What Is Subjunctive In French

Mastering the French Subjunctive: A Comprehensive Guide

The French subjunctive (le subjonctif) is a verb mood that often trips up even advanced learners. Unlike the indicative mood, which states facts, the subjunctive expresses opinions, desires, emotions, or uncertainties. Understanding its nuances is crucial for achieving fluency and natural-sounding French. This comprehensive guide will break down the subjunctive, explaining its uses, conjugations, and common pitfalls. Mastering this grammatical structure will significantly elevate your French communication skills.

Introduction: Understanding the Subjunctive's Purpose

The subjunctive doesn't translate directly into English; instead, it conveys a sense of subjectivity. Think of it as expressing something that's not yet certain, hypothetical, or dependent on another action or condition. It's often used after verbs or expressions that indicate doubt, necessity, desire, emotion, or opinion. While English often uses other grammatical structures (like infinitive verbs or conditional clauses), the French subjunctive offers a more concise and nuanced way to express these ideas.

Imagine you're telling a friend, "I want him to be happy." In French, you wouldn't use the indicative; you'd use the subjunctive because the happiness is a desired state, not a confirmed fact. This subtle shift in meaning is what distinguishes the subjunctive from the indicative.

Key Uses of the French Subjunctive

The subjunctive appears in several key grammatical structures. Understanding these contexts is the first step to mastering its usage:

1. After Verbs Expressing Emotion, Desire, or Will:

These verbs often introduce a clause expressing a subjective state or wish. Common examples include:

• Vouloir (to want): Je veux qu'il vienne. (I want him to come.)
• Désirer (to desire): Elle désire que nous soyons heureux. (She desires that we be happy.)
• Souhaiter (to wish): Je souhaite qu'ils réussissent. (I wish that they succeed.)
• Espérer (to hope): J'espère qu'il pleuve. (I hope it rains.)
• Préférer (to prefer): Je préfère qu'elle parte tôt. (I prefer that she leaves early.)
• Aimer mieux (to prefer): J'aime mieux qu'il reste. (I'd rather he stay.)
• Il faut (it is necessary): Il faut qu'elle travaille. (It is necessary that she works.)

2. After Verbs Expressing Doubt, Uncertainty, or Opinion:

These verbs introduce clauses expressing something that is not certain or a matter of opinion. Examples include:

• Croire (to believe): Je crois qu'il soit malade. (I believe that he is ill.) – Note the use of the subjunctive even though "croire" often takes the indicative. The subjunctive emphasizes uncertainty.
• Penser (to think): Je pense qu'il ait raison. (I think that he is right.) – Similar to "croire", the subjunctive highlights the subjective nature of the thought.
• Trouver (to find): Je trouve qu'il soit trop cher. (I find that it is too expensive.)
• Il est possible/probable/certain… que… (It is possible/probable/certain… that…): Il est possible qu'il neige. (It is possible that it snows.)

3. After Impersonal Expressions:

These expressions introduce a clause describing a general truth or necessity. Examples include:

• Il est important/essentiel/nécessaire que… (It is important/essential/necessary that…): Il est important qu'elle apprenne le français. (It is important that she learns French.)
• Il est dommage/ regrettable que… (It is a pity/regrettable that…): Il est dommage qu'il soit parti. (It's a pity that he left.)
• Il se peut que… (It is possible that…): Il se peut qu'il pleuve demain. (It's possible that it will rain tomorrow.)

4. After Conjunctions Expressing Purpose, Concession, or Doubt:

Certain conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses requiring the subjunctive. These include:

• Pour que (in order that): J'étudie pour que je réussisse. (I study in order that I succeed.)
• Afin que (so that): Elle travaille afin qu'elle puisse acheter une voiture. (She works so that she can buy a car.)
• De peur que (for fear that): Je ferme la porte de peur qu'il entre. (I close the door for fear that he enters.)
• Bien que (although): Bien qu'il soit riche, il n'est pas heureux. (Although he is rich, he is not happy.)
• Quoique (although): Quoique je sois fatigué, je vais continuer. (Although I am tired, I will continue.)
• Sans que (without): Il est parti sans que je le voie. (He left without my seeing him.)

