Question 1

When do you use the French subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

The subjunctive is used after expressions of: (1) emotion (Je suis content que tu sois là), (2) doubt/uncertainty (Je doute qu'il vienne), (3) necessity/obligation (Il faut que tu partes), (4) desire/will (Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs), (5) some conjunctions (bien que, pour que, avant que), and (6) superlatives + subjective judgment (C'est le meilleur film que j'aie vu).

Question 2

How do you conjugate the French subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

The subjunctive stem comes from the ils/elles form of the present tense minus -ent. Add endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. Irregular verbs: être → je sois, avoir → j'aie, aller → j'aille, faire → je fasse, pouvoir → je puisse, savoir → je sache, vouloir → je veuille, falloir → il faille. The subjunctive is NOT a tense — it's a mood used in subordinate clauses after que.

Question 3

What's the difference between subjonctif and indicatif?

Accepted Answer

The indicatif expresses facts, certainty, and objective reality (Je sais qu'il vient — I know he's coming). The subjonctif expresses subjectivity — doubt, emotion, desire, uncertainty (Je veux qu'il vienne — I want him to come). After expressions of certainty (il est certain que, je sais que, je pense que affirmatively), use indicatif; after doubt and emotion, use subjonctif.

Mga Pandiwa (Verbs)

Mga Modyul ng Gramatika (Grammar Modules)

Verbs and Phrases Taking the Subjunctive in French

Trigger Title

Will

Necessity Title

Doubt

Emotion Title

Esperer Title

Conjunctions Title

Conj Title time

Conj Title goal

Conj Title cond

Conj Title opp

Idioms Title