Subjunctive Mood
If a sentence expresses a subjective statement
of opinion, the subjunctive mood is used. The
subjunctive is used in dependent clauses introduced
by the word que. The main clause must
express personal opinions or feelings and have a different
subject from the dependent clause. If the two
subjects are the same, the infinitive is used.
Je doute que la situation soit
juste. I doubt that the situation is just.
(shows judgment and opinion)
Tout le monde veut que venir. NOT:
Tout le monde veut que tout le
monde vienne. (use infinitive, same
subject)
To form the subjunctive, use the ils/elles
form of the present indicative tense. This is
also the form for the ils/elles form of the subjunctive.
For je, tu, il/elle, drop the -ent and add -e,
-es, and -e. Nous and vous use the imperfect
forms.
Drop the -ent of present form, and add:
| -e |
-ions |
| -es |
-iez |
| -e |
-ent |
Irregular Forms
| avoir |
|
être |
|
faire |
|
aller |
| aie (ay) |
ayons |
|
sois (swaw) |
soyons |
|
fasse |
fassions |
|
aille (eye) |
allions |
| aies |
ayez |
|
sois |
soyez |
|
fasses |
fassiez |
|
ailles |
alliez |
| ait |
aient |
|
soit |
soient |
|
fasse |
fassent |
|
aille |
aillent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| vouloir |
|
pouvoir |
|
savoir |
|
pleuvoir |
| veuille (vuhee) |
voulions |
|
puisse (pweess) |
puissions |
|
sache |
sachions |
|
|
|
| veuilles |
vouliez |
|
puisses |
puissiez |
|
saches |
sachiez |
|
|
|
| veuille |
veuillent |
|
puisse |
puissent |
|
sache |
sachent |
|
pleuve |
|
Here is a list of common expressions that are followed
by the subjunctive:
| Verbal Expressions |
Conjunctions |
| douter |
avant que |
| suggérer |
pour / afin que |
| vouloir |
jusqu'à ce que |
| proposer |
à moins que |
| avoir peur |
bien que / quoique |
| regretter |
|
| craindre |
|
| être content/triste/désolé(e)/surpris(e),
etc. |
|
penser/croire/trouver
(negative
and interrogative forms only) |
|
| il faut que |
|
| il vaut mieux que |
|
| il est important que |
|
| il se peut que |
|
| il est possible que |
|
| il est temps que |
|
| c'est dommage que |
|
However, douter, jusqu'à ce que, à
moins que, and bien que / quoique use the
subjunctive whether there is a change in subject or
not. And when using avant before an infinitive,
the construction is avant de + infinitive.
Note, also, that the subjunctive is not
used with espérer or il est probable,
although the subjunctive may be used with these words
in other Romance languages. For some reason,
this is not the case in French.
|
