In French, feelings like doubt and desire require the subjunctive, as do expressions of necessity, possibility, and judgment. It can be helpful to consider them in themed groups:. Note that there are two additional conditions to meet before using the French subjunctive:. If it ends with the preposition de , you need to use the infinitive. Even for subjective situations that are clearly set in the future, the present subjunctive is used. Test yourself on the French subjunctive with these fill-in-the-blanks exercises.
Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless French account to take these tests. This free website is created with love and a great deal of work. If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation. Hi Laura. I was really good at French back then, and have been frustrated in class at not being able to remember all I once knew. I think your website is excellent!!! The subjunctive is used after verbs and expressions of doubt, denial, and disbelief.
Many verbs and expressions show certainty and probability. When these verbs and expressions, shown in Table 2 , are used in the negative or the interrogative, they imply uncertainty or doubt and require the subjunctive.
The subjunctive expresses a potential action whose realization is in doubt or is uncertain. The desired purpose or end may never be met. There is a distinct difference in mental outlook between the indicative il est probable it is probable and the subjunctive il est possible it is possible :. Used affirmatively, these verbs of opinion or knowledge usually require the indicative because they show belief, conviction, or knowledge on the part of the speaker: Je crois qu'elle recevra le prix I believe she'll receive the prize.
Used negatively or interrogatively, these verbs usually but not always take the subjunctive because they convey doubt or uncertainty:. The subjunctive is used in the clause following verbs that express a wish, request, command, permission, prohibition, preference, or desire.
Here is a list of such verbs:. The following nouns follow the verb avoir to have :. Conjunctions are words that connect and relate words, phrases, and clauses within a sentence. So hopefully you have seen that the subjunctive in French is relatively easy. As the French say:.
As I said at the beginning, you can lose yourself in the theory. And remember, like all other aspects of French, mastering the subjunctive takes time. So stick with it and it will soon start to sink in. That said, if you want your French grammar to sink in a little quicker so you can express yourself with confidence and accuracy, there is a way.
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In the meantime, back to the subject at hand… Introducing The French Subjunctive… Through English There are many different levels of understanding when it comes to the subjunctive. In a nutshell, the subjunctive expresses: doubts opinions hopes preferences other similar feelings towards what is being said You can also use it to talk about hypothetical situations.
Verbs That Take The Subjunctive In French As we just saw, the most frequent occasion when you will meet or need to use the subjunctive is after certain verbs. For example, if we add the endings above to the -ir verb partir leave to make the subjunctive forms, we get: je part e tu part es elle part e , etc. In the indicative, or normal verb forms, the equivalents are je pars tu pars elle part The subjunctive belongs to a higher register of speech in French, so it sounds more formal or more educated than everyday colloquial speech.
The Perfect Subjunctive In French French also has a perfect or past form of the subjunctive, although you won't often come across it. Master French Grammar The Natural Way That said, if you want your French grammar to sink in a little quicker so you can express yourself with confidence and accuracy, there is a way.
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