Using the subjunctive can be super difficult. Here you can learn exactly where and when you need to use the subjunctive mood. You will also learn how to conjugate all tenses.

The subjunctive mood is the grammatical term for the expression of what is imaginable, wished, what might be, what is possible or what is hypothetical.

The subjunctive mood has almost disappeared in English, and what has remained is minimal. The English remnants of the subjunctive are:





It is important to know that the subjunctive is used very frequently in French. Many of the regular rules of tense choice are different in the subjunctive and you NEED to throw out all the English in your head. Due to the fact that English has almost no remnants of the subjunctive, you will come across a tense or sentence structure in the subjunctive that is either completely different or bizarre.

There are four subjunctive tenses in French - two literary and two spoken. The two spoken tenses are the present and the past. The two literary tenses are the imperfect and the plus-que-parfait. The imperfect is the literary equivalent of the present and the plus-que-parfait is the literary equivalent of the past. Both literary tenses are only the literary equivalent for one usage of each of the spoken equivalents - more on this later.

All subjunctive sentences are composed of a main clause that is in the indicative mood and a subordinate clause that is in the subjunctive mood.

The following is a chart that you can follow to know which subjunctive tense you will need:


The following is a list of minimal things needed to be subjunctive. For example, considering the first example, just because the sentence contains que, that doesn't always mean it must be subjunctive, it means that it at least passes that one minimum requirement to be subjunctive.

1. Indicative main clause
   The sentence needs to have a main clause that is in the indicative mood - that is fact or real.
   

   Eg. 1)

   Il semble que tu aimes ça.

   It seems that you like it.

2. Sentence contains que or qui
   The sentence needs to have a relative clause. Relative clauses are dependent clauses that begin with that in English.
   

   Eg. 2)

   Il est important que tu ailles.

   It is important that you go.

3. Sentence has two subjects
   The sentence needs to have two subjects. In cases of expression of doubt, desire, etc., the subjects need to be different. If the subjunctive is required due to a word like bien que (although) or pour que (so that), ne ... personne, etc. the subject can be the same.
   

   Eg. 3)

   Je veux que tu me veuilles.

   I want you to want me. I want that you want me.

The following is a list of types of sentences that call for the subjunctive in their subordinate clause:

1. Sentences of impersonal expression
   A sentence in which someone expresses an opinion or value on something that also has a result, the expression can be with an adjective or with a verb. Here is a list of the most common impersonal expressions:
   

   ADJECTIVES
   il est absurde que...	it's absurd that...
   il est amusant que...	it's amusing that...
   il est bizarre que...	it's odd that...
   il est bon que...	it's good that...
   il est curieux que...	it's curious that...
   il est dommage que...	it's a pity that...
   il est douteux que...	it's doubtful that...
   il est essentiel que...	it's essential that...
   il est étonnant que...	it's amazing that...
   il est étrange que...	it's strange that...
   il est faux que...	it's false that...
   il est gentil que...	it's nice that...
   il est impératif que...	it's imperative that...
   il est important que...	it's important that...
   il est impossible que...	it's impossible that...
   il est indispensable que...	it's indispensable that...
   il est injuste que...	it's unfair that...
   il est intéressant que...	it's interesting that...
   il est ironique que...	it's ironic that...
   il est juste que...	it's fair that...
   il est naturel que...	it's natural that...
   il est nécessaire que...	it's necessary that...
   il est normal que...	it's normal that...
   il est possible que...	it's possible that...
   il est préférable que...	it's preferable that...
   il est rare que...	it's rare that...
   il est regrettable que...	it's regrettable that...
   il est surprenant que...	it's surprising that...
   il est temps que...	it's time that...
   il est urgent que...	it's urgent that...
   il est utile que...	it's useful that...

   VERBS
   il convient que...	it's fitting that...
   il faut que...	it's necessary that...
   il importe que...	it's important that...
   il semble que...	it seems that...
   il suffit que...	it's enough that...
   il vaut mieux que...	it's better that...

   
   

   Eg. 1)

   Il est étonnant que tu m'aies envoyé ceci.

   It's surprising that you sent me this.

2. Sentences of need, want, love and hatred
   A sentence in which someone expresses a need, want, desire, regret, love, hatred, etc. that also contains such need, want, desire, love, regret, hatred or else. Here is a list of the most common verbs and idiomatic expressions. The following verbs need a subjunctive syntax rather than how English is today. All syntaxes need to be I want that you... or I need that you... instead of the English I want you to... and I need you to....
   

   VERBS
   adorer que...	to adore that...
   aimer que...	to like that...
   aimer mieux que...	to prefer that...
   apprécier que...	to appreciate that...
   avoir honte que...	to be ashamed that...
   avoir peur que...	to be afraid that...
   commander que...	to order that...
   conseiller que...	to advise that...
   désirer que...	to desire that...
   craindre que...	to fear that...
   déplorer que...	to deplore that...
   détester que...	to hate 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...
   recommander que...	to recommend that...
   redouter que...	to dread that...
   regretter que...	to regret that...
   se réjouir que...	to be delighted that...
   souhaiter que...	to wish that...
   suggérer que...	to suggest that...
   tenir à ce que...	to insist that...
   vouloir que...	to want that...

   
   

   Eg. 1)

   Je souhaite que tu ailles.

   I wish that you would go.

