French grammar - The subjunctive mood - Le subjonctif |
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The subjunctive mood is used in dependent clauses to indicate subjectivity or uncertainty in the mind of the speaker. There are many conjunctions (that connect clauses) which use the relative pronouns que or qui that require the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause. But only sentences where the verb in the dependent clause (after que or qui) has a subject requires the subjunctive. -- This usually means that sentences with the same subject in both clauses should not use subjunctive conjunctions. This topic's examples will use one of the following three common subjunctive conjunctions (there are many others): • vouloir que - 'to want that' (a request so there is doubt in the mind of the speaker it will done). • il faut que - 'it is required that' (it is a requirement so doubt that it will be obeyed). • il vaut mieux que - 'it is better that' (it is an opinion so the veracity is in doubt). To conjugate the subjunctive, start with the present ils conjugation and drop –ent ending. And then add endings as follows: • je + mang- + -e ending ⇒ je mange - '(that) I eat' • tu + finiss- + -es ending ⇒ tu finisses - '(that) you (familiar) finish' • il + vend- + -e ending ⇒ il vende - '(that) he sells' • elle + mett- + -e ending ⇒ elle mette - '(that) she put' • nous + part- + -ions ending ⇒ nous partions - '(that) we leave' • vous + couvr- + -iez ending ⇒ vous couvriez - '(that) you (formal or plural) cover' • ils + tienn- + -ent ending ⇒ ils tiennent - '(that) they hold' • elles + diss- + -ent ending ⇒ elles dissent - '(that) they (females) say' There are many important exceptions which will be covered in the following topics. |
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Il veut que je mange tout.
He wants me to eat everything.
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Ils veulent que tu finisses le travail.
They want you (familiar) to finish the job.
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Elle veut qu'il vende la voiture.
She wants him to sell the car.
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Je veux qu'elle mette le livre sur la table.
I want her to put the book on the table.
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Il veut que nous partions.
He wants us to go.
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Nous voulons que vous couvriez la nourriture.
We want you (formal) to cover the food.
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Elle veut que les enfants tiennent le parapluie.
She wants the children to hold the umbrella.
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Je veux que les filles me disent la vérité.
I want girls to tell me the truth.
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Il faut que je le lise.
I must read it.
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Il faut que tu te couches maintenant.
You (familiar) must go to bed now.
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Il faut qu'il ne conduise pas la voiture.
He must not drive the car.
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Il faut qu'elle commence à cuisiner tout de suite.
She needs to start cooking right away.
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Il faut que nous demandions le chemin à quelqu'un.
We have to ask someone the way.
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Il faut que vous montriez votre blessure à un médecin.
You (formal) need to show your injury to a doctor.
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Il faut qu'ils réfléchissent avant de se lancer.
They have to think before they start.
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Il faut qu'elles apprennent à le faire correctement.
They need to learn how to do it properly.
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Il vaut mieux que j'étudie pendant que je suis jeune.
It is better that I study while I am young.
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Il vaut mieux que tu te couches tôt et te lèves tôt.
It is better that you (familiar) go to bed early and get up early.
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Il vaut mieux qu'il prenne le bus plutôt que son vélo.
It is better that he takes the bus rather than his bicycle.
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Il vaut mieux qu'elle passe son temps à lire.
She better spend her time reading.
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Il vaut mieux que nous louions une maison au centre de la ville.
It is better that we rent a house in the center of the city.
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Il vaut mieux que vous posiez la question vous-même.
You (formal) better ask the question yourself.
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Il vaut mieux qu'ils ne dépensent pas tout leur argent.
It is better that they do not spend all their money.
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Dans cette situation, il vaut mieux qu'ils ne se marient jamais.
In this situation, it is better that they never marry.
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