READ OUR ARTICLES
LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS
WATCH OUR VIDEOS
Often, my students will stop what they are saying and ask me worriedly, “Do I need the subjunctive here?” If I had to give you some tips to determine when to use the subjunctive, I’d break it down into three bullet points:
-
When something is not real (it is abstract) or not sure (it may not happen)
-
When using an adjective expressing emotions, judgment, or thin probability
-
After conjunctions to be learned by heart
Head vs. heart
I sometimes ask my students to imagine two worlds to help them visualize the concept of indicative and subjunctive:
You will encounter what are called “head verbs” and “heart verbs.” If we follow the logic from above, head verbs call for the indicative, whereas heart verbs call for the subjunctive.
HEAD: Je pense qu’il est tard.
I think it is late.
HEART: J’ai peur qu’il soit tard.
I am afraid it might be late.
|
J'espère [I hope] + future tense! J'espère qu’il ne pleuve → pleuvra pas ce week-end. |
Exception! |
All head verbs in the negative call for the subjunctive. Why? Because we are talking about something that is not real anymore. J’ai l’impression qu’il est mal-à-l'aise. |
IMPORTANT Also, all the head verbs in the interrogative (subject-verb inversion only) call for the subjunctive. Why? Because if you ask the question, a doubt is implied.
Crois-tu qu’il soit honnête ?
BUT
Tu crois qu’il est honnête ?
Do you think he’s honest?
|
Sometimes, you may use either subjunctive or indicative. The use of either will add some subtlety. Read the example below:
→ In which sentence do I think such a talented babysitter charging so little exists? |
Negation & subjunctive
Sometimes negation calls for the subjunctive. Here are two examples of negation for which you’ll need to remember to use the subjunctive.
-
il n’y a pas / rien / aucun / etc. [there is not]
-
sans que [without]
Elle est partie sans que je lui dise au revoir.
She left without me saying goodbye.
Adjectives & subjunctive
-
C’est or Il est + adjective expressing emotions, judgment, or thin probability
Il est scandaleux qu’ils soient partis sans payer.
It is outrageous they left without paying.
→ Are you wondering what the difference between c’est and il est is? Well, c’est is casual and il est is formal.
-
être + adjective expressing emotions
The list could be never-ending, so I am just giving you a few examples here.
Je suis heureux que tu sois dans ma vie.
I am over the moon you are in my life.
|
Adding an adjective to trouver [to find / to consider] calls for the subjunctive. Je trouve qu’il fait chaud. Je trouve bizarre qu’il fasse chaud. |
Conjunctions calling for the subjunctive
Some conjunctions are followed by the subjunctive and need to be learned by heart. (To review what a conjunction is, head down to “Unpacking the grammar” at the end of the article.) It is about memory work here but also about logic, so even though the list below is not exhaustive, you can decide whether to use the subjunctive or not by understanding the meaning of the conjunction.
Let’s break it down!
Nous irons voir le film pourvu qu’il y ait de la place.
We’ll go see the film provided there are seats left.
Bien que son frère la mette en colère, elle l’aime.
Even though her brother gets on her nerves, she loves him.
|
After après que, you may use either the indicative or the subjunctive. Between you and me, the proper way is to use the indicative because what follows actually happened and is therefore real. But French speakers do love the subjunctive, so they use it instead! PROPER USE: J’ai appelé ma mère après qu’il est parti. MOST COMMON USE: J’ai appelé ma mère après qu’il soit parti. |
In brief: 4 key things about the subjunctive
|
|
Unpacking the grammar
|
Adventures in Language, from Mango Languages, is the best place online if you want to elevate your knowledge of linguistics and your proficiency at language learning and teaching. This wealth of knowledge is just a couple clicks away.
Comments