Le Subjonctif
Video
Notes
The subjonctif is a French mood (or mode) which expresses the speaker's opinion, desire, emotion, or uncertainty. We have already learned three other modes: l'indicatif (facts: le présent, le passé composé, l'imparfait, le futur, le plus-que-parfait), l'impératif (commands), and le conditionnel (conditional actions).
The subjonctif will always be used in a sentence that has a dependent and an independent clause connected by "que" and can only be used in the present and past tenses. See its conjugations and uses below.
The subjonctif will always be used in a sentence that has a dependent and an independent clause connected by "que" and can only be used in the present and past tenses. See its conjugations and uses below.
La Conjugaison Régulière
- It is rather simple to conjugate the subjonctif, though its usage is a little more elusive. Here are the general rules in a list and then summarized in a table.
- This applies to all verbs accept the irregular verbs that can be remembered by the acronym FAPES, VA (faire, aller, pouvoir, être, savoir, vouloir, avoir). All other verbs are regular, even those that are irregular in the indicative and conditional tenses, like voir.
- The nous and vous forms are identical to the imparfait
- The ils and elles forms are identical to the present
- The je, tu, il/elle/on forms take the ils form of the present, drop the -ent, and add -e for je/il/elle/on, -es for tu
La Conjugaison Irrégulière
- In the subjonctif, there are only eight verbs with irregular conjugations: faire, aller, pouvoir, être, savoir, vouloir, avoir.
- You can use the acronym FAPES, VA (+V) to help you to remember which verbs are irregular.
- There are two sets of irregular verbs, the verbs with an irregular stem and the verbs that are entirely and completely irregular.
Irregular Stems
- The first set of six verbs have irregular stems but follow the same endings as the regularly conjugated verbs (e, es, e, ons, ions, iez, ent).
- The remaining two verbs, avoir and être are completely and absolutely irregular. MEMORIZE THEM!!!!
L'utilisation du Subjonctif
When to use the subjonctif
There are three things to remember when determining if you will use the subjonctif.
- As we have learned, the word "que" creates a new clause within a sentence. The subjonctif will always be in the independent clause (second part) of a sentence following the word que.
Ex: Il faut que tu viennes. > It is necessary that you come. - The subjects of the two clauses of the sentence must be different.
Ex: Il faut que tu viennes.
Ex: Elle veut que tu viennes.
** If the subjects of the two parts of the sentence are the same then you will leave the verb in its infinitive form.
Ex: Elle veut manger. > She wants to eat.
Ex: Il faut manger. > It is necessary to eat. - You will not use the subjonctif every time there is a que in the middle of a sentences, there are certain expressions related to certain emotions being expressed that will indicate that you must use the subjonctif. Here are a few examples of these trigger expressions that must be in the dependent clause:
avant que: before
bien que: although
jusqu'à ce que: until
pour que: so that
quoique: although
sans que: without
il faut que: it is necessary that
il est nécessaire que: it is necessary that
vouloir que: want that
Information from Contextualized French Grammar: A Handbook, Stacy Katz Bourns.
Sentiments expressed by the subjonctif
As we have learned, the subjonctif is used to expression feelings of the speaker. The expressions that require use of the subjunctive are wants/wishes, emotion, impersonal expressions, requests/recommendations/requirements, doubts/demands/denials, and opinions. You can remember these with the acronym WEIRDO.
Below we will explore each part of WEIRDO in-depth and see the different expressions that will always indicate use of the subjonctif.
Wanting, wishing
Phrases expressing wishes or wants will use the subjonctif because they are uncertain actions. Just because one wants or wishes for something does not mean that it will happen.
Ex: Je veux que tu fasses les devoirs. > I want that you do your homework.
Just because I want you do to your homework, you still have the opportunity not to do it, therefore showing an uncertain action, something that is not a fact.
Ex: Je veux que tu fasses les devoirs. > I want that you do your homework.
Just because I want you do to your homework, you still have the opportunity not to do it, therefore showing an uncertain action, something that is not a fact.
Here are some phrases that will always indicate use of the subjonctif.
Remember that the verb preceding the use of the subjonctif can be in any tense, but the subjonctif itself can only be in the present or the past.
Remember that the verb preceding the use of the subjonctif can be in any tense, but the subjonctif itself can only be in the present or the past.
- vouloir que + subjonctif
- Je veux que tu fasses les devoirs.
- Le prof voudrais que tu finisses le projet.
- Elles voudront que tu arrives à l'heure.
- Je veux que tu fasses les devoirs.
- souhaiter que + subjonctif
- Je souhaite qu'il vienne à la soirée.
