Subjonctif après les verbes de doute

To use this rule, you need a specific recipe. First, you need a subject (like Je). Second, you need a verb that expresses doubt (like doute). Third, you absolutely need the word que. This little word que is the bridge. It connects your doubt to the action you are unsure about. Finally, you need a second subject. If you say "I doubt I am tall," you don't use this rule. You only use it when Subject A doubts what Subject B is doing. For example: "I doubt that you are tall." It is like a relay race. You pass the doubt from one person to another. Without that second person, the Subjunctive usually stays home. It loves company!

1. 1Creating the Subjunctive looks harder than it is. Just follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Start with the ils (they) form of the verb in the present tense. For example, for finir, it is finissent.
3. 3Drop the -ent ending. Now you have your 'Subjunctive Stem.' For finir, your stem is finiss-.
4. 4Add the magic Subjunctive endings:
5. 5For je, add -e
6. 6For tu, add -es
7. 7For il/elle, add -e
8. 8For nous, add -ions
9. 9For vous, add -iez
10. 10For ils/elles, add -ent
11. 11It is like building with Lego blocks. Once you have the stem, the endings stay the same for almost every verb. Yes, there are some rebels (irregular verbs), but we will tackle those later. For now, focus on the rhythm.

You use the Subjunctive after verbs that scream 'I don't know!' The most famous one is douter (to doubt). If you say Je doute que..., the Subjunctive must follow. You also use it with ne pas être sûr (to not be sure) or ne pas être certain. Imagine you are in a job interview. The boss says, "I am not sure that you have the experience." That 'have' will be in the Subjunctive. Or imagine you are ordering food. You might say, "It is unlikely that this dish is spicy." In French, that 'is' becomes Subjunctive because of the word 'unlikely' (peu probable). It is the grammar of the 'glass half empty.' If there is a shadow of a doubt, the Subjunctive is there.

This is the part that trips people up! If you are certain, stay away from the Subjunctive. Verbs like penser (to think), croire (to believe), and espérer (to hope) usually take the normal Indicative. Why? Because in your head, you are expressing a belief or a reality. Even if you are wrong, you *feel* sure. However, there is a twist! If you make these verbs negative, they suddenly become doubtful. Je pense que tu es là (Indicative). But Je ne pense pas que tu sois là (Subjunctive). It is like a grammar traffic light. Positive is green (Indicative). Negative is red (Subjunctive). Also, if you only have one subject, just use the infinitive. "I doubt I can go" becomes Je doute de pouvoir y aller. No Subjunctive needed!

The biggest mistake is forgetting the que. Without que, the Subjunctive cannot exist. It is the glue holding the sentence together. Another common slip-up is using the Subjunctive with penser in a positive sentence. You might want to sound fancy and say Je pense qu'il soit gentil. Stop! That sounds like you are trying too hard. Keep it simple. If you believe it, use the normal present tense. Also, watch out for the nous and vous forms. They look exactly like the Imparfait. This confuses everyone, even people living in Paris. If it looks like the past but feels like the present, you are probably doing it right!

Let’s compare two sentences. Sentence A: Je suis sûr qu'il vient (I am sure he is coming). Sentence B: Je doute qu'il vienne (I doubt he is coming). In Sentence A, we use vient (Indicative) because there is zero doubt. In Sentence B, we use vienne (Subjunctive) because the doubt is explicit. It is a tiny change in spelling, but a huge change in meaning. Think of it like a spice. The Indicative is salt—it's basic and everywhere. The Subjunctive is chili flakes—you only use it when you want to add a specific 'flavor' of uncertainty to your conversation.