French Grammar: Subjunctive

Definition: The subjunctive is used generally in a subordinate clause (in other words, after the word que or some other conjuctions) where the preceding main clause requires the subjunctive. Like in English, French requires the subjunctive where the main clause expresses some doubt, wishing or emotion.

The subjunctive mood is used to express actions which are subjective: will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment. It is nearly always found in dependent clauses introduced by que or qui. The subjects of the dependent and main clauses are usually different.

The subjunctive is used when the main clause expresses subjectivity.

When we use the Subjunctive:

Verbs/expressions of will which express an order, a need, a piece of advice, or a want.

aimer mieux que	to prefer that
désirer que	to desire that
donner l'ordre que	to order that
exiger que	to demand that
ordonner que	to order that
préférer que	to prefer that
proposer que	to propose that
souhaiter que	to wish that
suggérer que	to suggest that
vouloir que	to want that
il est à souhaiter que	it is to be hoped
il est essentiel que	it is essential
il est important que	it is important that
il est naturel que	it is natural
il est nécessaire que	it is necessary that
il est normal que	it is normal that
il est temps que	it is time that
il faut que	it is necessary that
il est urgent que	it is urgent
il vaut mieux que	it is better that

Verbs/expressions of emotion or feeling which indicate fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or other sentiments.

avoir peur que	to be afraid that
craindre que	to fear that
être content que	to be happy that
être désolé que	to be sorry that
être étonné que	to be amazed that
être heureux que	to be happy that
être surpris que	to be surprised that
être triste que	to be sad that
il est bizarre que	it is odd
il est bon que	it is good that
il est dommage que	it is too bad that
il est étonnant que	it is amazing that
il est étrange que	it is strange
il est heureux que	it is fortunate
il est honteux que	it is shameful that
il est inutile que	it is useless that
il est rare que	it is rare that
il est regrettable que	it is regrettable that
il est surprenant que	it is surprising
il est utile que	it is useful that
regretter que	to regret that

Verbs/expressions of doubt, possibility, and opinion

détester que	to hate
douter que	to doubt
il est convenable que	it is proper/fitting
il est douteux que	it is doubtful that
il est faux que	it is false
il est impossible que	it is impossible that
il est improbable que	it is improbable that
il est juste que	it is right/fair
il est possible que	it is possible that
il est peu probable que	it is improbable that
il n'est pas certain que	it is not certain that
il n'est pas clair que	it is not clear that
il n'est pas évident que	it is not obvious that
il n'est pas probable que	it is improbable that
il n'est pas sûr que	it is not certain that
il n'est pas vrai que	it is not true that
il semble que	it seems that
il se peut que	it may be that
le fait que	the fact that
nier que	to deny

The following conjunctions

à condition que	provided that
à moins que	unless
afin que	so that
avant que	before
bien que	although
de crainte que	for fear that
de peur que	for fear that
en attendant que	while, until
jusqu'à ce que	until
pour que	so that
pourvu que	provided that
quoique	even though
quoi que	whatever, no matter what
sans que	without

Note: The following conjunctions do not take the subjunctive, because they express facts which are considered certain:

ainsi que	just as, so as
alors que	while, whereas
après que	after, when
aussitôt que	as soon as
car	since, because
en même temps que	at the same time that
depuis que	since
dès que	as soon as, immediately
lorsque	when
parce que	because
pendant que	while
plutôt que	instead of, rather than
puisque	since, as
quand	when
tandis que	while, whereas
une fois que	once