Published February 8, 2022 • Updated April 25, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson • Native Audio by Marie Assel Cambier
The French subjunctive can feel intimidating at first, but the main idea is simple: it is used to express emotion, doubt, desire, necessity, judgment, or uncertainty rather than clear facts. It usually appears after que in a second clause. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use it naturally with clear explanations, real examples, and native audio for common subjunctive conjugations.
Je veux que tu viennes.
I want you to come.
Il faut que nous partions.
We have to leave.
Je doute qu’il dise la vérité.
I doubt he is telling the truth.
✅ What is the French subjunctive?
✅ Subjunctive uses
✅ Real example sentences
✅ Subjunctive conjugations
✅ Common triggers and phrases
What is the French subjunctive?
The subjunctive (le subjonctif) is a mood, not a tense. A mood shows the speaker’s attitude toward an action.
Use the subjunctive when something is:
- wanted
- doubted
- uncertain
- emotional
- necessary
- judged subjectively
Compare:
Je sais qu’il vient.
I know he is coming.
Je doute qu’il vienne.
I doubt he is coming.
Two key rules before using the subjunctive
1. It usually follows que
Most subjunctive clauses begin with que.
Il faut que tu partes.
You have to leave.
Je suis content que tu sois ici.
I am happy you are here.
2. There are usually two different subjects
Je veux que tu viennes.
I want you to come.
If the subject is the same, French often uses the infinitive instead.
Je veux venir.
I want to come.
French subjunctive examples
Desire / Wanting
Je veux que tu viennes.
I want you to come.
Elle souhaite que nous restions.
She wishes that we stay.
Je préfère qu’il parte tôt.
I prefer that he leave early.
Necessity / Obligation
Il faut que je file.
I have to run.
Il faut que tu fasses attention.
You need to pay attention.
Il est important que vous soyez prêts.
It is important that you be ready.
Emotion
Je suis content que tu sois là.
I am happy you are here.
Nous sommes tristes qu’il parte.
We are sad he is leaving.
Elle a peur qu’il échoue.
She is afraid he will fail.
Doubt / Uncertainty
Je doute qu’il vienne.
I doubt he is coming.
Je ne pense pas qu’elle ait raison.
I do not think she is right.
Il est possible qu’il pleuve.
It is possible that it may rain.
French subjunctive conjugation
How to form the subjunctive
For most verbs:
- Take the ils / elles form of the present tense
- Remove -ent
- Add these endings:
-e
-es
-e
-ions
-iez
-ent
Example: parler (to speak)
que je parle – that I speak
que tu parles – that you speak
qu’il/elle parle – that he/she speak
que nous parlions – that we speak
que vous parliez – that you speak
qu’ils/elles parlent – that they speak
Regular verb examples
Parler (to speak)
que je parle – that I speak
que tu parles – that you speak
qu’il/elle parle – that he/she speak
que nous parlions – that we speak
que vous parliez – that you speak
qu’ils/elles parlent – that they speak
Finir (to finish)
que je finisse – that I finish
que tu finisses – that you finish
qu’il/elle finisse – that he/she finish
que nous finissions – that we finish
que vous finissiez – that you finish
qu’ils/elles finissent – that they finish
Attendre (to wait)
que je attende – that I wait
que tu attendes – that you wait
qu’il/elle attende – that he/she wait
que nous attendions – that we wait
que vous attendiez – that you wait
qu’ils/elles attendent – that they wait
Dual-stem subjunctive verbs
Some verbs use one stem for singular forms and another for nous / vous.
Boire (to drink)
que je boive – that I drink
que tu boives – that you drink
qu’il/elle boive – that he/she drink
que nous buvions – that we drink
que vous buviez – that you drink
qu’ils/elles boivent – that they drink
Venir (to come)
que je vienne – that I come
que tu viennes – that you come
qu’il/elle vienne – that he/she come
que nous venions – that we come
que vous veniez – that you come
qu’ils/elles viennent – that they come
Prendre (to take)
que je prenne – that I take
que tu prennes – that you take
qu’il/elle prenne – that he/she take
que nous prenions – that we take
que vous preniez – that you take
qu’ils/elles prennent – that they take
Important irregular subjunctive verbs
Être (to be)
que je sois – that I be
que tu sois – that you be
qu’il/elle soit – that he/she be
que nous soyons – that we be
que vous soyez – that you be
qu’ils/elles soient – that they be
Avoir (to have)
que j’aie – that I have
que tu aies – that you have
qu’il/elle ait – that he/she have
que nous ayons – that we have
que vous ayez – that you have
qu’ils/elles aient – that they have
Aller (to go)
que j’aille – that I go
que tu ailles – that you go
qu’il/elle aille – that he/she go
que nous allions – that we go
que vous alliez – that you go
qu’ils/elles aillent – that they go
Faire (to do, make)
que je fasse – that I do
que tu fasses – that you do
qu’il/elle fasse – that he/she do
que nous fassions – that we do
que vous fassiez – that you do
qu’ils/elles fassent – that they do
Pouvoir (can, to be able)
que je puisse – that I can
que tu puisses – that you can
qu’il/elle puisse – that he/she can
que nous puissions – that we can
que vous puissiez – that you can
qu’ils/elles puissent – that they can
Savoir (to know)
que je sache – that I know
que tu saches – that you know
qu’il/elle sache – that he/she know
que nous sachions – that we know
que vous sachiez – that you know
qu’ils/elles sachent – that they know
Vouloir (to want)
que je veuille – that I want
que tu veuilles – that you want
qu’il/elle veuille – that he/she want
que nous voulions – that we want
que vous vouliez – that you want
qu’ils/elles veuillent – that they want
Common expressions that require the subjunctive
Desire / preference
vouloir que – to want that
préférer que – to prefer that
souhaiter que – to wish that
demander que – to ask that
Necessity
il faut que – it is necessary that
il est important que – it is important that
il est nécessaire que – it is necessary that
il vaut mieux que – it is better that
Emotion
être content que – to be happy that
être triste que – to be sad that
regretter que – to regret that
avoir peur que – to be afraid that
Doubt / uncertainty
douter que – to doubt that
il est possible que – it is possible that
je ne pense pas que – I do not think that
il n’est pas certain que – it is not certain that
Verbs that often use the indicative instead
Some expressions use the indicative because they express facts or certainty.
Je pense qu’il vient.
I think he is coming.
Il est certain qu’elle arrive.
It is certain she is arriving.
J’espère qu’il viendra.
I hope he will come.
Present or future meaning?
French has no separate future subjunctive. The present subjunctive is used even for future actions.
Il faut que tu partes demain.
You have to leave tomorrow.
Je veux qu’il vienne ce soir.
I want him to come tonight.
Why the subjunctive matters
The French use the subjunctive constantly in everyday speech. You will hear it after:
il faut que – it is necessary that
je veux que – I want that
bien que – although
avant que – before
pour que – so that
je doute que – I doubt that
Learning these common triggers first is the fastest path to mastering it.
Quick summary
Use the subjunctive after que when expressing:
- desire
- necessity
- emotion
- doubt
- uncertainty
- personal judgment
Most verbs are formed from the ils / elles present tense stem + subjunctive endings.
📚 Related lessons on FrenchLearner
- French subjunctive examples
- Il faut meaning and usage
- Que usages
- French verb conjugation charts
- French grammar lessons
French verb tenses
- Present tense
- Past tense (passé composé)
- Imperfect tense (imparfait)
- Future tense (futur simple)
- Near future tense (futur proche)
- Conditional mood (conditionnel)
- Imperative mood (impératif)
