Subjunctive - Formation

This mood lives in a two-part world. You usually need two different people. You also need a connector word. That word is almost always que. One person wants something to happen. The other person actually does the action. For example, you want your friend to stay. You say: Je veux que tu restes. The first part triggers the mood. The second part uses the subjunctive form. Without a trigger, the subjunctive stays home. It is like a grammar traffic light. The trigger word gives you the green light. If there is no trigger, stay in the indicative. It is all about the context of the sentence.

1. 1Creating the subjunctive is actually quite logical. Most verbs follow a very simple recipe. Follow these three steps for success:
2. 2Start with the ils/elles form of the present.
3. 3Remove the -ent ending to find your stem.
4. 4Add the special subjunctive endings.
5. 5The endings are: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
6. 6Let's try the verb parler. The ils form is parlent. Drop the -ent to get parl-. Now add your endings. You get que je parle and que tu parles. For nous and vous, it looks like the imparfait. You say que nous parlions and que vous parliez. This 'boot' pattern is very common. The nous and vous forms often look different. This happens with verbs like prendre. The stem for ils is prenn-. But for nous, it is pren-. This keeps the rhythm of the language alive. Even irregular verbs often follow this logic.

You need a trigger to open the door. Think of the acronym WEIRD. It stands for Wishes, Emotions, Impersonal expressions, Relative clauses, and Doubts.

• Wishes: Je veux que... (I want that...)
• Emotions: Je suis ravi que... (I am delighted that...)
• Impersonal: Il faut que... (It is necessary that...)
• Relative: Je cherche quelqu'un qui sache... (I seek someone who knows...)
• Doubts: Je ne crois pas que... (I don't believe that...)

Use it when ordering food for a picky friend. Use it when expressing hope in a job interview. Use it when you are unsure about directions. It covers the 'maybe' and 'should' of life. It is the mood of the heart and mind.

Do not use it for certainties. If you are 100% sure, use the indicative. Words like penser and croire are tricky. In positive sentences, they take the indicative. You say Je pense qu'il est là. You are stating a personal fact. Also, do not use it if the subject is the same. If you want to leave, say Je veux partir. Do not say Je veux que je parte. That sounds very strange to French ears. Use the infinitive instead. It is shorter and much easier. Only use the subjunctive when you have two different subjects.

Many people forget the i in nous and vous. They say que nous parlons by mistake. It must be que nous parlions. Another mistake is using it after espérer. Even though it is a wish, espérer takes the indicative. This is a classic trap for learners. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Don't worry if you slip up. People will still understand your meaning. Another error is using it for facts. If it is true and certain, keep it simple. Avoid the subjunctive for obvious realities.

Compare the indicative and the subjunctive carefully. The indicative is for the world of facts. Il est tard means it is late. The subjunctive is for the world of 'what if'. Il est possible qu'il soit tard. Notice the change from est to soit. One is a statement. The other is a possibility. Think of the indicative as a photograph. It shows exactly what is happening. Think of the subjunctive as a painting. It shows how the artist feels about the scene. Both are useful, but they serve different goals.