Le subjonctif dans les

Think of a grammar traffic light. The green light is the 'indicative'. It shows facts and reality. 'The sky is blue' is a fact. The yellow light is the 'subjunctive'. It shows things that are not certain. It shows desires, doubts, or needs. It is a 'mood', not a tense. It changes how a verb looks. It adds a layer of emotion. It lives in the world of 'maybe'. It lives in the world of 'I want'. You need a 'trigger' phrase first. This phrase is usually followed by que. For example, Il faut que... is a trigger. It means 'It is necessary that...'. Without a trigger, the subjunctive stays asleep. It only wakes up when invited. It is like a guest at a party. It needs an invitation to appear. This invitation is your trigger phrase.

1. 1Making the subjunctive is like a recipe. You need a specific base first. Follow these simple steps for regular verbs:
2. 2Look at the ils (they) form.
3. 3Use the present tense of the verb.
4. 4Remove the -ent ending from it.
5. 5You now have your magic stem.
6. 6Add the special subjunctive endings.
7. 7For the verb parler (to speak):
8. 8The ils form is parlent.
9. 9The magic stem is parl-.
10. 10Add -e for je (que je parle).
11. 11Add -es for tu (que tu parles).
12. 12Add -e for il/elle (qu'il parle).
13. 13Add -ions for nous (que nous parlions).
14. 14Add -iez for vous (que vous parliez).
15. 15Add -ent for ils/elles (qu'ils parlent).
16. 16Notice something interesting about nous and vous? They look like the imparfait tense. The other forms look like the present. It creates a 'boot' shape pattern. Some verbs are 'rebels' and irregular. Avoir and être are the leaders. You must memorize them separately. They do not follow the recipe. But they are very common.

You need the subjunctive for specific situations. Think of the acronym 'W.E.I.R.D.'. It stands for Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal, Relative, Doubt.

• Wishes: 'I want you to stay'. Je veux que tu restes.
• Emotions: 'I am happy you are here'. Je suis content que tu sois là.
• Impersonal: 'It is necessary to go'. Il faut que je parte.
• Doubt: 'I doubt he is coming'. Je doute qu'il vienne.

In a restaurant, use it with il faut. 'Il faut que je choisisse' (I must choose). In a job interview, use it for hope. 'J'espère que vous soyez content' (I hope you are happy). Okay, espère is a tricky one! Actually, espérer usually takes the indicative. Grammar likes to keep us alert! Use je souhaite que instead for wishes. At a doctor's visit, listen for advice. 'Il faut que vous preniez ce médicament'. It sounds more polite than a command. It shows a soft necessity.

Do not use it for everything! It needs a specific environment. You need two different subjects. 'I want to eat' is simple. It uses the infinitive: Je veux manger. 'I want YOU to eat' changes things. It needs the subjunctive: Je veux que TU manges. If you are the only subject, stop. Use the infinitive and save time. Also, do not use it for facts. 'I know you are smart' is certain. Use the indicative: Je sais que tu es intelligent. If there is no doubt, stay green. Use the indicative for 100% reality. The subjunctive hates 100% reality. It prefers the 'what if' world.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the que. The que is the bridge. Without it, the sentence falls apart. Another mistake is using the wrong stem. Always start with the ils form. Do not use the je stem. For finir, the stem is finiss-. If you use fin-, it is wrong. Many people forget the -i- in nous. It is que nous parlions, not que nous parlons. That small -i- is very important. It signals the subjunctive mood. Native speakers will notice if it's missing. Think of it like a secret handshake. You must get it exactly right.

Compare the subjunctive to the infinitive. 'Il faut partir' is a general rule. It applies to everyone in the room. 'Il faut que tu partes' is personal. It is a direct instruction for you. It feels more urgent and specific. It creates a connection between people. Compare it to the regular present tense. 'Tu es là' is a simple observation. 'Je suis ravi que tu sois là' adds joy. The subjunctive adds the human touch. It turns a sentence into a feeling. It moves from the head to the heart. This is the beauty of French.