Subjonctif dans les relatives après antécédent négatif

This rule kicks in when the first part of your sentence is negative. You are basically saying that a certain person or thing does not exist. The second part of the sentence (the relative clause) describes what you are looking for. Because the first part says "There is no such thing," the second part cannot be a solid fact. In your mind, this person is just a concept. You use the subjunctive to show this lack of certainty. It is like looking into an empty room and describing who you wish was there. If the person were standing right in front of you, you would use the normal indicative. But since they are missing, the subjunctive steps in to fill the gap. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes, so do not panic!

1. 1Start with a negative main clause. Common starters include Il n'y a personne... (There is no one...) or Je ne connais rien... (I know nothing...).
2. 2Add your relative pronoun. Usually, this is qui (who/that) for subjects or que (that) for objects.
3. 3Put the following verb into the Subjunctive Mood.
4. 4Make sure the subjunctive verb matches the person you are talking about.
5. 5Finish your thought with the rest of the sentence.

Use this pattern whenever you are using words like personne (nobody), rien (nothing), or aucun/aucune (none).

• When searching for a job: Je ne trouve aucun travail qui me convienne. (I can't find any job that suits me).
• When complaining about food: Il n'y a rien ici que je veuille manger! (There is nothing here that I want to eat!).
• When asking for help: Il n'y a personne qui puisse m'aider? (Is there nobody who can help me?).

You are signaling to your listener that the thing you need is currently "missing in action." It is the perfect mood for those moments when life is not giving you what you want.

If you are talking about a specific, real person, stop! Do not use the subjunctive. If you say "I know the man who lives here," he exists. He is a fact. Use the indicative: Je connais l'homme qui habite ici.

Also, if you are asking a question where you expect the answer to be "Yes," you usually stick to the indicative. Only use the subjunctive if you are truly doubtful or if the existence is denied. If you use the subjunctive for a real person, it sounds like you are questioning if they are actually a ghost. While that might be cool in a movie, it is a bit weird at a dinner party.

• Using the Indicative by habit: It is tempting to say Il n'y a personne qui sait instead of qui sache.
• Confusing Qui and Que: Remember qui is usually followed by the verb, and que is followed by a new subject.
• Overthinking it: Don't use the subjunctive for every negative sentence. It only happens in the relative clause (the part starting with qui or que).
• Forgetting irregulars: Verbs like être, avoir, and faire love to be irregular in the subjunctive.

Think of these mistakes like stepping on a loose floorboard. You might trip, but you can always get back up and try again.

This rule is the sibling of the "superlative + subjunctive" rule. When you say "This is the best book I've ever read," you use the subjunctive because it is your opinion. Similarly, after a negative, the subjunctive shows that in your reality, the thing is not there.

• Definite: J'ai un ami qui parle chinois. (I have a friend who speaks Chinese. He is real!)
• Negative/Doubtful: Je n'ai aucun ami qui parle chinois. (I have no friend who speaks... well, if they did, they aren't here now!).

The difference is all about "existence." If it's a solid 100% fact, stay indicative. If it's a 0% or a "maybe," go subjunctive.