24.1 Understanding the Present Subjunctive
Until now, most of the forms you've learned have been in the indicative mood, which is used for statements presented as facts or information.
The subjunctive mood is different: it presents an action through a wish, emotion, doubt, request, judgment, necessity, or other attitude.
The Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive is used to express doubt, influence, or emotion about hypothetical or uncertain situations involving different subjects.
The subjunctive usually appears in a second clause introduced by que. The first clause expresses the attitude or trigger, and the verb after que appears in the subjunctive:
Je ne crois pas que les étudiants fassent leurs devoirs tous les jours.
I don't believe (that) the students do their homework every day.
Je souhaite que le lecteur vienne à l'heure.
I hope (that) the reader arrives on time.
Je suis contente qu'on finisse bientôt la construction du jardin.
I'm happy (that) we're finishing construction of the garden soon.
English often leaves out "that" in sentences like these, but French still requires que.
24.2 Constructing the Present Subjunctive
Nearly all French verbs use the same present-subjunctive endings. Many irregular verbs change their stem, but still take these same endings:
Regular Present-Subjunctive Endings
| Pronouns | All verb endings |
|---|---|
| je | -e |
| tu | -es |
| il, elle, on | -e |
| nous | -ions |
| vous | -iez |
| ils, elles | -ent |
For regular -ER, -IR, and -RE verbs, we'll get the subjunctive stem from the third-person plural (ils, elles) form of the present tense:
This method also works with many verbs that are irregular in the present tense: ils mettent → mett- → que je mette
24.3 Conjugating Verbs in the Present Subjunctive
Now let's see some verbs fully conjugated in the present subjunctive:
24.5 Introducing WEIRDO Triggers for the Present Subjunctive
But wait! One more thing before you go. Have you heard of the WEIRDO acronym? If not, you're in for a helpful treat. This quirky little mnemonic can be used to help you remember when to use the subjunctive:
Wishes
Emotions
Impersonal expressions
Recommendations or requests
Doubt, denial, or negation
Obligation
Let's explore each of these categories in more detail!
Wishes
The subjunctive is used to express desires or wishes. These often start with verbs like souhaiter (to wish, hope) or vouloir (to want). Interestingly, espérer (to hope) does not take the subjunctive!
Emotions
When you express emotions or feelings about a situation, the subjunctive is used. These sentences might begin with phrases like Je suis contente que (I'm glad that) or C'est dommage que (It's too bad that).
Impersonal Expressions
These are statements that usually start with Il est (It is) followed by an adjective, like Il est important que (It's important that) or Il est possible que (It's possible that). In informal speech, French speakers will sometimes interchange C'est with Il est.
Recommendations or Requests
The subjunctive is used when giving advice or making requests, using verbs such as suggérer (to suggest) or recommander (to recommend).
Doubt, Denial, or Negation
Expressions of uncertainty, denial, or negation require the subjunctive. They often start with phrases like Je ne pense pas que (I don't think that) or Je doute que (I doubt that).
Obligation
Statements of obligation or necessity require the subjunctive. The most common is Il faut que (It is necessary that), using the verb falloir (to require). Il est nécessaire que can also be used.
So, there you have it! Now you have a handy acronym to help you remember when to use the subjunctive. Go forth and conquer, VerbMasters!
Practice Time!
Master these verb conjugations from Lesson 24