5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

THE FRENCHSUBJUNCTIVE

This learning guide is divided into differentparts with a quick recap after each topic.

1) WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?

2) ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART

3) WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT

4) HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?

5) THE IRREGULARS

1) WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?

2) ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART

3) WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT

4) HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?

5) THE IRREGULARS

1. WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?

MEANING

The subjunctive is a grammatical mood.

The subjunctive is used to express varied states of unreality or uncertaintylike some kind of judgment, wish, possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, orsomething that has not occurred yet.

A quick recap of the first topic:

1. Use this formula Subjectivity + Unreality2. No future tense usage of the subjunctive, only past and present. If it is

set to happen in the future, the present tense is being used.

MEANING

The subjunctive is a grammatical mood.

The subjunctive is used to express varied states of unreality or uncertaintylike some kind of judgment, wish, possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, orsomething that has not occurred yet.

A quick recap of the first topic:

1. Use this formula Subjectivity + Unreality2. No future tense usage of the subjunctive, only past and present. If it is

set to happen in the future, the present tense is being used.

2. ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART

ENGLISH

English subjunctive is not as often used as in French, but we use it ineveryday modern English.

The subjunctive often appears in subordinate clauses especially that-clauses.

Examples:

• If I were you,• It is important that you stop to read the signs• Is it really necessary that we stop to read each and every sign?”• He suggested that you continue with your noble path.

ENGLISH

English subjunctive is not as often used as in French, but we use it ineveryday modern English.

The subjunctive often appears in subordinate clauses especially that-clauses.

Examples:

• If I were you,• It is important that you stop to read the signs• Is it really necessary that we stop to read each and every sign?”• He suggested that you continue with your noble path.

3. WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT

FRENCH

In French, we use the subjunctive after certain words and conjunctions thathave two parts and two different subjects.

A quick recap of the first topic:

1. The subjunctives usually appear after the following verbs:• wishing something• fearing something• giving opinion• saying how you feel: regretter que (meaning to be sorry that) être content que (meaning to be pleased that) être surpris que (meaning to be surprised that) etc.

2. The subjunctives may also appear in some expressions that begin with il.

FRENCH

In French, we use the subjunctive after certain words and conjunctions thathave two parts and two different subjects.

A quick recap of the first topic:

1. The subjunctives usually appear after the following verbs:• wishing something• fearing something• giving opinion• saying how you feel: regretter que (meaning to be sorry that) être content que (meaning to be pleased that) être surpris que (meaning to be surprised that) etc.

2. The subjunctives may also appear in some expressions that begin with il.

4. HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?

RULES

The most important rules for you to take note of are thefollowing:

1. Verbs that end with –er :infinitive less –er plus correct ending

2. Verbs that end with –ir :infinitive less –ir plus correct ending

3. Verbs that end with –re :infinitive less –re plus correct ending

RULES

The most important rules for you to take note of are thefollowing:

1. Verbs that end with –er :infinitive less –er plus correct ending

2. Verbs that end with –ir :infinitive less –ir plus correct ending

3. Verbs that end with –re :infinitive less –re plus correct ending

5. THE IRREGULARS IRREGULARS

Irregular verbs in the subjunctive:

VERB MEANING JE TU

aller to go aille ailles

avoir to have aie aies

devoir to have to, must doive doives

dire to say, to tell dise dises

IRREGULARS

dire to say, to tell dise dises

être to be sois sois

faire to do, to make fasse fasses

pouvoir to be able to, can puisse puisses

prendre to take prenne prennes

savoir to know sache saches

venir to come vienne viennes

vouloir to want to veuille veullles

IRREGULARS

Irregular verbs in the subjunctive (continued):

IL/ELLE/ON NOUS VOUS ILS/ELLES

aille allions alliez aillent

ait ayons ayez aient

doive devions deviez doivent

dise dlsions disiez disent

5. THE IRREGULARS (CONTINUED) IRREGULARS

dise dlsions disiez disent

soit soyons soyez soyent

fasse fassions fassiez fassent

puisse puissions puissiez puissent

prenne prenions preniez prennent

sache sachions sache sachent

vienne venions veniez viennent

veuille voulions voullez veuillent

SUMMARY

A quick recap of this topic:

1. The subjunctive is used to express varied states ofunreality or uncertainty like some kind of judgment, wish,possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, or something that hasnot occurred yet.

2. The subjunctive appears after certain words andconjunctions that have two parts and two differentsubjects. It is also found after expressions that start with il.

3. The verb stem for the subjunctive is the same as the stemfor present tense.

4. Verbs that end in -er and -ir have the same endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

5. Verbs that end in -ir have the following endings in thesubjunctive mood: -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent.

SUMMARY

A quick recap of this topic:

1. The subjunctive is used to express varied states ofunreality or uncertainty like some kind of judgment, wish,possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, or something that hasnot occurred yet.

2. The subjunctive appears after certain words andconjunctions that have two parts and two differentsubjects. It is also found after expressions that start with il.

3. The verb stem for the subjunctive is the same as the stemfor present tense.

4. Verbs that end in -er and -ir have the same endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

5. Verbs that end in -ir have the following endings in thesubjunctive mood: -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent.

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