Subjonctif après les verbes de volonté

The subjunctive is a 'mood,' not just a tense. It shows the speaker's attitude toward an action. For verbs of will, you are expressing a wish. You are pushing your will onto someone else. This grammar requires a specific 'sandwich' structure. You need a first subject and a verb of will. Then, you must use the word que. Finally, you need a second subject and a subjunctive verb. This is the 'Two-Subject Rule.' If you only have one person in the sentence, you don't need this. For example, 'I want to eat' is simple. But 'I want you to eat' is where the magic happens. The word que acts like a bridge. It connects your desire to the other person's action. Without this bridge, the sentence falls apart.

1. 1Creating the subjunctive is like building with Legos. Most verbs follow a very steady pattern. Follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Start with the ils (they) form of the present tense. For example, for parler, it is parlent.
3. 3Remove the -ent ending. This gives you your 'stem.' For parler, the stem is parl-.
4. 4Add the special subjunctive endings to that stem.
5. 5Here are the endings you need to memorize:
6. 6For je: add -e
7. 7For tu: add -es
8. 8For il/elle/on: add -e
9. 9For nous: add -ions
10. 10For vous: add -iez
11. 11For ils/elles: add -ent
12. 12Wait, do those nous and vous endings look familiar? They should! They are the same as the imparfait. It is a nice two-for-one deal for your brain. Just remember that some verbs are rebels. Verbs like être, avoir, and faire have their own rules. We call these irregulars. They are the 'rockstars' of the subjunctive world. They don't follow the crowd.

You use this pattern whenever you express a desire. This includes wanting, wishing, preferring, or demanding. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You want the waiter to bring bread. You would say: Je veux qu'il apporte du pain. Or imagine a job interview. You want the boss to call you back. You say: Je souhaite que vous m'appeliez. Here are the most common 'trigger' verbs:

• Vouloir que (To want that)
• Désirer que (To desire that)
• Souhaiter que (To wish that)
• Préférer que (To prefer that)
• Exiger que (To demand that)

Think of these verbs as keys. They unlock the 'subjunctive door.' Use them when you are trying to influence the world around you. It is very common in daily life. You might tell a friend: Je préfère que nous restions ici (I prefer that we stay here). It sounds polite but clear. It shows you have a specific preference for the situation.

This is the part where many people get tripped up. You only use the subjunctive if there are two different people. If the subject stays the same, keep it simple. Use the infinitive (the 'to' form of the verb).

• Correct: Je veux partir (I want to leave).
• Incorrect: Je veux que je parte (This sounds very strange!).

Also, do not use the subjunctive for facts. If you are just stating something that is true, use the indicative. The subjunctive is for the 'maybe' and the 'I hope so.' It is not for the 'I know so.' For example, Je sais qu'il est là (I know he is there) uses the normal present tense. But Je veux qu'il soit là (I want him to be there) needs the subjunctive. Think of it like a dream vs. a reality. Dreams get the subjunctive. Reality gets the indicative.

The most common mistake is forgetting the que. In English, we often say 'I want you to go.' We don't say 'that.' In French, you must say que. It is not optional. Another mistake is using the wrong stem. Always go back to the ils form of the present tense. If you use the je form as a stem, you might get it wrong for verbs like finir.

Many people also forget to change the verb for nous and vous. They try to keep the same stem for everyone. Remember the 'i' in -ions and -iez. It is a tiny letter, but it makes a big difference. Finally, don't overthink the irregulars. There are only a few important ones. Focus on être (sois), avoir (aie), and faire (fasse) first. The rest will come with time. Even if you mess up an ending, people will usually understand you. The effort is what counts!

Let’s compare the subjunctive with the regular present tense. The present tense is like a photograph. It shows exactly what is happening. 'You are here' is Tu es ici. The subjunctive is like a painting. It shows what you *want* to see. 'I want you to be here' is Je veux que tu sois ici.

Also, compare it to the imperative (commands). A command is direct: Pars ! (Leave!). The subjunctive is a bit softer and more structured: Je veux que tu partes. It adds a layer of 'who' wants the action. It makes your speech more nuanced. You aren't just barking orders. You are expressing your internal state. This is why French speakers love it. It adds flavor to the conversation.