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Unit 1 · 5 lessons

Le subjonctif: Wishes, Feelings and Doubts

Master the subjonctif présent: its forms, the wishes, needs, feelings and doubts that trigger it, the conjunctions that demand it, and when an infinitive replaces it.

  • 49 practice questions
  • 42 flashcards
  • 4 interactive lessons
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Lessons

  1. 1Forming the Subjonctif PrésentBefore you can use the subjonctif with confidence, its forms have to come automatically. Review the regular rule built on the ils form, learn the two-stem verbs that take nous and vous from the nous form, and memorise the nine verbs with irregular subjonctifs.Interactive10 questions
  2. 2Will, Necessity and EmotionUse the subjonctif after verbs and expressions of wanting (vouloir, souhaiter, exiger que), necessity (il faut que, il est essentiel que) and emotion (être content, déçu, surpris que; avoir peur que), recognise the optional ne explétif, and avoid the classic trap: espérer que takes the indicatif.Interactive10 questions
  3. 3Doubt versus CertaintyChoose the mood by how sure the speaker is: doubt and mere possibility (douter que, il est possible que, il se peut que) take the subjonctif, while probability and certainty (il est probable que, je suis sûr que, il est évident que) take the indicatif. Learn the penser/croire flip in negatives and questions, and use mood to tell fact from opinion when you listen.Interactive10 questions
  4. 4Conjunctions That Demand the SubjonctifSome conjunctions bring the subjonctif with them: purpose (pour que, afin que), condition (à condition que, à moins que), concession (bien que, quoique), time not yet reached (avant que, jusqu'à ce que) and absence (sans que). Others take the indicatif: parce que, puisque, pendant que, dès que, après que, and result conjunctions such as si bien que. De sorte que can go either way.10 questions
  5. 5Subjonctif or Infinitive?When the subject of both clauses is the same, French usually replaces que + subjonctif with an infinitive: je veux partir but je veux que tu partes; avant de partir but avant que tu partes. Learn the verb, adjective and preposition pairs, the conjunctions that have no infinitive partner, il faut + infinitive for general rules, and how to justify each choice in an opinion speech.Interactive9 questions