5. After Superlative Expressions:

When expressing the best or worst of something, the subjunctive is used.

• Le meilleur/la meilleure… que…: C'est le meilleur livre que j'aie jamais lu. (It's the best book that I have ever read.)
• Le plus grand/la plus grande… que…: C'est la plus belle ville que j'aie jamais vue. (It's the most beautiful city I have ever seen.)

Conjugating the French Subjunctive: Present Tense

The present subjunctive is the most frequently used form. Its conjugation varies significantly from the indicative and requires memorization. Here's a breakdown using the regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs:

Regular -er Verbs (e.g., parler):

Regular -ir Verbs (e.g., finir):

Regular -re Verbs (e.g., vendre):

Irregular Verbs:

Many common verbs have irregular subjunctive conjugations. These require memorization and practice. Some key examples include:

• Être (to be): sois, sois, soit, soyons, soyez, soient
• Avoir (to have): aie, aies, ait, ayons, ayez, aient
• Aller (to go): aille, ailles, aille, allions, alliez, aillent
• Faire (to do/make): fasse, fasses, fasse, fassions, fassiez, fassent
• Savoir (to know): sache, saches, sache, sachions, sachiez, sachent
• Pouvoir (to be able to): puisse, puisses, puisse, puissions, puissiez, puissent
• Vouloir (to want): veuille, veuilles, veuille, voulions, vouliez, veuillent

The Imperfect Subjunctive: A Less Frequent but Important Tense

The imperfect subjunctive (le subjonctif imparfait) is less commonly used than the present subjunctive. It expresses a hypothetical action in the past, often dependent on another past action. Its formation is based on the past participle of the verb and requires attention to the agreement of the past participle. Its use is declining in modern French, often replaced by the passé composé subjunctive or other structures. However, understanding it is crucial for reading classical literature and for a thorough grasp of French grammar.

The formation varies greatly and often includes irregular stems. Consult a comprehensive French grammar book for detailed conjugations of irregular verbs in the imperfect subjunctive.

Distinguishing the Subjunctive from the Indicative: Common Pitfalls

The most frequent mistake learners make is confusing the subjunctive with the indicative. The context is crucial. Consider these examples:

• Indicative: Je sais qu'il est malade. (I know that he is sick. – This is a fact.)
• Subjunctive: Je crois qu'il soit malade. (I believe he might be sick. – This is an opinion, not a certainty.)

The choice between the subjunctive and the indicative often hinges on the nuance of meaning the speaker wishes to convey. The subjunctive usually highlights uncertainty, while the indicative expresses certainty or objectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I improve my accuracy in using the subjunctive?

A: Immersion is key. Read widely in French, listen to native speakers, and practice writing sentences that utilize the subjunctive. Pay close attention to the contexts where it's used. Using flashcards and practicing conjugations regularly will also greatly improve your fluency and accuracy.

Q: Are there any tricks to remember the subjunctive conjugations?

A: Unfortunately, there's no single "trick." Consistent practice and memorization are essential. Focusing on the patterns of regular verbs and then tackling irregulars one by one is an effective strategy. Many online resources and textbooks offer conjugation drills and exercises.

Q: Is the subjunctive used less frequently in modern spoken French?

A: While some argue that the subjunctive is becoming less common in everyday spoken French, it remains a crucial part of the written language and is frequently heard in formal settings or when expressing nuanced emotions and opinions. Omitting it entirely can sound unnatural and grammatically incorrect.

Conclusion: Mastering the Subjunctive for Fluency

The French subjunctive is undoubtedly a challenging aspect of the language, but mastering it is a significant step towards fluency. By understanding its various uses, conjugations, and common pitfalls, you can confidently and correctly use this vital grammatical structure. Remember to focus on understanding the meaning you want to convey, and the correct verb mood will follow naturally with consistent practice. The more you immerse yourself in the language, the more intuitive the subjunctive will become, enriching your French expression and allowing you to communicate more accurately and elegantly. Don't be discouraged by the initial difficulty; persistence and consistent practice are the keys to success.