Lesson 17 Flashcards
This deck introduces the present subjunctive and goes through the most common verbs and phrases that require the subjunctive mood. For more info on the subjunctive, we recommend checking out lawlessfrench.com.
What is the subjunctive mood?
The subjunctive mood is used for actions that are subjective or uncertain. These actions are dependent on opinions, conditions, or subjective ideas. The subjunctive mood is usually found in dependent clauses that begin with que.
How do you conjugate the present subjunctive?
To conjugate regular verbs in the present subjunctive, take the third-person plural form of the present tense, then drop the -ent ending. From there, add the subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
Conjugate jouer in the present subjunctive.
- que je joue
- que tu joues
- qu’il/elle/on joue
- que nous jouions
- que vous jouiez
- qu’ils/elles jouent
This is a regular -ER verb conjugation. Recall that the subjunctive is often preceded by que.
Conjugate finir in the present subjunctive.
- que je finisse
- que tu finisses
- qu’il/elle/on finisse
- que nous finissions
- que vous finissiez
- qu’ils/elles finissent
This is a regular -IR verb conjugation, taking its stem (finiss-) from the ils/elles form of the present (finissent).
Conjugate attendre in the present subjunctive.
- que j’attende
- que tu attendes
- qu’il/elle/on attende
- que nous attendions
- que vous attendiez
- qu’ils/elles attendent
This is a regular -RE conjugation.
Conjugate dire in the present subjunctive.
- que je dise
- que tu dises
- qu’il/elle/on dise
- que nous disions
- que vous disiez
- qu’ils/elles disent
Conjugate partir in the present subjunctive.
- que je parte
- que tu partes
- qu’il/elle/on parte
- que nous partions
- que vous partiez
- qu’ils/elles partent
Note that while partir is irregular in the present indicative, it is regular in the present subjunctive.
Translate to French:
You have to finish
Il faut que tu finisses
Recall that the impersonal verb falloir, “to have to” or “to be necessary,” can be used with an infinitive. When it is used with que, the resulting expression il faut que means “it is necessary that.” This expression is very common and requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
They have to leave in 10 minutes
Il faut qu’ils partent dans 10 minutes
The more literal translation here would be “It is necessary that they leave in 10 minutes.” Of course, another way of saying this (without the subjunctive) is Ils doivent partir dans 10 minutes.
Translate to French:
Why do you want me to leave?
Pourquoi veux-tu que je parte?
The subjunctive is used following verbs or expressions that denote desires, wishes, or preferences.
Conjugate voir in the present subjunctive.
- que je voie
- que tu voies
- qu’il/elle/on voie
- que nous voyions
- que vous voyiez
- qu’ils/elles voient
Whenever there is an irregularity in the subjunctive conjugation of a verb, it often applies only to the nous and vous forms. Here, for those two forms, the stem changes to include a “y.” The other four conjugations are regular.
Conjugate prendre in the present subjunctive.
- que je prenne
- que tu prennes
- qu’il/elle/on prenne
- que nous prenions
- que vous preniez
- qu’ils/elles prennent
Prendre is irregular in the subjunctive for its nous and vous forms, whose stems (pren-) come from the nous form of the present tense (prenons). The other four subjunctive conjugations are regular.
Conjugate venir in the present subjunctive.
- que je vienne
- que tu viennes
- qu’il/elle/on vienne
- que nous venions
- que vous veniez
- qu’ils/elles viennent
Venir is irregular in the subjunctive for its nous and vous forms. Their stems are taken from the nous form of the present.
Conjugate pleuvoir in the present subjunctive.
qu’il pleuve
Pleuvoir is an impersonal verb, so it has only one (irregular) conjugation in the subjunctive.
Conjugate aller in the present subjunctive.
- que j’aille
- que tu ailles
- qu’il/elle/on aille
- que nous allions
- que vous alliez
- qu’ils/elles aillent
Aller is an irregular verb in the subjunctive. Note the different stem used for the nous and vous forms.
Conjugate faire in the present subjunctive.
- que je fasse
- que tu fasses
- qu’il/elle fasse
- que nous fassions
- que vous fassiez
- qu’ils/elles fassent
Faire is an irregular verb in the subjunctive.
Conjugate savoir in the present subjunctive.
- que je sache
- que tu saches
- qu’il/elle/on sache
- que nous sachions
- que vous sachiez
- qu’ils/elles sachent
Savoir is an irregular verb in the subjunctive.
Conjugate pouvoir in the present subjunctive.
- que je puisse
- que tu puisses
- qu’il/elle/on puisse
- que nous puissions
- que vous puissiez
- qu’ils/elles puissent
Pouvoir is an irregular verb in the subjunctive.
Conjugate vouloir in the present subjunctive.
- que je veuille
- que tu veuilles
- qu’il/elle/on veuille
- que nous voulions
- que vous vouliez
- qu’ils/elles veuillent
Vouloir is an irregular verb in the subjunctive. Note the different stem used for the nous and vous forms.