3. Sentences of foresight, possibility and opinion
   A sentence in which someone expresses what they think or belive may happen. Here is a list of the most common adjectives, verbs and idiomatic expresions:
   

   ADJECTIVES
   il est impossible que...	it's impossible that...
   il est possible que...	it's possible that...
   il est peu probable que...	it's improbable that...
   il n’est pas certain que...	it's not certain that...
   il n’est pas clair que...	it's not clear that...
   il n’est pas évident que...	it's not obvious that...
   il n’est pas probable que...	it's improbable that...
   il n’est pas sûr que...	it's not certain that...

   VERBS
   il se peut que...	it may be that...
   supposer que...	to suppose that...
   s'attendre à ce que...	to expect that...

   INITIATORS
   le fait que...	the fact that...

   COMPARISONS
   il semble que...	it seems that...
   BUT
   il paraît que...	it appears that...
   il est improbable que...	it's improbable that...
   BUT
   il est probable que...	it's probable that...
   il n'est pas improbable que...	it isn't improbable that...
   douter que...	to doubt that...
   BUT
   ne douter pas que...	not to doubt that...
   il est douteux que...	it's doubtful that...
   BUT
   il n'est pas douteux que...	it isn't doubtful that...

   
   

   Eg. 1)

   Je m'attends à ce qu'elle arrive à l'heure.

   I'm expecting her to come on time. I'm expecting that she come on time.

4. Sentences of hyperbole and degree
   A sentence in which someone expresses to what extent something was done, is done or will be done in a hypothetical way. These statements of degree or limit are only subjunctive when the subordinate clause is of uncertainty, that is, a real hyperbole (hyperbole are always exaggerated).
   

   Eg. 1)

   C'est le meilleur restaurant qu'on puisse trouver.

   It's the best restaurant that you can find.

   Eg. 2)

   Ta fille pourrait être la fille la plus intélligente que je connaisse.

   Your daughter might be the smartest girl that I know.

5. Sentences whose main clause is unidentified
   A sentence in which someone expresses uncertainty by means of one of the following indefinite pronouns or any other general noun. One other note for this category is that the pronoun or noun cannot be known.
   

   INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
   ne ... personne qui	anyone who...
   ne ... rien qui	anything that...
   quelqu'un qui	someone who...
   quelque chose qui	something that...

   
   

   Eg. 1)

   Je ne connais personne qui puisse faire ça.

   I don't know anyone who can do that.

   Eg. 2)

   Je ne veux rien qui aie été touché.

   I don't want anything that has been touched.

   Eg. 3)

   Connais-tu quelqu'un qui sache parler japonais ?

   Do you know someone who knows how to speak Japanese?

   Eg. 4)

   Je connais quelqu'un qui sache sait parler japonais.

   I know someone who knows how to speak Japanese. [ No subjunctive: object now identified ]

   Eg. 5)

   As-tu quelque chose qui soit assez grand pour la chambre ?

   Do you have something that is big enough for the room?

   Eg. 6)

   J'ai trouvé quelque chose qui soit est parfait pour la chambre.

   I found something that is perfect for your room. [ No subjunctive: object now identified ]

   Eg. 7)

   Je cherche une femme qui soit intélligente.

   I'm looking for a woman who is intelligent.

   Eg. 8)

   Ma femme soit est intélligente.

   My wife is intelligent. [ No subjunctive: object now identified ]

6. (EXCEPTION 1) 3^rd person imperatives
   A sentence in that is the imperative but the person that you're commanding is more the general public. In English, these are composed like Lest we forget!, God save the Queen!, May they be successful!, etc.. But in French, they are composed as que plus verb in the 3^rd person subjunctive, singular or plural.
   

   Eg. 1)

   Qu'ils n'oublient jamais !

   Lest they forget!

7. (EXCEPTION 2) When using the following...
   Last here is a list of some other conjunctions that require the subjunctive in their subordnate clause, some are obvious, but others will need memorization:
   

   ADVERBS OF TIME
   avant que...	before...
   en attendant que...	while...
   jusqu'à ce que...	until...

   ADVERBS OF REASON
   afin que...	so that...
   de crainte que...	for fear that...
   de façon que...	in order that...
   de peur que...	in fear that...
   de manière que...	so that...
   de sorte que...	so that...
   pour que...	so that...

   ADVERBS OF CONTRARIETY
   bien que...	although...
   encore que...	even though...
   malgré que...	despite that...
   quoique...	even though...
   sans que...	without...

   ADVERBS OF CONDITIONALITY
   à condition que...	provided that...
   à moins que...	unless...
   à supposer que...	assuming that...
   en admettant que...	assuming that...
   pourvu que...	provided that...

   ADVERBS OF EMPHASIS
   où que...	wherever...
   qui que...	whoever...
   quoi que...	whatever...

   
   

   Eg. 1)

   Avant que tu partes, je te vais donner ton cadeau.

   Before you leave, I'm going to give you your gift.

   Eg. 2)

   Après que tu partes pars, assure-toi de me téléphoner.

   After you leave, make sure to call me. [ No subjunctive: only 'before' gets subjunctive ]

   Eg. 3)

   Je suis sorti sans qu'il me voie.

   I left without him seeing me. I left without that he see me.

   Eg. 4)

   Quoi qu'il arrive, fais comme moi.

   Whatever happens, do as I do.