Present Subjunctive in French: When Do You Really Use It?

Present Subjunctive in French: When Do You Really Use It?

Reading time: 8 minutes

This difficulty is very common among French learners because the rule seems simple at first… then exceptions and natural usage appear in conversations.

The main idea of the subjunctive

The subjunctive is not only a “complicated tense”. It is a way to present an action as wished, necessary, uncertain, subjective or dependent on another idea.

It appears very often after que.
 

Il faut que

Use the subjunctive after il faut que to express necessity.

• Il faut que tu pratiques régulièrement.
• Il faut que je fasse plus d’efforts.
   

Je veux que / j’aimerais que

After a wish or will, French often uses the subjunctive.

• Je veux que tu sois à l’aise.
• J’aimerais que vous parliez plus naturellement.
   

Bien que

After bien que, use the subjunctive to express contrast.

• Bien qu’il soit difficile, cet exercice est très utile.
• Bien que je fasse des erreurs, je continue à parler.
   

Pour que / avant que

With pour que, you express a goal. With avant que, you talk about an action that has not happened yet.

• Je répète pour que ma prononciation soit plus naturelle.
• Je vais réviser avant que le cours commence.
   

The most useful forms

Key takeaway

The right question is not only: “What is the rule?” The right question is: “In what situation do I want to use this sentence?” This is how grammar becomes useful for speaking.