Infinitive vs Subjunctive - Same Subject

In French, sentences often have two parts. You have a main clause and a subordinate clause. Usually, the subjunctive links these two parts. This happens when the subjects are different. For example: "I want that you go." But what if the subjects are the same? If "I" want and "I" go, things change. French hates repeating the same subject twice. It feels heavy and redundant to native speakers. Instead of a full clause, we use an infinitive. This makes the sentence flow much better. It is efficient, clean, and very common. Think of it as merging two thoughts into one.

1. 1Identify the subject of the main verb.
2. 2Identify the subject of the second action.
3. 3Compare the two subjects carefully.
4. 4If they match, drop the que entirely.
5. 5Change the second verb to its infinitive form.
6. 6Add the preposition de if the expression requires it.
7. 7For conjunctions like pour que, use the short version pour.
8. 8For bien que, you must use a different structure like malgré.

Use this pattern for verbs of desire. Verbs like vouloir, désirer, or souhaiter love this rule. If you want to do something, use the infinitive. Use it for expressions of emotion too. If you are happy to be here, use the infinitive. It works perfectly with être content de or avoir peur de. Use it with purpose conjunctions like pour or afin de. If you study to succeed, use the infinitive. Use it for doubt or possibility with douter de. It is also great for job interviews. You can say Je suis ravi d'être ici naturally. It sounds much more professional than the subjunctive version.

Never use the infinitive if the subjects are different. If you want your friend to help, use the subjunctive. Je veux que tu m'aides is the only way. You cannot use the infinitive with impersonal expressions like il faut que. Well, unless you use the general il faut + infinitive. But if a specific person is involved, keep them separate. Do not use it if the meaning becomes unclear. Clarity is always the most important thing in French. If the subjects are different, the subjunctive is your friend. It acts as a bridge between two different people. Without that bridge, the sentence falls apart.

Many learners try to force the subjunctive everywhere. They say Je veux que je parte to sound "advanced." In reality, this sounds very strange to a Frenchman. It is like saying "I want that I leave" in English. Another mistake is forgetting the preposition de. Many emotional expressions need de before the infinitive. For example, Je suis fier d'avoir fini is correct. Some people also keep the que when switching to infinitive. Remember, the que must disappear entirely. It is a package deal: the que and the subjunctive leave together. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are tired!

Compare this to English "to" infinitives. In English, we say "I want to eat." French does the exact same thing with Je veux manger. However, French is much stricter with conjunctions. In English, we might say "I work so that I can live." In French, you must say Je travaille pour vivre. You cannot say pour que je vive if it is you. The subjunctive is reserved for "the other." It marks a boundary between two different wills. The infinitive marks a single path of action. It is a clear distinction that defines the French logic.