Le Subjonctif

• It’s a verb Mood, along with the Imperative and the Indicative.

Le Subjonctif

• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.

Most forms follow a regular pattern.

Le Subjonctif

• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.• It is used in certain

circumstances, in expressions of necessity, wanting, uncertainty, emotions.

Le Subjonctif

• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.• It’s used in certain

circumstances.• Memorize the key

phrases or circumstances that trigger the subjunctive to follow.

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

AfterExpressions

ofNecessity

Il faut queIl est

nécessaireque

Avoir besoinque

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

After ExpressionsOf Volition

WillOr Preference

Vouloir que Désirer quePréférer que Aimer mieux que

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

After Expressions ofEmotions

Être content que Regretter que Etre faché que

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

A Moins Que(Unless)

Pourvu Que(provided that)

Bien Que(although)

Sans Que(without)

Afin Que(in order that)

Quoique(although)

Jusqu’à ce Que

(Until)

Pour Que(so that)

Avant Que(before)

After CertainConjunctions

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

After Expressions ofDoubt, Possibility,

or Uncertainty

Douter Que(to doubt that)

Il est possible queIl se peut que

(it’s possible that)

Craindre queAvoir peur que(to fear that)

Croire que or Penser que +

NEGATIVE

Il semble que(it seems that)

Nier que(to deny that)

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

After Ordering,Forbidding and

Requesting

Ordonner que(to order that)

Défendre que(to forbid that)

Demander que(to ask that)

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

After a Superlative

C’est le plus grandgarçon que je

voie.

C’est l’examen le plus difficile que

j’aie jamais passé.

C’est la seule façonque je connaisse.

Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions

When there’s aNon-specific Antecedent or

Lacking specifics

Quelqu’un qui(someone who)

Chercher unHomme qui

(looking for a manwho…)

Attendre que(to wait until…)

Can You Recap?

• What is the Subjunctive?

Can You Recap?

• What is the Subjunctive?

It is a Mood like the Indicative and the Imperative.

It is a new verb form.

Can You Recap?

• When do you need the Subjunctive?

Can You Recap?

• When do you need the Subjunctive?

Expressing Necessity

Expressing Will

Expressing Doubt, Uncertainty

Expressing Emotions or Preference

After Certain Prepositional Phrases

After Superlatives

HOW do you use it?

• Look for the TRIGGER phrase.

• Put into the subjunctive the part that comes after the “QUE” in the TRIGGER phrase.

• If there’s no QUE, there’s not going to be subjunctive.

EXAMPLES

Je veux faire mes devoirs.

BUT

Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs.

Je fais mes devoirs afin de recevoir de bonnes notes.

BUT

Je fais mes devoirs afin que le prof me donne de bonnes notes.

NOTES

When there is no change of subject in the first part of the sentence and the second part of the sentence, there’s often no need for the “que”, and therefore no need for the subjunctive.

What about that “NE” that seems to pop up without the “PAS”?

NOTES

There is a “NE” that is added after expressions of fear/uncertainty – it may or may not happen.

Example:

J’ai peur qu’ils ne m’arretent.

I’m afraid that they’ll arrest me.

Elle va être fachée à moins que nous ne le fassions tout de suite.

She’s going to be mad unless we do it right away.