Subjunctive Triggers
The subjunctive mood colors speech with doubt, desire and emotion, and it turns on in French when certain triggers appear in the matrix clause. This guide walks through the main categories of triggers, so you can spot them and choose the subjunctive or indicative as needed.
Wanting
Wanting triggers the subjunctive when the subject of the main clause wants something to happen, and the action is expressed in a subordinate clause. Use vouloir que, souhaiter que and similar expressions to signal this.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ Je veux que tu goûtes mon nouveau café avant d’en parler. | I want you to taste my new coffee before talking about it. |
| 🍰 Elle veut que je dresse la table avec ses assiettes colorées. | She wants me to set the table with her colorful plates. |
| 🌿 Nous voulons qu’ils ajoutent des fleurs fraîches au centre de la table. | We want them to add fresh flowers to the center of the table. |
| 🥖 Il veut que tu coupes une baguette pour les invités. | He wants you to cut a baguette for the guests. |
Useful Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Je veux que... | I want that... / I want to... |
| J’aimerais que... | I would like that... |
| Je souhaite que... | I wish that... |
| Il faut que... | It is necessary that... |
| Je désire que... | I desire that... |
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Emotion
Emotion triggers the subjunctive when the main clause expresses feelings about an event, and the subordinate clause describes that event. Common verbs include fear, regret, happiness, and surprise.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 😊 Je suis content que tu sois là pour partager ce café. | I am happy that you are here to share this coffee. |
| 😟 Elle est triste que la tarte soit tombée par terre. | She is sad that the pie fell on the floor. |
| 😲 Je crains qu’il ne pleuve pendant notre goûter en terrasse. | I fear that it might rain during our outdoor snack. |
| 😍 Nous sommes ravis que tu aies apporté tes biscuits préférés. | We are delighted that you brought your favorite cookies. |
Useful Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Je suis content que... | I am happy that... |
| Je suis triste que... | I am sad that... |
| Je crains que... | I fear that... |
| Je suis surpris que... | I am surprised that... |
| Je suis désolé que... | I am sorry that... |
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Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Necessity and Obligation
Necessity and obligation trigger the subjunctive when they are expressed as general requirements, judgments, or rules that apply to an action in the subordinate clause. Phrases like il faut que and il est nécessaire que set this up.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🧼 Il faut que tu te laves les mains avant de toucher aux gâteaux. | You must wash your hands before touching the cakes. |
| 🕒 Il est nécessaire que nous commencions le service à quatre heures. | It is necessary that we start service at four o’clock. |
| 🔔 Je veux que tu sois prêt quand sonnera la dernière commande. | I want you to be ready when the last order rings. |
| 🧹 Il est important que quelqu’un nettoie les miettes sur la table. | It is important that someone cleans up the crumbs on the table. |
Useful Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Il faut que... | It is necessary that... |
| Il est important que... | It is important that... |
| Il est nécessaire que... | It is necessary that... |
| Il vaut mieux que... | It is better that... |
| Il est possible que... | It is possible that... |
| Il est urgente que... | It is urgent that... |
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Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
Useful Expressions
Doubt and Denial
Doubt and denial trigger the subjunctive when the speaker calls into question the truth or occurrence of something, typically with verbs or expressions that signal uncertainty. If the speaker presents the fact as certain, use the indicative instead.
Examples
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☁️ Je doute que ce café soit assez corsé pour lui. | I doubt that this coffee is strong enough for him. |
| 🚫 Il ne pense pas que les biscuits soient faits maison. | He doesn’t think that the cookies are homemade. |
| ❓ Je ne suis pas sûr qu’il y ait assez de chaises pour tout le monde. | I’m not sure that there are enough chairs for everyone. |
| 🙅♀️ Elle nie que le dessert ait été brûlé. | She denies that the dessert was burnt. |
Useful Expressions
| French Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Je doute que... | I doubt that... |
| Il ne pense pas que... | He doesn’t think that... |
| Je ne suis pas sûr que... | I’m not sure that... |
| Il est possible que... | It is possible that... |
| Il semble que... | It seems that... |
| Je nie que... | I deny that... |
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Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025