Conjugate être in the present subjunctive.
- que je sois
- que tu sois
- qu’il/elle/on soit
- que nous soyons
- que vous soyez
- qu’ils/elles soient
Être is totally irregular in the subjunctive in that it has both irregular stems and endings.
Conjugate avoir in the present subjunctive.
- que j’aie
- que tu aies
- qu’il/elle/on ait
- que nous ayons
- que vous ayez
- qu’ils/elles aient
Avoir is totally irregular in the subjunctive in that it has both irregular stems and endings.
Translate to French:
They wish (that) he would come
Ils souhaitent qu’il vienne
to wish, to desire - désirer, souhaiter. Recall that verbs denoting desire should be followed by the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
I prefer that you be there
Je préfère que tu sois là
The expression préférer que requires the subjunctive because it conveys preference.
Translate to French:
She orders that we be ready
Elle commande que nous soyons prêts
The subjunctive is used following verbs or expressions that denote orders, requirements, or suggestions.
Translate to French:
He demands that you be on time
Il exige que tu sois à l’heure
to demand (that) - exiger (que). Since it conveys a command, exiger que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
I permit him to make a meal
Je permets qu’il fasse à manger
Permettre que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
She suggests (that) we leave soon
Elle suggère que nous partions bientôt
Suggérer que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It’s time that we do it
Il est temps que nous le fassions
The expression il est temps que conveys a desire or suggestion, and therefore requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It’s important that he leave
Il est important qu’il parte
The expression il est important que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It’d be better if you guys do it
Il vaut mieux que vous le fassiez
to be better - valoir mieux. The impersonal verb valoir is used in the expression il vaut mieux que, which means “it is better that” and which requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It would be better to not go / One should not go
Il vaut mieux ne pas y aller
The impersonal expression il vaut mieux can be used with an infinitive, particularly when the opinion or statement expressed is a general one. No subjunctive conjugation is needed.
Translate to French:
We doubt (that) you guys will eat
Nous doutons que vous mangiez
The subjunctive is required following verbs or expressions of doubt, uncertainty, possibility, or opinion. Also note that there is no future subjunctive; the present subjunctive is used even when the action described would occur in the future.
Translate to French:
It is not certain that you guys will study
Il n’est pas certain que vous étudiiez
Because it conveys a sense of uncertainty, the expression il n’est pas certain que should be followed by the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It is impossible for you to succeed
Il est impossible que tu réussisses
As an expression of possibility, il est impossible que requires the subjunctive. The opposite expression, il est possible que, also requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It is fair that you guys do it
Il est juste que vous le fassiez
As an expression of opinion, il est juste que should be followed by the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It seems he is happy. It seems to me that she is glad
Il semble qu’il soit heureux. Il me semble qu’elle est contente
The impersonal expression il semble que is followed by the subjunctive. When sembler is used impersonally with an indirect object pronoun, however, it takes the indicative instead.
Translate to French:
It seems impossible that we will arrive on time
Il paraît impossible que nous arrivions à l’heure
When il paraît is used with an adjective, the following verb may need to be in the subjunctive. Here, the subjunctive is used because il est impossible que requires the subjunctive, which means that il paraît impossible que also requires it.
Translate to French:
It doesn’t seem like you can do it
Il ne paraît pas que tu puisses le faire
Il ne paraît pas que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
He regrets that the project is not ready
Il regrette que le projet ne soit pas prêt
Verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling take the subjunctive. The feeling of regret is at play here.
Translate to French:
I like that Jean is so creative
J’aime que Jean soit si créatif
As a verb of feeling, aimer que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
He is happy that I can see it
Il est heureux que je puisse le voir
Être heureux que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
He is sad that she is leaving
Il est triste qu’elle parte
As an expression of feeling, être triste que requires the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
I am embarrassed that you guys are not waiting for us
J’ai honte que vous ne nous attendiez pas
The expression avoir honte que takes the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It’s good that Marc wants to work
Il est bon que Marc ait envie de travailler
The construction il est bon que requires the subjunctive. Remember that if a verb or expression denotes an element of subjectivity, it is most likely followed by the subjunctive.
Translate to French:
It’s too bad that I can’t see it
Il est dommage que je ne puisse pas le voir
Il est dommage que conveys a feeling or opinion, and therefore requires the subjunctive. Note that you could also say C’est dommage que…
Translate to French:
He thinks that I understand. He does not believe that I understand
Il croit que je comprends. Il ne croit pas que je comprenne
Some verbs and expressions can take both the indicative and the subjunctive. When croire que is used in the affirmative, it takes the indicative. However, it is followed by the subjunctive when used negatively or interrogatively.
Translate to French:
I think that we are going to forget. I do not think that we are going to forget
Je pense que nous allons oublier. Je ne pense pas que nous allions oublier
Note how the indicative is used with the affirmative form of penser, since certainty is implied. However, the subjunctive is used with the negative form of penser, which conveys doubt.