Subjonctif present - irregular avoir

The Subjonctif is all about subjectivity. That is why it is called the Subjonctif! It lives in your head and your heart. It does not live in the world of cold, hard facts. If you say "I have a dog," that is a fact. Use the normal avoir. But if you say "I want you to have a dog," that is a wish. Now you need the Subjonctif! It is the mood of "maybe" and "I hope." You will almost always see the word que before it. This word is like a little bell. When you hear que, your brain should ask: "Is this a fact or a feeling?" If it is a feeling or a need, reach for the Subjonctif. It is like adding a pinch of salt to a meal. It changes the flavor of the whole sentence. It tells the listener that you are talking about possibilities, not certainties. Think of it as the "vibe" check of French grammar.

1. 1Because avoir is irregular, it does not follow the normal rules. You just have to memorize these forms. But there is a pattern if you look closely! Notice how the "nous" and "vous" forms are a bit different from the others. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:
2. 2Start with the word que (it is mandatory!)
3. 3For je, tu, il, and ils, use the stem aie.
4. 4For nous and vous, use the stem ay.
5. 5Add the special endings.
6. 6Here is how it looks in action:
7. 7que j'aie (that I have)
8. 8que tu aies (that you have)
9. 9qu'il ait (that he has)
10. 10que nous ayons (that we have)
11. 11que vous ayez (that you have)
12. 12qu'ils aient (that they have)
13. 13Pro tip: The forms aie, aies, ait, and aient all sound exactly the same! You only have to worry about the spelling. The nous and vous forms have a y which makes a "yuh" sound. It is like the verb is doing a little dance for you.

You will use the Subjonctif avoir in three big situations. First, for Necessity. If something must happen, use it. The most common phrase is Il faut que... (It is necessary that...). For example, "It is necessary that I have my keys" becomes Il faut que j'aie mes clés. Second, use it for Desires and Wishes. If you want someone to have something, use it. "I want you to have luck" is Je veux que tu aies de la chance. Third, use it for Emotions. If you are happy or sad about something someone has, the Subjonctif comes out to play. "I am happy that we have time" is Je suis content que nous ayons du temps. It is also great for job interviews! You might say "I hope you have a good day" using J'espère que... wait, actually, espérer is a tricky one! Stick to Je souhaite que vous ayez... for now. It sounds more professional and keeps you safe from grammar traps.

Do not use the Subjonctif when you are stating a fact. If you are 100% sure about something, stay in the land of the Indicative. For example, Je pense que... (I think that...) usually takes the normal present tense because you are stating your opinion as a fact. "I think he has a car" is Je pense qu'il a une voiture. Also, do not use it if there is no que. If you are just saying "I have a sandwich," use J'ai. Simple! Another trap is when the subject is the same. Instead of saying "I want that I have money," you just say "I want to have money" (Je veux avoir de l'argent). Only use the Subjonctif when you have two different people involved. It is like a conversation between two subjects. If you are just talking about yourself, keep it easy with the infinitive.

The biggest mistake is spelling. Since aie, aies, ait, and aient sound the same, people mix them up constantly. Even French people do this! They might write ait when they mean aie. Don't be that person. Another classic error is forgetting the i in ait or aies. It is not the same as the present tense a or as. Think of that i as the "imagination" letter for the Subjonctif. Also, watch out for the y in ayons and ayez. Sometimes learners try to use aions, but that looks like an onion! Keep the y to stay cool. Finally, don't use it after Je sais que... (I know that...). Knowledge is a fact, so it does not need the Subjonctif mood. It is a common slip-up, but now you know the secret!

Let's compare the Present Tense (Indicative) with the Subjonctif.

Indicative: Tu as le temps. (You have time. This is a fact.)

Subjonctif: Il faut que tu aies le temps. (It is necessary that you have time. This is a requirement.)

See the difference? The first one is a simple observation. The second one is a demand or a need.

Another example:

Indicative: Nous avons de la chance. (We are lucky. Fact!)

Subjonctif: Je suis ravi que nous ayons de la chance. (I am thrilled that we are lucky. This is an emotion!)

The Subjonctif adds a layer of human feeling to the verb. Without it, French would be a bit robotic. It is the difference between reading a weather report and telling someone you hope the sun shines.