Subjonctif après "il est possible que"

French has two main moods: the indicative and the subjunctive. You use the indicative for facts and reality. You use the subjunctive for feelings, doubts, and possibilities. The phrase il est possible que is the ultimate trigger for this mood. It is like a green light for the subjunctive. This phrase tells the listener that what comes next is up in the air. You are signaling that the outcome is not guaranteed. The "glue" of this structure is the word que. Without que, the subjunctive stays in the box. When you say il est possible que, you are setting a stage. You are creating a space where the verb does not behave like normal. It takes on a special form to reflect the uncertainty. It is like putting on a specific costume for a play. The play is called "Maybe It Happens." The verb is the actor. The phrase il est possible que is the director. It tells the actor exactly how to dress.

1. 1Creating the subjunctive looks harder than it actually is. Follow these steps to build your verb:
2. 2Start with the ils (they) form of the present tense.
3. 3Remove the -ent ending to find your "stem."
4. 4Add the special subjunctive endings to that stem.
5. 5The endings are very regular for most verbs:
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. 12Let’s look at the verb parler (to speak). The ils form is parlent. Drop the -ent and you get parl-. Now, if you want to say "It is possible that I speak," you say: Il est possible que je parle. See? It looks like the normal present tense for many forms! The nous and vous forms are the sneaky ones. They look like the imparfait tense. For parler, you get que nous parlions. It is like a little grammar remix. Just remember: ils form minus -ent plus the new ending. You’ve got this!

Use this pattern whenever you are discussing a "maybe" scenario. Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, Il est possible que je commence lundi (It is possible that I start Monday). It sounds professional and realistic. Or imagine you are ordering food in Paris. You ask about a dish. The waiter says, Il est possible que ce soit épicé (It is possible that it is spicy). This is a real-world scenario where certainty is low. Use it for weather too. Il est possible qu'il pleuve (It is possible that it rains). Use it when you are asking for directions and you are not sure if a place is open. Il est possible que la banque soit fermée. It helps you express hesitation politely. It is great for social planning. "Will Sarah come to the party?" You answer, Il est possible qu'elle vienne. It saves you from making promises you can't keep. It is the perfect "I don't know for sure" tool.

Do not use the subjunctive if you don't use the word que. If you just say "maybe," use peut-être. For example: Peut-être qu'il vient. Here, vient is normal. The subjunctive only wakes up when il est possible que is present. Also, do not use it for things that are certain. If you are 100% sure, just use the normal present tense. Also, be careful with the phrase il est probable que. In many French classrooms, probable is seen as more certain than possible. Because it is "probable," French often uses the normal indicative mood there. It is a weird quirk! Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Possible is yellow (proceed with caution/subjunctive). Certain is green (go/indicative). Also, avoid it in very simple, short sentences where a simple "perhaps" works better. Don't overcomplicate your life if you don't have to.

The biggest mistake is using the normal present tense after que. You might say, Il est possible qu'il fait beau. Stop right there! Fait is indicative. You need fasse. It feels like a small change, but it sounds "off" to a French ear. It is like saying "He go to the store" in English. Another mistake is forgetting the i in the nous and vous forms. Many people say que nous parlons instead of que nous parlions. That little i is the secret sauce of the subjunctive. Don't leave it out! Also, watch out for irregular verbs. Verbs like être, avoir, and aller don't follow the ils minus -ent rule. They have their own special stems. Il est possible que tu sois en retard (It is possible you are late). If you use es instead of sois, you’ve fallen into the trap. Take your time with the irregulars. They are the divas of the French language. They want all the attention!

Compare il est possible que with il est certain que. Notice the difference? One is a guess, one is a fact. Il est certain qu'il est là (He is there). Il est possible qu'il soit là (He might be there). See how the verb changes from est to soit? It is a mood shift! Now, look at il est probable que. This one is tricky. Some people use the subjunctive, but most use the indicative. Il est probable qu'il viendra. It is more "sure" than possible. Think of it as a scale of 1 to 10. 10 is certain (Indicative). 7 is probable (Indicative). 4 is possible (Subjunctive). The lower the certainty, the higher the chance you need the subjunctive. It is all about how much you trust the statement. If you are betting money on it, use the indicative. If you are just guessing, the subjunctive is your friend.