Le Subjonctif: The Subjunctive In French - Lingolia Français

When to use the subjunctive in French

The subjunctive in French always appears after the word que, and there are many conjunctions, verbs and phrases that trigger its use.

Use the French subjunctive in the following cases:

• after il faut quemust/have to – this is one of the most common subjunctive triggers

Example: Il faut qu’elle reste concentrée et professionnelle. She must remain focused and professional.

• after the following conjunctions with que: avant quebefore, jusqu’à ce queuntil, pour quein order to, afin quein order to, bien quealthough, quoiquealthough, à condition queon the condition that, pourvu quelet’s hope that, sans quewithout

Example: Elle fait en sorte que chaque émission soit un succès, bien qu’elle sache que des imprévus peuvent survenir à tout moment. She makes sure that every show is a success, although she knows that the unexpected can occur at any moment.

Exception

The conjunction après que (= after) is followed by the indicative, not the subjunctive.

Example: Les journalistes sont partis après que la manifestation s’est terminée. The journalists left after the demonstration ended.

• after verbs that express a doubt, fear, wish, permission, request, order etc.: souhaiterto wish, désirerto wish, aimerto like, avoir peurto fear, avoir honteto be ashamed, craindreto fear, redouterto dread, regretterto regret, être désoléto be sorry, vouloirto want, ordonnerto order, exigerto demand, supplierto beg, demanderto ask, interdireto forbid, permettreto allow, déplorerto regret, se plaindreto complain

Example: Elle craint que l’audience ne soit déçue si tout ne se passe comme prévu. She fears that the audience will be disappointed if everything does not go according to plan. craindre que + subjunctive

Exceptions

Although they express a wish and a feeling, espérer (= to hope) and décider (= to decide) are followed by the indicative, not the subjunctive.

Example: Juliette espère que des gens accepteront d’être interviewés. Juliette hopes that people will agree to be interviewed.

• after negated verbs of opinion (affirmerto confirm, croireto believe, direto say, être d’avis deto be of the opinion that, penserto think, etc.)

Examples: Tu penses que Juliette est une bonne présentatrice. You think that Juliette is a good presenter. affirmative verb of opinion + indicative Tu ne penses pas que Juliette soit une bonne présentatrice. You don’t think that Juliette is a good presenter. negated verb of opinion + subjunctive

• after certain other verbs and expressions that must be learned by heart (see our complete list of French verbs and phrases that take the subjunctive)

Example: Il est important qu’elle reste concentrée et professionnelle, même si elle a parfois très envie de rire. It’s important that she remains focused and professional, even when she really wants to laugh sometimes. il est important que + subjunctive

Note

Some verbs can be used with both the indicative and the subjunctive depending on the meaning we wish to convey: the subjunctive adds a sense of uncertainty, whereas the indicative presents information as factual.

Examples: Il semble que Juliette a envie de rire. It seems like Juliette wants to laugh. indicative = presents the information as a fact Il semble que Juliette ait envie de rire. It seems like Juliette wants to laugh. subjunctive = presents the information with uncertainty

Still not sure? Take a look at our complete list of French verbs and phrases that take the subjunctive.