Le subjonctif présent · formation
1 · Start with the clause opening
Expressions such as il faut que and je souhaite que give the subjunctive a job: a need or a wish.
Il faut que tu répondes.You need to reply.
Je souhaite qu’elle réussisse.I would like her to succeed.
2 · Find a regular stem
Remove -ent from the present ils form. This works for these three models, even though their infinitives have different endings.
| ils parlent → parl- | parler |
| ils finissent → finiss- | finir |
| ils partent → part- | partir |
Il faut que je parte maintenant.I need to leave now.
3 · Add the subject’s ending
The regular endings are -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent, in subject order.
| que je parle / que tu parles | first and second person singular |
| qu’il parle / qu’elles parlent | third person singular and plural |
| que nous parlions / que vous parliez | first and second person plural |
4 · Check for two stems
For verbs such as prendre and venir, the present nous stem supplies the subjunctive nous and vous forms.
| ils prennent → que je prenne | the ils stem |
| nous prenons → que nous prenions | the nous stem |
Je souhaite qu’elle vienne.I would like her to come.
Je souhaite que nous venions ensemble.I would like us to come together.
5 · Keep the irregular models close
These frequent verbs have forms to learn as a set. The linked tables give all six subjects.
| être → que je sois | to be |
| avoir → que j’aie | to have |
| faire → que je fasse | to do, make |
| pouvoir → que je puisse | to be able to |
| savoir → que je sache | to know |
6 · Keep elision and spelling
Que becomes qu’ before a vowel. Je becomes j’ before aie and aille. Keep both letters when a stem ending in i meets -ions.
Il faut qu’elle finisse.She needs to finish.
Il faut que j’aie le temps.I need to have time.
Il faut que nous étudiions la question.We need to study the question.