L’emploi du subjonctif

Always used in a dependent or subordinate clause, and always precedes the conjunction que.

Used following expressions of volition (intent, desire, wish) or sentiment (emotion, judgment, appreciation).

Ex. Il faut qu’elle nous dise qui elle aime.

(She must tell us whom she loves.)

Ex. Ton père préfère que tu ne lises pas d’histoires de vampires.

(Your father prefers that you not read vampire stories.)

Some of the verbs in this category are: admirer, aimer mieux, défendre, demander, désirer, insister, ordonner, permettre, préférer, regretter, vouloir.

Ex. Les enfants regrettent que la grenouille crève.

(The children are sorry that the frog bursts.)

The subjunctive is NOT used after the verb espérer.

Some verbs of volition: avoir peur que, être heureux que, il est bon que, il vaut mieux que, il faut que.

Ex. Je suis étonné que tu croies à l’existence des loups-garous.

(I am surprised that you believe in werewolves.)

Ex. Il vaut mieux que le boeuf ait pitié de la grenouille.

(It is better that the ox feels sorry for the frog.)

Some verbs/expressions of doubt or possibility: il est possible que, il est impossible que, il se peut que, il est peu probable que.

Ex. Je doute que le géant veuille épouser une naine.

(I doubt that the giant wants to marry a dwarf.)

EXCEPTION: The expression il est probable que suggests greater certainty and is therefore not followed by the subjunctive.

Some of the most common conjunctions are:

à condition que (provided that), jusqu’à ce que (until), à moins que (unless), pour que (in order to), avant que (before), pourvu que (so long as), bien que/quoique (although), sans que (without)

Ex. Bien qu’il en ait peur, il s’intéresse aux fantômes.

(Although he is afraid of them, he is interested in ghosts.)

Ex. Avant que nous arrivons, le loup aura dévoré le Petit Chaperon rouge.

(Before we arrive, the wolf will have eaten Little Red Riding Hood.)

Some of these conjunctions have equivalent prepositions that are used when the subjects of both parts of the sentence are the same, these prepositions are then followed by an infinitive.

Conjunctions + subjunctive

à condition que

à moins que

afin que

avant que

pour que

sans que

Prepositions + infinitive

à condition de

à moins de

afin de

avant de

pour

sans

Ex. Avant de partir, ils embrassent leur fiancée.

(Before leaving, they kiss their fiancée.)

Ex. Il pourra se marier avec la belle demoiselle à condition de trouver le plus beau cadeau.

(He will be able to marry the lovely damsel on the condition that he find the most beautiful gift.)

NOTE: The preposition jusqu’à is followed by a noun.

Ex. Jusqu’à leur retour, on la croyait morte.

(Until their return, they thought she was dead.)

Bien que, pourvu que, and quoique have no preposition equivalents, this means they are always followed by the subjunctive even when the subjects of both main and dependent clauses are the same.

Ex. Bien qu’elle aime le garçon à la fleur, elle ne l’épousera pas.

(Although she loves the boy with the flower, she will not marry him.)

Ex. Quoique la reine soit très riche, elle habite un modeste château.

(Although the queen is very rich, she lives in a modest castle.)

With superlative statements, since these are judgments and not facts, the opinion could easily change.

Ex. C’est le plus beau prince qu’elle connaisse.

(He is the handsomest prince she knows.)

The subjunctive is not used:

With expressions that indicate certainty (il est clair que, il est evident que, il est vrai que, il est sûr que, etc.) UNLESS they are in the negative.

Ex. Il n’est pas sûr que les histoires de fantômes fassent peur à tous les enfants.

With the verbs croire and penser when they are affirmative.

Ex. Je crois que la grenouille ne devrait pas envier la boeuf.

(I believe that the frog should not be envious of the ox.)

NOTE: Either indicative or subjunctive can be used to express doubt when croire and penser are used in negative or interrogative constructions.

Ex. Il ne croit pas qu’elle aille au bal avec lui. (I hope he doesn’t believe that she will go to the ball with him.)

Infinitive vs. Subjunctive

If the subject of the main clause and the subordinate clause is the same, the infinitive should be used instead of the subjunctive.

The following sentences marked (a) all have one subject for several actions:

Subject +conjugated verb+ infinitive

The following sentences marked with (b) all have two subjects:

Subject +conjugated verb+ que +different subject+ conjugated verb (indicative or subjunctive depending on the meaning of the first verb)

Ex. (a) Il veut acheter un beau cadeau pour sa fiancée.

(He wants to buy a beautiful gift for his fiancée.)

(He wants and he is buying.)

Ex. (b) Je préfère que tu lises des contes de fées.

(I prefer that you read fairy tales.)

(I prefer and you read.)

NOTE: With expressions such as être + adjective (Elle est contente/triste, etc.) the preposition de must be used in front of the infinitive.

Ex. Il est important de raconter des contes de fées à vos enfants.

(It is important to tell fairy tales to your children.)

Ex. Nous sommes tristes de devoir partir.

(We are sad to have to leave.)

However, with many other verbs commonly used with infinitives to replace the subjunctive , there is no preposition needed.

Ex. Il faut trouver un cadeau.

Ex. Nous voulons raconteur une histoire.