Le subjonctif The subjunctive mood

Moods There are 3 moods in language INDICATIVE: This is used to state facts where there is no uncertainty in the mind of the speaker IMPERATIVE: Giving orders and commands SUBJUNCTIVE: Stating ideas, possibilities and wishes that might not necessarily happen

The Subjunctive mood The subjunctive has almost completely disappeared from the English language If I were you May the force be with you! Long live the King! However, in French, the subjunctive is very much still alive, particularly in the Present Tense.

The Subjunctive continued The subjunctive has present, imperfect and conditional forms. The imperfect and conditional are confined to written language and then often to the third person. The present must however be learned thoroughly!!

Subjunctive - formation Fortunately the subjunctive is easy to form You must first write down the ‘ils’ form of the present tense You then take off the –ent from the end To this stem you add the appropriate endings for each subject

Formation – endings e.g. for the verb ‘jouer’ ils jouent Je jou Tu jou Il jou Elle jou Nou jou Vous jou Ils jou Elles jou ent -e -es -e -e -ions -iez -ent -ent

Formation – Practice Write the correct present tense subjunctive forms of the following verbs Je (manger) Tu (rester) Il (finir) Elle (vendre) Nous (partir) Vous (boire) Ils (craindre) Elles (venir) Je mange Tu restes Il finisse Elle vende Nous partions Vous boiviez Ils craignent Elles viennent

Subjunctive - summary Work out the ils form e.g. ils viennent Take off the –ent e.g. vienn Add the correct ending e.g. je vienne e.g. nous viennions

Subjunctive - Exceptions Inevitably, there are some very important exceptions that need to be learned! There are seven common exceptions on the following pages. There is no rule to know how to conjugate the verbs.

Exceptions - 1 être – to be je sois tu sois il soit elle soit nous soyons vous soyez ils soient elles soient avoir – to have j’aie tu aies il ait elle ait nous ayons vous ayez ils aient elles aient

Exceptions - 2 aller – to go j’aille tu ailles il aille elle aille nous allions vous alliez ils aillent elles aillent vouloir – to want je veuille tu veuilles il veuille elle veuille nous voulions vous vouliez ils veuillent elles veuillent

Exceptions - 3 The following exceptions have the same endings as for the regular forms but have different stems faire to do fass- pouvoir to be able to puiss- savoir to know sach-

Practice – 2 Write the correct subjunctive forms Je (savoir) Tu (vouloir) Il (avoir) Elle (pouvoir) Nous (être) Vous (aller) Ils (savoir) Elles (pouvoir) Je sache Tu veuilles Il ait Elle puisse Nous soyons Vous alliez Ils sachent Elles puissent

Subjunctive - Use The subjunctive is used … …after certain conjunctions …after certain verbs The word ‘que’ is often a trigger for the subjunctive mood (BUT NOT ALWAYS)

After certain conjunctions bien que / quoique although… pour que / afin que so that… avant que before… jusqu’à ce que until… sans que without… pourvu que provided that… à condition que on condition that… à moins que unless… quoi que whatever… où que wherever…

After certain verbs wanting, wishing, desiring, requesting, demanding, feeling je suis content que… I am happy that… je suis surpris que… I am surprised that… je veux que… I want… je regrette que… I am sorry that… je demande que… I ask that… je m’étonne que… I am astonished that…

after certain verbs etc. after verbs expressing fear J’ai peur que I am frightened that… Je crains que I fear that…

After certain verbs expressing personal opinion the subjunctive is only required when the verb is used in the negative form!! je ne crois pas que… I don’t believe that… je ne dis pas que… I am not saying that… je n’espère pas que… I don’t hope that… Je ne pense pas que… I don’t think that…

Impersonal verbs These are useful phrases that are always followed by the subjunctive Il faut que… It is necessary that… Il se peut que… It is possible that… Il importe que… It is important that… Il est regrettable que… It is regrettable that… Il est (im)possible que… It is (im)possible that… Il est improbable que… It is unlikely that… Il semble que… It seems that… Il est douteux que… It is doubtful that…

Subjunctive – practice 3 translate the following It is necessary that one is a realist… although you are right… Whatever he says… Before they arrive… I want you to know… It is regrettable that she is ill …unless we are able to leave… I don’t believe you want to do that.

Practice 3 answers Il faut qu’on soit réaliste bien que vous ayez raison quoi qu’il dise avant qu’ils arrivent Je veux que vous sachiez Il est regrettable qu’elle soit malade à moins que nous puissions partir Je ne crois pas que vous vouliez faire ça!

Some important points to consider Although it may appear complicated the subjunctive is nothing to be feared You have survived five years of French without needing it It is very simple to form in the present tense if you follow the rules and note the 7 exceptions There are lots of structures that trigger the infinitive but you are unlikely to ever use even half of them in your AS studies It is a good idea to learn a few conjunctions and verbal phrases that use subjunctive to show off in your exam. Try learning the subjunctive in set phrases like those in the previous exercises. Don’t panic!