If you’ve started learning French grammar, you may have already met some familiar friends:
Le présent – “I eat.”
Le passé composé – “I ate.”
Le futur – “I will eat.”
And then suddenly, French introduces you to another character:
Le subjonctif!
At first, the French subjonctif can look scary. But don’t worry! It isn’t a monster hiding under your grammar book. It is simply a special verb mood that French uses when talking about things like wishes, emotions, doubts, necessity, and uncertainty.
Let’s make it simple and hopefully even fun!
First: What Exactly Is the Subjonctif?
The subjonctif is used when we are not simply stating a fact.
Think about the difference:
👉 Je sais qu’il vient.
= I know that he is coming.
This is presented as a fact.
But:
👉 Je veux qu’il vienne.
= I want him to come.
Now we’re talking about a wish, not a confirmed fact.
That’s where the subjonctif comes in!
Easy way to remember:
Fact = usually indicative
Wish, emotion, doubt, necessity = often subjunctive
Think of it as:
The Indicatif says: “This is happening!” 📢
The Subjonctif says: “I want it to happen!” 🤞
When Do We Use the Subjonctif?
There are several situations where you’ll frequently see it.
Let’s meet the biggest ones!
1. Wishes and Wants
Whenever someone wants another person to do something, the subjonctif often appears.
Example:
Je veux que tu viennes.
= I want you to come.
Notice the two verbs:
Je veux → I want
tu viennes → you come
The second verb is in the subjunctive.
Another example:
Je souhaite que tu réussisses.
= I hope/wish that you succeed.
So remember:
Want + que → Subjonctif!
2. Emotions
French also loves the subjonctif when emotions are involved.
For example:
Je suis content que tu sois ici.
= I am happy that you are here.
Je suis triste qu’il parte.
= I am sad that he is leaving.
J’ai peur qu’elle oublie.
= I’m afraid that she will forget.
Why?
Because these aren’t simple facts. They express feelings and reactions.
💡 Think:
Emotion → Subjonctif
3. Necessity and Obligation
This is another big one.
Imagine your French teacher says:
“You MUST study!”
In French:
Il faut que tu étudies.
= You have to study.
The expression:
Il faut que…
is one of the most important triggers for the subjonctif.
For example:
Il faut que je parte.
= I have to leave.
Il faut que nous travaillions.
= We have to work.
Il faut que vous soyez prêts.
= You have to be ready.
So when you see Il faut que, your grammar alarm should go:
🚨 SUBJONCTIF! 🚨
4. Doubt and Uncertainty
The subjonctif also appears when you’re not sure about something.
For example:
Je doute qu’il soit là.
= I doubt that he is there.
Je ne pense pas qu’il soit malade.
= I don’t think that he is sick.
Compare:
Je pense qu’il est intelligent.
= I think he is intelligent.
Here, French normally uses the indicatif.
But:
Je ne pense pas qu’il soit intelligent.
= I don’t think he is intelligent.
Now we have doubt or uncertainty → subjonctif.
The Magic Word: “QUE”
Here’s something you’ll notice again and again:
Subject + verb + QUE + different subject + subjunctive
For example:
Je veux que tu viennes.
Je = subject 1
veux = verb
que = the famous connector
tu = subject 2
viennes = subjunctive verb
Another example:
Il faut que nous mangions.
Il → subject 1
faut → verb
que → connector
nous → subject 2
mangions → subjunctive
Think of que as the little bridge connecting the two parts.
How Do We Form the Present Subjonctif?
Don’t panic! There is a useful pattern.
For many regular verbs, take the ils/elles form of the present tense, remove -ent, and add the subjunctive endings.
The endings are:
-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent
Let’s try parler.
Parler → ils parlent
Remove -ent:
parl-
Now add the endings:
| Person | Subjonctif |
|---|---|
| Je | parle |
| Tu | parles |
| Il/Elle | parle |
| Nous | parlions |
| Vous | parliez |
| Ils/Elles | parlent |
So:
Je veux que tu parles français.
= I want you to speak French.
Let’s Try “Manger”
Ils mangent
Remove -ent → mang-
Then:
- que je mange
- que tu manges
- qu’il mange
- que nous mangions
- que vous mangiez
- qu’ils mangent
Example:
Il faut que nous mangions.
= We have to eat.
Very important grammar. Even more important if pizza is involved!
The Irregular Heroes
Of course, French couldn’t make everything perfectly regular!
Some very common verbs have special subjunctive forms.
Here are some important ones:
Être → to be
que je sois
que tu sois
qu’il soit
que nous soyons
que vous soyez
qu’ils soient
Example:
Je veux que tu sois heureux.
= I want you to be happy.
Avoir → to have
que j’aie
que tu aies
qu’il ait
que nous ayons
que vous ayez
qu’ils aient
Example:
Il faut que j’aie du temps.
= I need to have time.
Faire → to do/make
que je fasse
que tu fasses
qu’il fasse
que nous fassions
que vous fassiez
qu’ils fassent
Example:
Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs.
= I want you to do your homework.
Yes… French grammar has officially entered the homework conversation.
Aller → to go
que j’aille
que tu ailles
qu’il aille
que nous allions
que vous alliez
qu’ils aillent
Example:
Il faut que j’aille à l’école.
= I have to go to school.
The Subjonctif Challenge!
Let’s see if you can spot the correct form.
1. Je veux que tu ___ français.
a) parles
b) parler
c) parle
✅ Answer: a) parles
2. Il faut que nous ___.
a) travaillons
b) travaillions
c) travailler
✅ Answer: b) travaillions
3. Je suis content que tu ___ ici.
a) sois
b) es
c) être
✅ Answer: a) sois
4. Je doute qu’il ___ raison.
a) a
b) avoir
c) ait
✅ Answer: c) ait
The Golden Rule
You don’t need to memorise every single subjunctive sentence immediately.
Start by remembering the triggers.
💭 Wish
Je veux que…
❤️ Emotion
Je suis heureux que…
🚨 Necessity
Il faut que…
🤔 Doubt
Je doute que…
❓ Uncertainty
Je ne suis pas sûr(e) que…
When you see these expressions, think:
“Ah! The subjonctif might be coming!” 🎭
Final Recap
The French subjonctif is not as frightening as it first appears.
It is mainly used to express things that are subjective or uncertain, such as:
- Wishes 💭
- Emotions ❤️
- Necessity 🚨
- Doubt 🤔
- Uncertainty ❓
And one of your best friends will be:
QUE
For example:
Je veux que tu viennes.
Il faut que nous travaillions.
Je suis heureux que tu sois ici.
Je doute qu’il ait raison.
So the next time you see que after a wish, emotion, necessity, or doubt, don’t run away!
Just smile and say:
“Bonjour, Subjonctif!”
With a little practice, you’ll soon be using it naturally.
Keep learning French with Albert Learning, and turn tricky grammar into something you actually enjoy!
