Learn the French subjunctive mood: conjugation rules, triggers, common expressions, and example sentences. Practice with exercises to develop an intuitive grasp of mood shifts and improve your writing and speaking.
A guide to the French subjunctive mood, covering when and how to use it: key phrases, verb conjugation, and common mistakes. Includes practice exercises to reinforce understanding and speaking fluency.
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The subjunctive mood expresses doubt, desire, necessity, emotion, and other attitudes rather than concrete facts. Learn the key triggers and how to form it so you can add nuance to your French.
Usage
Le subjonctif apparaît principalement dans des propositions subordonnées après certaines expressions qui signalent la nécessité, le désir, le doute ou l’émotion. Il indique qu’une action est incertaine, subjective ou attendue plutôt que réalisée.
The subjunctive appears mainly in dependent clauses after certain expressions that signal necessity, desire, doubt, or emotion. It marks that an action is uncertain, subjective, or anticipated rather than realized.
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Formation
Commencez par la forme ils du présent de l’indicatif, enlevez -ent, puis ajoutez les terminaisons du subjonctif : -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. De légers changements de radical peuvent s’appliquer.
Start with the ils form of the present indicative, remove -ent, and add the subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. Small stem changes may apply.
Endings
Here are the subjunctive endings added to the stem:
Person
Ending
Person
Ending
je
-e
nous
-ions
tu
-es
vous
-iez
il/elle/on
-e
ils/elles
-ent
Que je(manger) tôt demain.
That I eat early tomorrow.
Que je ___ (manger) tôt demain.
Formation
Prenez la forme ils du présent de l’indicatif, enlevez -ent pour obtenir le radical, puis ajoutez ces terminaisons :
Take the ils form of the present indicative, remove -ent to get the stem, then add these endings:
French Sentence
English Sentence
que je parle
that I speak
que tu finisses
that you finish
qu'il attende
that he waits
que nous prenions
that we take
que vous vendiez
that you sell
qu'ils choisissent
that they choose
Que je(partir) après le déjeuner.
That I leave after lunch.
Que je ___ (partir) après le déjeuner.
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Key Verbs
Certain verbs commonly trigger the subjunctive in their dependent clauses — learn them in categories like desire, necessity, and emotion.
Desire Verbs
Verbs expressing want, wish, or demand usually require the subjunctive on the following clause.
Necessity Verbs
Expressions of need or obligation typically trigger the subjunctive when they introduce an action.
Emotion Verbs
Feelings like fear, joy, regret, and surprise prompt the subjunctive in clauses describing what causes the emotion.
Key Expressions
Set phrases with que often signal the subjunctive; learn common ones so you recognize when to use it.
Common Expressions
These fixed expressions frequently appear before subjunctive clauses in everyday speech and writing.
Doubt Expressions
Phrases that express uncertainty or denial trigger the subjunctive when they introduce a potentially untrue action.
Exceptions
Certains verbes changent de sens selon qu’ils sont suivis du mode indicatif ou subjonctif, et quelques expressions n’utilisent le subjonctif qu’en négatif ou en question.
Some verbs change meaning depending on whether you use the subjunctive or indicative, and a few expressions use the subjunctive only in negative or interrogative forms.
Summary
The subjunctive marks subjective attitudes like doubt, desire, and necessity. Learn the key trigger verbs and set expressions, practice the formation from the ils stem, and pay attention to whether the clause highlights fact or feeling — with time it will feel natural to choose the subjunctive where nuance matters.
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