Spot the mistake: indicative where the subjunctive belongs
Il faut que tu viens? Bien qu'il fait froid? Tap the verb in the wrong mood in eight sentences, including one where the subjunctive is the mistake.
- B1
- 8 sentences
- Tap the wrong word
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
The subjunctive follows expressions of necessity (il faut que), wishes (je veux que), emotions (je suis content que), and some conjunctions (bien que, pour que, avant que). But je pense que and je crois que in the affirmative take the indicative.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learnRed watch out
Tap the word that's wrong in each sentence.
You have to come tomorrow.
Il faut que + subjunctive: que tu viennes.
I want you to be on time.
Wishes take the subjunctive: soyez.
Even though it's cold, we're going out.
Bien que + subjunctive: qu'il fasse.
I'm glad you succeeded.
Emotion + que → subjunctive: que tu aies réussi.
We need to go to the market.
Aller → qu'on aille.
So that you can sleep, I'm turning the music down.
Pour que + subjunctive: puisses.
I think he's ill.
Affirmative je pense que takes the indicative: qu'il est malade.
Before we leave, let's close the windows.
Avant que + subjunctive: partions.
When does French need the subjunctive?
| + subjunctive | + indicative |
|---|---|
| il faut que | je pense que |
| je veux que | je crois que |
| bien que, pour que, avant que | parce que, pendant que, après que |
| je ne pense pas que | je suis sûr que |
A good rule: the subjunctive appears when the action isn't presented as a plain fact: something wanted, needed, feared or still to happen. Après que officially takes the indicative (it has happened), even though many French speakers use the subjunctive there.
- Mère
Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs avant que ton père rentre.
You must do your homework before your dad gets home.
- Fils
Je pense que j'ai le temps…
I think I have time…
- Mère
Je veux que ce soit fini à 19 h !
I want it finished by 7 pm!