Subjonctif with "avoir peur que"

The most important thing to remember is the "Two-Subject Rule." For the Subjunctive to happen with avoir peur que, you need two different people involved. You have the person who is afraid (Subject A). Then you have the person doing the action you are afraid of (Subject B). For example: "I (Subject A) am afraid that you (Subject B) are late." In French, this looks like: J'ai peur que tu sois en retard. If there is only one person, the rule changes. If I am afraid that *I* will be late, I do not use the Subjunctive. I use the infinitive: J'ai peur d'être en retard. Think of it like a relay race. You only need the Subjunctive if you are passing the fear from one person to another. If you keep the fear to yourself, keep the verb simple! This distinction is the secret key to mastering this pattern.

1. 1To use this rule, you need to build a Subjunctive verb. It sounds technical, but it is just a three-step recipe.
2. 2Start with the ils (they) form of the verb in the present tense. For example, for finir, it is finissent.
3. 3Chop off the -ent ending. Now you have the "stem": finiss-.
4. 4Add the special Subjunctive endings. They are very consistent:
5. 5For je: add -e
6. 6For tu: add -es
7. 7For il/elle/on: add -e
8. 8For nous: add -ions
9. 9For vous: add -iez
10. 10For ils/elles: add -ent
11. 11Let's try it with parler. The ils form is parlent. Remove -ent to get parl-. If I am afraid you are talking too much, I say: J'ai peur que tu parles trop. It is like building with Lego bricks. Once you have the stem, you just snap on the right ending. Some verbs are rebels (irregular), like être or avoir, but we will learn those as special guests later.

You use avoir peur que whenever you are expressing anxiety about a situation involving someone else. Imagine you are at a restaurant. You might say, J'ai peur que le serveur oublie notre commande (I'm afraid the waiter might forget our order). Or maybe you are at a job interview. You could think, J'ai peur que le patron ne m'aime pas (I'm afraid the boss won't like me). It is perfect for social situations where things are uncertain. Use it when you are checking on friends: J'ai peur que tu sois malade (I'm afraid you are sick). It adds a layer of empathy and emotion to your French. It makes you sound more human and less like a translation app. Any time there is a que after a feeling of fear, the Subjunctive is your best friend.

There are two big "No-Go" zones for this rule. First, as we mentioned, do not use it if the subject is the same. If I am afraid of falling, I say J'ai peur de tomber. I do not say J'ai peur que je tombe. That sounds very clunky and weird to a French ear. It is like wearing socks with sandals—technically possible, but please don't! Second, do not use it for things that are 100% certain facts without emotion. But since avoir peur is always an emotion, this second rule is usually handled for you. Just remember: No que, no Subjunctive. If you use de instead of que, you just use the normal infinitive verb. It is a great shortcut when you are in a hurry!

The biggest mistake is using the normal Present Tense (the Indicative) after que. For example, saying J'ai peur que tu es là instead of J'ai peur que tu sois là. It is a very common slip-up. Even some French toddlers do this before they learn the ropes! Another mistake is forgetting the que entirely. In English, we can say "I'm afraid he's lost." In French, you *must* include the que. It is the glue that holds the sentence together. Without it, the sentence falls apart. Also, watch out for the "ne explétif." Sometimes you will see a ne in these sentences, like J'ai peur qu'il ne pleuve. This ne doesn't mean "not"! It is just a fancy, formal decoration. At the A1 level, you can totally ignore it. It is like the parsley on a plate—pretty, but you don't have to eat it.

It is helpful to compare avoir peur que with penser que (to think that). When you say Je pense que tu es gentil, you use the normal present tense. Why? Because thinking is considered a "fact" in your head. But when you say J'ai peur que tu sois triste, you use the Subjunctive. Fear is not a fact; it is a feeling. This is the big divide in French grammar. Facts get the Indicative. Feelings, doubts, and fears get the Subjunctive. Think of the Indicative as a boring documentary and the Subjunctive as a dramatic movie. They both tell a story, but the vibe is totally different. Once you feel that "emotional spark," you know the Subjunctive is coming.