Infinitive vs Subjunctive
In French, choosing between the infinitive and the subjunctive shapes meaning and tone: the infinitive states actions neutrally while the subjunctive colors them with doubt, desire, or emotion. This guide explains when to use each mood with clear examples.
Infinitive
The infinitive is the basic form of the verb and is used after certain expressions, prepositions, and when the action is general or not tied to a specific subject. It appears as parler, finir, attendre and so on.
When to Use the Infinitive
Use the infinitive after expressions like il faut, avant de, penser à, and after prepositions when you want to state an action neutrally or generally. The infinitive keeps the focus on the action itself rather than on who does it.
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Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Je préfère arroser les plantes avant de sortir. | I prefer to water the plants before going out. | Preference with main verb + infinitive |
| ☀️ Elle aime lire au soleil pour se détendre. | She likes to read in the sun to relax. | Expression of liking with infinitive |
| 🧴 Ils ont décidé de tester un nouveau engrais. | They decided to try a new fertilizer. | Decision with infinitive |
| 🚿 Avant d'arroser, je vérifie toujours la météo. | Before watering, I always check the weather. | Use after preposition |
| 🍃 Après avoir taillé les branches, j’ai fait une tisane. | After pruning the branches, I made some tea. | Compound infinitive with avoir |
Special Infinitive Constructions
Some verbs require an infinitive with a preposition (like à or de) and others switch meaning depending on whether you use an infinitive or a clause. Pay attention to these patterns to choose the infinitive correctly.
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Subjunctive
The subjunctive is a mood that expresses doubt, desire, necessity, emotion, or subjective judgement, and it appears in dependent clauses introduced by que when the subject changes. Typical subjunctive forms are based on the third person plural stem with endings like -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
When to Use the Subjunctive
Use the subjunctive after expressions of necessity, wish, fear, regret, or when value is placed on an outcome, and when the clause has a different subject introduced by que. Common triggers are phrases like il faut que, je veux que, j'ai peur que.
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Examples
| French Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Il faut que je protège les jeunes pousses du gel. | I need to protect the young shoots from the frost. | Necessity with subjunctive |
| ☁️ Bien qu’il pleuve, je plante des graines en serre. | Although it’s raining, I’m planting seeds in the greenhouse. | Concession with subjunctive |
| 🌸 Je veux que tu viennes voir la floraison demain. | I want you to come see the blooming tomorrow. | Volition with subjunctive |
| 🐝 Pour que les abeilles puissent butiner, j’ai laissé des fleurs sauvages. | So that the bees can forage, I left wildflowers. | Purpose with subjunctive |
| 🔍 Il semble que les parasites aient envahi le potager. | It seems that pests have invaded the vegetable garden. | Doubt or appearance with subjunctive |
Common Subjunctive Triggers
Familiarize yourself with common trigger expressions in categories like necessity, desire, emotion, and doubt to know when to expect the subjunctive. These triggers guide whether to use que plus subjunctive or an infinitive.
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Summary
In short, use the infinitive for neutral or general actions typically following prepositions and certain expressions, and use the subjunctive in dependent clauses that express subjective attitudes when there is a change of subject. Recognizing trigger phrases and sentence structure will make choosing between infinitive and subjunctive intuitive.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025