Rules and usage
The French present subjunctive (subjonctif présent) is a mood used to express uncertainty, possibility, necessity, emotion, or doubt. Unlike the indicative, which states facts, the subjunctive conveys subjectivity and appears mainly in subordinate clauses introduced by specific verbs or expressions.
When You Use the Subjunctive
- The subjunctive appears after verbs and expressions that signal:
- Doubt or denial: Je doute qu'il vienne. (I doubt he comes.) / Je ne crois pas qu'elle soit là. (I don't think she is there.)
- Necessity or obligation: Il faut que tu partes. (You must leave.) / C'est nécessaire que nous commencions tôt. (It's necessary that we start early.)
- Emotion or desire: Je veux que tu réussisses. (I want you to succeed.) / Elle a peur qu'il pleuve. (She is afraid it will rain.)
- Judgment or opinion: C'est dommage que vous partiez. (It's a shame that you're leaving.) / Je préfère qu'elle appelle demain. (I prefer that she calls tomorrow.)
- The subjunctive rarely appears in the main clause; it lives in "que" clauses after the main verb.
✅ Positive sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs. | You must do your homework. |
| Je veux que tu sois heureux. | I want you to be happy. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Il ne faut pas que tu parles. | You must not speak. |
| Je ne veux pas que tu partes. | I don't want you to leave. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| French | English |
|---|
| Veux-tu que je t'aide? | Do you want me to help you? |
| Crois-tu qu'il soit possible? | Do you think it's possible? |