The French Subjunctive Mood: The Complete Guide to Mastering le Subjonctif

The subjunctive is the grammatical mountain every French learner must climb. It expresses doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, and hypothetical situations. On the TEF/TCF, it appears in listening, reading, AND writing. If you avoid it, you cap yourself at B1. If you master it, you unlock C1.

Part 1: What Is the Subjunctive?

The subjunctive is not a tense --- it is a mood. It conveys subjectivity: wishes, doubts, fears, commands, and possibilities.

"Je qu'il ." (I know he is coming.) "Je qu'il ." (I want him to come.)

	-er (parler)	-ir (finir)	-re (vendre)
que je	parle	finisse	vende
que tu	parles	finisses	vendes
qu'il/elle	parle	finisse	vende
que nous	parlions	finissions	vendions
que vous	parliez	finissiez	vendiez
qu'ils/elles	parlent

Etre	que je sois, que tu sois, qu'il soit, que nous soyons, que vous soyez, qu'ils soient
Avoir	que j'aie, que tu aies, qu'il ait, que nous ayons, que vous ayez, qu'ils aient
Aller	que j'aille, que nous allions
Faire	que je fasse, que nous fassions
Pouvoir	que je puisse, que nous puissions
Savoir	que je sache, que nous sachions
Vouloir	que je veuille, que nous voulions

The French Subjunctive Mood: The Complete Guide to Mastering le Subjonctif

The French Subjunctive Mood: The Complete Guide to Mastering le Subjonctif

Part 1: What Is the Subjunctive?

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Part 2: Forming the Present Subjunctive

Regular Verbs

Irregular Verbs (Must Memorize)

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Part 3: When to Use the Subjunctive

Trigger Category 1: Desire and Will

Trigger Category 2: Emotion

Trigger Category 3: Doubt and Uncertainty

Trigger Category 4: Necessity and Judgment

Trigger Category 5: Conjunctions

Part 4: When NOT to Use the Subjunctive

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Part 5: The Past Subjunctive (Subjonctif Passe)

Part 6: Exam Strategy

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Conclusion

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