or a demand or something the speaker feels is important, but none of that necessarily means that it’s really happening. These English examples are exactly like the French subjunctive. The only difference is that the subjunctive is used a lot more in French than in English.

Uses of the French Subjunctive

Now let’s look at when you should use the subjunctive. Remember that the subjunctive is used in dependent clauses introduced by que when there is some sort of trigger in the main clause.

main Clause (indicative, with trigger) + que + dependent clause (subjunctive)

The main clause verb itself is in the indicative, but it expresses a wish, a subjective emotional appraisal, doubt, uncertainty, and so on. Let’s look at these categories individually.

Wishes, Desires, Preferences, Advice

If a verb in the main clause expresses a wish, a desire, or a preference, it serves as a trigger for the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Such verbs include vouloir que (to want that), souhaiter que (to wish that), aimer que (to like that), préférer que (to prefer that), proposer que (to suggest/propose that), suggérer que (to suggest that), and so on.

Je veux que tu viennes.
I want you to come.
Elle souhaite que tu sois là.
She wishes that you were here.
J’aime qu’il fasse beau.
I like that it’s nice outside.
Je préfère que vous veniez seul.
I prefer that you come alone.
Je propose que nous rentrions à la maison.
I suggest/propose that we go home.

Emotions and Judgments

If the main clause expresses a subjective emotion about an external fact, it triggers the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Examples of such expressions are être triste que (to be sad that), être content que (to be happy that), avoir peur que (to be afraid that), craindre que (to fear that), regretter que (to regret that), il est temps que (it’s time that), and so on.

Je suis triste que tu partes. I am sad that you are leaving.
Je suis heureuse que tu sois là.
I’m happy that you’re here.
Il a peur qu’elle ne vienne pas. He is afraid that she won’t come.
Je regrette que tu doives travailler tard à cause de moi.
I regret that you have to work late because of me.

A lot of impersonal (il est… c’est…) expressions that show a subjective attitude toward something trigger the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Some examples are: c’est bien que/il est bien que (it’s good that), c’est/il est dommage que (it’s too bad that), c’est/il est étonnant que (it’s surprising that), c’est/il est bizarre/étrange que (it’s bizarre/strange that), c’est/il est honteux que (it’s a shame that), c’est/il est normal que (it’s normal that), c’est/il est pratique que (it’s practical that), and so on.

C’est bien qu’il fasse beau aujourd’hui.
It’s good that the weather is nice today.
Il est honteux qu’il nous mente.
It’s shameful that he’s lying to us.
C’est bizarre qu’il n’y ait personne ici.
It’s bizarre that no one is here.
C’est pratique que nous y allions ensemble.
It’s practical for us to go there together.

Doubt and Uncertainty

If the main clause includes a verb or expression that expresses doubt or uncertainty, it triggers the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Examples include douter que (to doubt that), il est possible que (it’s possible that), il n’est pas certain que… (it’s not certain that), il semble que (it seems that), il est peu probable que (it’s unlikely that), and so on.

Je doute qu’il soit prêt.
I doubt that he is ready.
Il est possible qu’elle ait raison.
It’s possible that she is right.
Il n’est pas certain qu’ils soient chez eux.
It’s not certain that they are home.
Il semble qu’elle ne soit pas heureuse.
It seems that she’s not happy.

Some verbs can express a doubt in the negative, but more of a certainty in the affirmative. Two common examples are penser que (to think that) and croire que (to think/believe that). In these cases, use the subjunctive only if the main clause is in the negative.

Je pense qu’il vient.
I think he is coming.
Je ne pense pas qu’il vienne.
I don’t think he is coming.
Je crois qu’on doit travailler demain.
I think we have to work tomorrow.
Je ne crois pas qu’on doive travailler demain.
I don’t think we have to work tomorrow.

Necessity or Obligation

If the main clause includes a verb that expresses a demand, an order, a necessity, or an obligation, it triggers the subjunctive in the dependent clause. Examples include il faut que (it’s necessary that), il est essential que (it’s essential that), il est nécessaire que (it’s necessary that), il est urgent que (it’s urgent that), exiger que (to demand that), ordonner que (to command that), and so on.

Il faut que tu finisses ton travail.
You must finish your work.
Il est essentiel qu’elle le sache. It is essential that she know it.
Elle exige que nous soyons à l’heure.
She demands that we be on time.
Le policier ordonne que nous montrions nos pièces d’identité.
The police officer orders us to show our ID.

Superlatives and Subjectivity

When a superlative or an expression of opinion introduces a subjective statement in the main clause, it triggers the subjunctive in the dependent clause.

C’est le plus beau film que j’aie vu.
It’s the most beautiful film that I’ve seen.
C’est le livre le plus intéressant que je connaisse.
It’s the most interesting book that I know.
Il est le seul qui puisse le faire. He is the only one who can do it.