- Vous souhaitez qu'elle soit gentille.
- Je souhaite qu'il vienne à la soirée.
- désirer que + subjonctif
- Les profs désirent que les enfants soient silencieux.
- Le garçon désire que Papa Noël vienne.
- La mère désirait que son fils fasse le ménage.
- Les profs désirent que les enfants soient silencieux.
**RAPPELEZ: espérer que implies belief, so it will use the indicative. If you use ne pas espérer que or you use espérer que interrogatively it will imply doubt so it will use the subjonctif. We will explore this more in the Doubt section of WEIRDO.**
Emotion
Phrases that are expression emotion and meet all three requirements of the subjunctive (see above) will use the subjunctive mood. Here are some examples of phrases that express emotion and will use the subjunctive.
- être (mé)content(e) que + subjonctif
- Je suis contente qu'il aille à la soirée.
- Tu es mécontent qu'elles ne fassent pas les devoirs.
- être (mal)heureux/heureuse que + subjonctif
- Elles sont heureuses que le prof soit malade.
- Je suis malheureux que tu ne saches pas les informations.
- être ravi(e) que + subjonctif
- Vous êtes ravis qu'ils arrivent à l'heure.
- être étonné(e) que + subjonctif
- Nous sommes étonnés que les enfants aient des iPhones.
- être triste que + subjonctif
- Il est triste que les étudiants n'aient pas des bonnes notes.
- être surpris(e) que + subjonctif
- Je suis surprise que les personnes agissent si étrange.
- être impatient(e) que + subjonctif
- Le prof est impatient que tu fasses les devoirs.
- être désolé(e) que + subjonctif
- Nous sommes désolés qu'il n'y ait pas de nourriture.
- se réjouir que + subjonctif
- Les citoyens réjouissent que le président soit mort.
- craindre que + subjonctif
- Tu craint que nous puissions être en retard.
- avoir peur que + subjonctif
- J'ai peur qu'il soit trop tard.
Impersonal expressions
Impersonal expressions are phrases that do not have an actual subject and will most often begin with il est or c'est; the two are interchangeable but c'est is less formal. Impersonal expressions followed by que will use the subjunctive, otherwise they will use the infinitive.
Ex: Subjonctif: Il faut que le garçon soit gentil. > It is important that the boy be kind.
Ex: Indicatif: Il faut être gentil. > It is important to be nice.
Ex: Subjonctif: Il faut que le garçon soit gentil. > It is important that the boy be kind.
Ex: Indicatif: Il faut être gentil. > It is important to be nice.
Here are some examples of impersonal expressions that will use the subjonctif. You can see more phrases along with their definitions on this Quizlet list.
il faut que + subjonctif
il est essentiel que + subjonctif
il est important que + subjonctif
il est rare que + subjonctif
- Il faut que les étudients étudient.
- Il faut que tu ailles à l'épicerie.
il est essentiel que + subjonctif
- Il est essentiel que les profs soient prêts.
il est important que + subjonctif
- Il est important que les jurés aient du bon jugement.
il est rare que + subjonctif
- Il est rare que la fille fasse ses devoirs.
Regret, Recommendations, Requirements
Expressions of regret, recommendation, and requirement will use the subjonctif. Many of these expressions can also be found in the impersonal expressions section of WEIRDO. Here are some examples:
- regretter que
Nous regrettons qu'il soit envoyé. - commander que
Je commande que tu fasses les devoirs! - donner l'ordre que
Ils donnent l'ordre qu'on doive faire de l'exercice. - il est nécessaire que
Il est nécessaire qu'on trouve les réponses! - recommander que
Le FDA recommande qu'on mange cinq fruits et légumes par jour. - ordonner que
Ma mère ordonne que je fasse les devoirs avant que je sors. - suggérer que
Les nutritionistes suggèrent que les enfants boivent beaucoup de lait.
Doubt or Opinion
If a speaker wishes to express doubt, they can use the subjunctive to indicate their lack of belief. Opinion will fall into this same category because one's opinion is not necessarily factual or certain. Here are some examples of expressions of doubt and opinion.
- il est douteux que
Il est douteux qu'elle fasse les devoirs à l'heure. - douter que
Je doute qu'il soit le patron. - il est possible que
Il est possible qu'ils viennent à la soirée, mais pas probable. - il est peu probable que
Il est peu probable que les enfants mangent les végétaux. - il est impossible que
Il est impossible qu'elles sachent toutes les réponses. - il est improbable que
Il est improbable que les chiens mangent les fruits. - il semble que
Il semble que Kylo Ren soit fâché. - il se peut que
Il se peut qu'il soit gentil.
