French Notes

The subjunctive is the scariest thing in the French language. It’s got all kinds of rules about when to use it, and it’s got weird conjugations.
Here are the basics.
1. There are always 2 phrases.
2. Phrase #1 and phrase #2 always have different subjects.
3. Usually the outcome, desired effect of phrase #1 is that phrase #2 happen.
4. The word order in French to express this is completely different than the word order in English.

Examples

a. I want you to do the dishes. (English) translates to I want that you do the dishes (French structure)
b. The judge ordered the prisoner to go to prison. (English) translates to The judge ordered that the prisoner go to prison. (French structure)

In both examples, the subject of phrase #1 is wanting that the subject of phrase #2 do something.
In both examples, it is not certain that the action in phrase #2 is actually happening, hence the use of the subjunctive phrase. The dishes aren’t actually getting done, I’m just wanting that they get done. The prisoner isn’t actually going to jail, the judge is just ordering that he go to jail.

There are 10 basic cues or categories that happen in phrase #1 that tell us to use the subjunctive in phrase #2. If you can remember the meaning or intention behind these categories, it’s a ton easier than remembering each specific word or phrase cue.

To form the subjunctive can be a bit tricky (eye roll here)

1.  For regular verbs
a. take the ils form of the verb
b. drop the ‘ent’ – this will give you your subjunctive root
c. add the subjunctive endings

Je – e	Nous – ions
Tu – es	Vous – iez
Il – e	Ils – ent

je finisse	nous finissions
tu finisses	vous finissiez
il finisse	ils finissent

 

je vende	nous vendions
tu vendes	vous vendiez
il vende	ils vendent

2.  For irregular verbs a.  For the je, tu, il, and ils forms of the verb * take the ils form of the verb * drop the ‘ent’ and add the subjunctive endings b. For the nous and vous forms of the verb you just take the plain old imparfait conjugations.

Here’s an irregular verb

je boive	nous buvions
tu boives	vous buviez
il boive	ils boivent

*avoir, être, faire, pouvoir, savoir, vouloir, and aller are way irregular*
avoir

j’aie	nous ayons
tu aies	vous ayez
il ait	ils aient

faire
 

je fasse	nous  fassions
tu fasses	vous fassiez
il fasse	ils fassent

pouvoir
 

je puisse	nous puissions
tu puisses	vous puissiez
il puisse	ils puissent

être
 

je sois	nous soyons
tu sois	vous soyez
il soit	ils soient

savoir
 

je sache	nous sachions
tu saches	vous sachiez
il sache	ils sachent

vouloir
 

je veuille	nous voulions
tu veuilles	vous vouliez
il veuille	ils veuillent

aller
 

j’aille	nous allions
tu ailles	vous alliez
il aille	ils aillent

 

“Les Subjonctifs sont les ennemis de l’ordre, des individus de la pire espèce” Orsenna

§ 2 Responses to Le Subjonctif

• frank kemeng says:

  September 14, 2015 at 1:55 pm

  Wonderful explanation. U made my day.

  Reply
• queertasticblog says:

  September 15, 2016 at 3:29 am

  merci beaucoup!! 🙂

  Reply