Conjunctions that Trigger the French Subjunctive

Certain conjunctions always require the subjunctive. These include pour que (so that), avant que (before), bien que (even though), à condition que (provided that), jusqu’à ce que (until), sans que (without), à moins que (unless).

Elle travaille dur pour que nous réussissions.
She works hard so that we may succeed.
Pars avant qu’il ne pleuve.
Leave before it rains.
Bien qu’il fasse froid, il sort.
Although it’s cold, he goes out.
Il viendra à condition que tu sois là.
He will come provided that you are there.
Attends jusqu’à ce qu’il revienne.
Wait until he returns.
Il est parti sans que je le voie.
He left without me seeing him.
J’irai à moins qu’il ne soit là.
I’ll go unless he’s there.

Most of these conjunctions express something that is either untrue or not yet realized, so the use of the subjunctive makes sense. Bien que is an exception, because it expresses something true, but it’s about a subjective relationship to that situation, so again, the subjunctive makes sense.

Ne explétif

After certain expressions that carry some sort of negative or unrealized connotation, you may find an extra ne without a pas:

Pars avant qu’il ne pleuve.
Leave before it rains.
J’irai à moins qu’il ne soit là.
I’ll go unless he’s there.
Je doute qu’il ne pleuve demain.
I doubt it will rain tomorrow.

This is called the ne explétif (expletive or “dummy” ne). It doesn’t add anything negative to the sentence, but it enforces the negative or unrealized sense. It’s formal and optional, so you can get away without using it. But you will come across it.

Practice

Finally, let’s put all of that into practice.

A. Fill In

First, complete each sentence with the correct subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses, then translate.

Il faut que nous ___ (faire) attention.
Je veux que tu ___ (venir) à ma fête.
Bien qu’il ___ (être) fatigué, il continue à travailler.
J’ai peur que vous ne ___ (pouvoir) pas venir demain.
Avant qu’il ___ (pleuvoir), nous devons rentrer.
Elle doute que nous ___ (avoir) raison.
Il est possible qu’il ___ (partir) demain.
Je suis content que tu ___ (savoir) la vérité.
Nous regrettons que tu ne ___ (être) pas là.
C’est la meilleure chose que j’___ (entendre) aujourd’hui !

B. Subjunctive or Indicative?

Decide whether the verb in parentheses should be in the subjunctive or indicative, then conjugate it correctly.

Je pense qu’il ___ (venir) ce soir.
Il est important que tu ___ (faire) tes devoirs.
Il est évident que nous ___ (avoir) raison.
Je ne crois pas qu’elle ___ (savoir) la réponse.
Il veut que nous ___ (partir) tôt.
Il est clair que vous ___ (être) fatigués.
Nous espérons qu’elle ___ (réussir) son examen.
Il est essentiel que nous ___ (être) à l’heure.

C. Translation

Now see if you can translate these sentences into French using the subjunctive.

I am happy that you are here.
We fear that she is sick.
It is possible that he will come.
Before she leaves, she must call me.
They doubt that we have enough time.

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Answer Key

A

Il faut que nous fassions attention. (It is necessary that we pay attention.)
Je veux que tu viennes à ma fête. (I want you to come to my party.)
Bien qu’il soit fatigué, il continue à travailler. (Although he is tired, he keeps working.)
J’ai peur que vous ne puissiez pas venir demain. (I’m afraid that you might not be able to come tomorrow.)
Avant qu’il pleuve, nous devons rentrer. (Before it rains, we must go home.)
Elle doute que nous ayons raison. (She doubts that we are right.)
Il est possible qu’il parte demain. (It is possible that he will leave tomorrow.)
Je suis content que tu saches la vérité. (I am happy that you know the truth.)
Nous regrettons que tu ne sois pas là. (We regret that you are not here.)
C’est la meilleure chose que j’aie entendue aujourd’hui ! (That’s the best thing I’ve heard today!)

B

Je pense qu’il vient ce soir. (Indicative → I think he is coming tonight.)
Il est important que tu fasses tes devoirs. (Subjunctive → It is important that you do your homework.)
Il est évident que nous avons raison. (Indicative → It is obvious that we are right.)
Je ne crois pas qu’elle sache la réponse. (Subjunctive → I don’t think she knows the answer.)
Il veut que nous partions tôt. (Subjunctive → He wants us to leave early.)
Il est clair que vous êtes fatigués. (Indicative → It is clear that you are tired.)
Nous espérons qu’elle réussira son examen. (Indicative → We hope that she will pass her exam.)
Il est essentiel que nous soyons à l’heure. (Subjunctive → It is essential that we be on time.)

C

Je suis heureux(se) que tu sois ici/là. (I am happy that you are here.)
Nous avons peur qu’elle (ne) soit malade. (We fear that she is sick.)
Il est possible qu’il vienne. (It is possible that he will come.)
Avant qu’elle (ne) parte, elle doit m’appeler. (Before she leaves, she must call me.)
Ils doutent que nous ayons assez de temps. (They doubt that we have enough time.)

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