The subjunctive tense is common in the French language. However, it can be challenging for non-native French speakers to determine in which situations to use it and with which phrases and verbs.
In this chapter, we will study the form of the present subjunctive as well as its use. First we will start with the form of the verbs then we’ll explore the use of this tense.
The subjunctive tense is ALWAYS preceded with “que”. So in all the conjugations of the verbs throughout this chapter, we will have “que” before the verb in the subjunctive.
In this part, we will try to answer a very common question that French learners often ask: When do we use the present subjunctive?
We use the subjunctive in subordinate clauses introduced by the relative pronoun “que”. But again not, all subordinate clauses require the subjunctive tense.
First, it is important to mention that the use of the present subjunctive depends more on the meaning expressed in the sentence than the verbs or the expressions that are used in the sentence. That’s why it is sometimes hard to determine whether we should use the subjunctive, the indicative or the conditional.
The subjunctive is generally used when we want to express probability, possibility, uncertainty, emotion, obligation, fear, judgment, necessity or wish. In this lesson, we will study the expressions and the prepositional phrases used with the subjunctive.
There are a lot of expressions: adverbial phrases, conjunctive phrases and prepositional phrases that require the subjunctive. The following table summarizes the most common ones.
Students usually struggle to determine which phrases use the subjunctive and which don’t. We have selected here some of the most common phrases that DO NOT use the subjunctive.
In this chapter, we will study the form of the present subjunctive as well as its use. First we will start with the form of the verbs then we’ll explore the use of this tense.
The subjunctive tense is ALWAYS preceded with “que”. So in all the conjugations of the verbs throughout this chapter, we will have “que” before the verb in the subjunctive.
In this part, we will try to answer a very common question that French learners often ask: When do we use the present subjunctive?
We use the subjunctive in subordinate clauses introduced by the relative pronoun “que”. But again not, all subordinate clauses require the subjunctive tense.
First, it is important to mention that the use of the present subjunctive depends more on the meaning expressed in the sentence than the verbs or the expressions that are used in the sentence. That’s why it is sometimes hard to determine whether we should use the subjunctive, the indicative or the conditional.
The subjunctive is generally used when we want to express probability, possibility, uncertainty, emotion, obligation, fear, judgment, necessity or wish. In this lesson, we will study the expressions and the prepositional phrases used with the subjunctive.
There are a lot of expressions: adverbial phrases, conjunctive phrases and prepositional phrases that require the subjunctive. The following table summarizes the most common ones.
Context | Phrases | Examples |
| Aim/Objective | pour que afin que | Je vais te montrer une vidéo pour que tu puisses voir de tes propres yeux ce qu’il a fait. I will show you a video so that you can see for yourself what he did. Je lui prêterai ma voiture afin qu’il soit à l’heure pour son entretien. He will take the car so that he can get there on time for his interview. |
| Manner | sans que | Je mettrai la lettre dans sa poche sans qu’elle s’en aperçoive. I will put the letter in her pocket without her knowing. |
| Time | avant que jusqu’à ce que en attendant que | Montre-moi comment utiliser cette machine avant que je ne me fasse mal. Please show me how to use this machine before I hurt myself. |
| Condition | à condition que pourvu que à moins que | Nous allons prendre le bus à moins que vous ne nous proposiez de nous déposer en voiture. We will take the bus unless you offer us a ride. |
| Opposition / Concession | bien que quoique quoi que | Bien que je sois arrivée en retard à la gare, j’ai pu quand même prendre mon train. Even though I arrived late at the train station, I still could catch my train. Quoi qu’il fasse, elle l’aimera toujours. Whatever he does, she will always love him. |
| Cause | de peur que /de crainte que | Il a pris le soin de cacher sa bouteille de vin de crainte/de peur que sa femme ne pense qu’il boit toujours. He made sure to hide his wine bottle for fear that his wife would think that he is still drinking. |
| Hypothesis | En admettant que en supposant que | En admettant que tu aies raison, qu’est-ce que tu nous proposes de faire ? Assuming that you’re right, what do you suggest we do? |
Students usually struggle to determine which phrases use the subjunctive and which don’t. We have selected here some of the most common phrases that DO NOT use the subjunctive.
Phrases | Examples |
| aussitôt/dès que | Aussitôt/dès qu’il verra son papa, il m’oubliera complètement. As soon as he sees his dad, he’ll completely forget about me. |
| depuis que | Depuis que je vis avec lui, je ne l’ai jamais vu aussi malheureux. I have never seen him that sad ever since we’ve been living together. |
| lorsque | Lorsque j’étais petite, j’aimais bien jouer avec ma grande soeur. When I was little, I liked playing with my big sister. |
| parce que | Ils l’ont licencié parce qu’il a fait perdre beaucoup d’argent à la compagnie. They let him go because he made the company lose a lot of money. |
| puisque | Puisque tu ne veux pas me parler, je vais partir. Since you don’t want to talk to me, I will leave. |
| pendant que | Pendant que ses enfants regardaient la télé, il travaillait dans son garage. While his children were watching TV, he was working in his garage. |
| tandis que | Toi, tu ne t’es jamais occupée de moi, tandis que mon père a toujours été là pour moi. You have never taken care of me; whereas, my father has always been there for me. |
| tant que | Tant qu’elle reste avec lui, elle ne fera rien de bon de sa vie. As long as she stays with him, she won’t do anything in her life. |