In this section:

• Le subjonctif

• Le subjonctif – irrégulier

Le subjonctif- formation 

The subjunctive is considered a “mood” in French.

It is one of four moods in French (indicative, imperative, subjunctive and conditional). A mood is a grammatical term which helps categorize verb tenses. The subjunctive mood is used more frequently in French than in English. It has two tenses: present and past. It expresses several concepts, such as :

A wish, hope, or doubt, as well as an obligation or a necessity.
One expression which is always followed by the subjunctive is il faut que (it is necessary that …). Note that you have already seen and probably used “il faut” but with an infinitive, such as in the case of “il faut travailler” !

Formation:
-er, -re, and -ir verbs
The subjunctive endings are the same for all verbs: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.

For most verbs, the subjunctive mood is formed by dropping the -ent ending from the third person plural of the present indicative and adding the subjunctive endings. Note the similarities between the present indicative and the present subjunctive of -er verbs. Example: Ils parlent > remove the -ent and you have “parl”. You can now add the endings referenced above.

Note that the same stem is used for the subjunctive and the present indicative; the endings are also identical
except for the nous and vous forms.

Because the subjunctive occurs in subordinate clauses, the subordinating conjunction “que” is usually included as part of the paradigm (structure) for the subjunctive forms. Curious about the definition of subordinate clauses? Use this example: I danced all night until my feet hurt. “Until my feet hurt” is the subordinate clause.

Typically, there are expressions which “trigger” the use of the subjunctive. As you saw above, “il faut que” is always followed by the subjunctive. Example: Il faut que vous travailliez !

Here are some other commonly used expressions. You will encounter many more throughout the next several modules of Français inclusif.

Necessity:
Il faut que
Il est nécessaire que
Il est important que
Il est essentiel que

Doubt/uncertainty
Il est impossible que
Il est possible que

Emotion/disbelief:
Il est dommage que
Il est bizarre que
Je suis triste que
Il est incroyable que

Many of these expressions could be used while traveling! Try thinking of some situations in which you might use the subjunctive during travel.

In the singular for -re and -ir verbs, the subjunctive looks and sounds different from the present indicative since the stem is different for the two moods. Listen:

Note that, for all conjugations, the third person plural of the present subjunctive always looks and sounds like the present indicative since the stem for the subjunctive comes from the third person plural.

Le subjonctif- Irrégulier

Many verbs that are irregular in the present indicative are regular in forming the subjunctive. In other words, the stem is formed by removing the -ent ending from the third person plural of the present indicative and then the endings -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent are added. Prendre, for example, is an irregular verb, with the corresponding regular subjunctive forms.

1. Prendre – to take
Note the spelling change for nous and vous

Aller is an irregular verb in the present tense and also in the subjunctive. You can’t take the third person plural “ils vont” and add the subjunctive endings!  See the special subjunctive conjugations below:

2. Aller – to go
Note the spelling change for nous and vous

You will learn more irregular verbs in parts 2 and 3 of this module.