Subjonctif present - irregular savoir

In French, we have different "moods." The indicative mood is for reality. "I know the way" is a fact. But what if your boss says, "I need you to know the way"? Suddenly, it’s not just a fact. It’s a requirement or a desire. That’s where the subjonctif steps in. It acts like a grammar filter. Whenever you use certain "trigger phrases," the verb that follows must change. Savoir is irregular, which means it doesn't follow the normal pattern for building this mood. While most verbs look at their nous form to find a stem, savoir just does its own thing. It uses the stem sach- for every single person. Whether it is "I," "you," or "they," that sach- stays the same. It is actually quite loyal once you get to know it! Just remember that the subjonctif almost always lives inside a "que" clause. It’s like a bird that only sings when it’s in its specific cage.

1. 1Building savoir in the subjonctif is a simple three-step process.
2. 2Start with the magic stem: sach-.
3. 3Choose your subject pronoun (like je, tu, or nous).
4. 4Add the standard subjonctif endings.
5. 5Here is how those endings look with our magic stem:
6. 6For je, add -e: que je sache
7. 7For tu, add -es: que tu saches
8. 8For il/elle/on, add -e: qu'il sache
9. 9For nous, add -ions: que nous sachions
10. 10For vous, add -iez: que vous sachiez
11. 11For ils/elles, add -ent: qu'ils sachent
12. 12Notice that nous and vous have that extra i. It sounds a bit like a sneeze if you say it fast! Sachions. Sachiez. Just keep that sach- strong and you are halfway there. Even native speakers have to pause for a micro-second on these sometimes, so take your time.

The subjonctif is all about the "vibe" of the sentence. You will use que je sache (or other forms) when you see these triggers:

• Necessity: Use it with Il faut que... (It is necessary that...). For example, "It is necessary that you know the truth."
• Desire: Use it with Je veux que... (I want that...). Like when a teacher says, "I want you all to know your verbs!"
• Emotion: Use it after feelings. "I am happy that you know French."
• Doubt: Use it when you aren't sure. "I doubt that he knows the answer."

Imagine you are at a job interview. Your future boss might say, Il faut que vous sachiez utiliser Excel. They aren't saying you *do* know it yet; they are saying it is a requirement. Or imagine ordering food and telling the waiter about an allergy. Je veux que le chef sache que je suis allergique aux noix. You want the chef to have that information. It makes the communication feel more urgent and personal.

Don't let the subjonctif haunt your dreams. You don't need it for everything!

• Simple Facts: If you are just stating a fact, stay with the indicative. Je sais nager (I know how to swim). No subjonctif needed here!
• Certainty: If you use Je sais que... (I know that...), you are sure. Use the regular tu sais or il sait.
• No "Que": If there is no que, there is usually no subjonctif.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green light (Indicative) is for facts and speed. Red light (Subjonctif) is when you need to stop and think about feelings or needs. If you aren't expressing a wish, a doubt, or a requirement, keep driving in the regular present tense.

We all make mistakes! It is part of the fun. Here are the big ones to watch out for:

• Using the wrong stem: Many learners try to use que je save. It sounds logical, right? But it's wrong! Stick to sach-.
• Forgetting the i: In the nous and vous forms, people often say sachons instead of sachions. That little i is very important for the subjonctif sound.
• Using it with Je pense que: This is a tricky one. Usually, Je pense que takes the regular present tense because you are stating what you think is a fact. Only use subjonctif if you say Je ne pense pas que... (I don't think that...).
• Skipping the que: The subjonctif is a team player. It almost always needs its partner que to function correctly.

You might wonder: "Why not just use connaître?"

• Savoir is for facts, information, or skills. (I know the address, I know how to cook).
• Connaître is for people, places, or being familiar with something. (I know Pierre, I know Paris).

Both can be used in the subjonctif, but they have different stems. Savoir becomes sach-, while connaître becomes connaiss-. If you want someone to know a phone number, use savoir. If you want them to meet your friend, use connaître. It's like the difference between knowing *about* a pizza and actually *knowing* the pizza place down the street.