The subjunctive: a quick guide to the hardest tense in French

At some point in your French language learning journey, you will have to confront the subjunctive tense.

Your teacher will likely stress an equivalent does not really exist in English.

Of course, this marks the first problem in our learning of the subjunctive as non-native speakers. When there is not a direct comparison or translation, we often find it harder to get our heads around it.

So, what is the subjunctive?

Essentially it is a tense which is used in certain situations:

• when expressing doubt or something that is unlikely
• when expressing personal desires or feelings
• when using certain expressions to express something hypothetical, vague, conditional or unknown

In reality, the subjunctive, although difficult, is unlikely to cause you many problems in your everyday French practice.

Often, the conjugation of the verb in the present subjunctive is no different to the present simple conjugation.

Of course, some of the irregular verbs have different conjugations but in spoken French people are unlikely to notice if you don’t employ the subjunctive when you are supposed to.

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Saying that it is useful to be able to identify the subjunctive to better understand context and implications.

It is used:

1. When expressing doubt or something that is unlikely

We use the subjunctive with phrases including:

• Ne pensez pas que + subjunctive
• Ne croyez pas que + subjunctive
• Il n’est pas certain que + subjunctive
• Il est possible que + subjunctive

All of these expressions express doubt or uncertainty and therefore would employ the use of the subjunctive.

For example Je ne crois pas que Lisa vienne - I do not think that Lisa will come

2. When expressing personal desire or feelings

We use the subjunctive with the phrases:

• regretter que + subjunctive (to be sorry that)
• être content que + subjunctive (to be pleased that)
• être surpris que + subjunctive (to be surprised that)
• avoir peur que + subjunctive (to be scared that)
• vouloir que + subjunctive (to want that)
• desirer que + subjunctive (to desire/want that)

Since these phrases are used to express desire or emotions, we use them with the subjunctive.

For example:

• J’ai peur qu’il me quitte - I am scared that I will leave me
• Je veux qu’il fasse les courses cette semaine - I want him to do the shopping this week

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3. When using certain expressions to express something hypothetical, vague, conditional or unknown

We use the subjunctive with phrases including:

• Bien que / quoique / quoi que / encore que / malgré le fait que + subjunctive (although)
• Afin que / pour que + subjunctive (in order that)
• A moins que + subjunctive (unless)
• A condition que / pourvu que + subjunctive (on the condition that)
• Avant que + subjunctive (before)
• Jusqu'à ce que + subjunctive (until)

These phrases are used with the subjunctive because they express something vague, unknown, conditional or hypothetical.

Regarding “avant que” and “jusqu’à ce que”: these are used with the subjunctive when the time constraints render the outcome of events unknowable.

For example:

• Bien que je sache que le subjonctif est difficile, je veux mieux comprendre la grammaire française - Although I know that the subjunctive is difficult, I want to understand French grammar better
• Je veux bien venir, à condition qu’on prenne le train - I really want to come, as long as we take the train
• Je vais rester ici jusqu'à ce qu’il soit prêt - I’m going to stay here until he is ready

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