Expressions of uncertainty will also fall into this category, so when expressions of certainty or belief like "il est certain que" are made negative, they will use the subjonctif.
- il n'est pas certain que
Il n'est pas certain que l'école soit la meilleure. - ne pas croire que
Je ne crois pas qu'elle dise la vérité.
Also, when you are looking for somebody or something that may not exist, you will use the subjonctif because its existence is in question.
- Je cherche un homme qui puisse me trouver un appartement.
- Ils cherchent un prof qui sache parler français et anglais.
- Le patron veut un travailleur qui connaisse bien la ville.
When not to use the subjonctif
You will NOT use the subjonctif if you are sure of something, therefore expressions like the following will use the indicative instead.
Even if you are not 100% certain, if you believe something then it will still use the indicative.
The same applies if something is probable, though not 100% certain you will use the indicative.
Note that if the expressions listed above are in the negative, they will then use the subjonctif because they are expressing doubt or uncertainty.
- être certain(e) que
- être sûr(e) que
- il est certain que
- il est clair que
- il est évident que
Even if you are not 100% certain, if you believe something then it will still use the indicative.
- penser que
- croire que
The same applies if something is probable, though not 100% certain you will use the indicative.
- il est probable que
Note that if the expressions listed above are in the negative, they will then use the subjonctif because they are expressing doubt or uncertainty.
- il n'est pas certain que + subjonctif
- il n'est pas sûr que + subjonctif
When all else fails, you can use this handy "Subjunctivisor" created by LawlessFrench.com which can help you to determine if the phrase you are using requires the subjunctive or not.
Activities
Introducing le Subjonctif with the song "Je te Promets" by Zaho
Introduce the subjonctif conjugations and usage to students with this song.
Introduce the subjonctif conjugations and usage to students with this song.
- Give students a copy of the lyrics to the song Je te Promets in French. Underline where one sees le subjonctif. Here is a PDF of the lyrics.
- Before you allow the students to follow with the lyrics, have them just watch the video the first time and predict what the song is about.
- Allow students to listen to the song and follow the lyrics the second time.
- Then, have students go through and define unknown words. They can use the English translation or a dictionary.
- Go over the definitions after about 5 minutes.
- Next, have students identify how to construct the subjonctif and the rules/categories for when one uses the subjonctif using the underlined words in the song.
- Next, review and share the construction. If the students are unable to identify how the subjonctif works, explain it.
- Have the students listen to the song one more time, this time focusing on the expressions used with the subjonctif and putting them into the WEIRDO categories.
Point du FLE
Regular Conjugations of the Subjonctif
Practice the regular conjugations with a self-correcting fill-in-the-blank activity.
Irregular Conjugations of the Subjonctif
Practice the irregular conjugations with a self-correcting fill-in-the-blank activity.
Practice with Will, Emotion and Desire
Practice the W and E (from WEIRDO) applications of the subjonctif with a self-correcting, fill-in-the-blank activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 1
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a drop-down menu, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 2
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a multiple-choice, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 3
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a fill-in-the-blank, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 4
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a fill-in-the-blank, self-correcting activity.
Complete the Phrase
Directions:
Materials: Paper
- A page with a variety of practice activities.
Regular Conjugations of the Subjonctif
Practice the regular conjugations with a self-correcting fill-in-the-blank activity.
Irregular Conjugations of the Subjonctif
Practice the irregular conjugations with a self-correcting fill-in-the-blank activity.
Practice with Will, Emotion and Desire
Practice the W and E (from WEIRDO) applications of the subjonctif with a self-correcting, fill-in-the-blank activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 1
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a drop-down menu, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 2
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a multiple-choice, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 3
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a fill-in-the-blank, self-correcting activity.
Le Subjonctif vs. l'Indicatif 4
Practice when to use the subjonctif vs. the indicatif with a fill-in-the-blank, self-correcting activity.
Complete the Phrase
Directions:
- Students pull out a sheet of paper and write down the dependent clause using a subjunctive trigger from WEIRDO.
- Have the students then ball up their paper and throw it across the room.
- The students will then find a paper ball (not their own!) and complete the sentence using the subjonctif. Have them pay attention to the three requirements of a subjunctive phrase: 1) 2 subjects, 2) 2 clauses connected by que, 3) a WEIRDO expression.
- Then have students share their answers to check comprehension and make corrections as necessary. This can be done orally or projected directly from the paper.
Materials: Paper
Additional Sites
French.About
A site which explains the uses of the subjonctif with many examples and tricky situations.
A site which explains the uses of the subjonctif with many examples and tricky situations.