The French Subjunctive Tense is usually used in conversation. Using the third person plural in the present tense forms it root, to which the endings in the table below are added.
Manger = Ils mangent = Je mange Lire = Ils lisent = Je lise Prendre = ils prennent = Je prenne
Attends que je finisse de faire mon sac! Je voudrais que nous allions voir le match
It is formed by taking the third person plural in the present tense and dropping the “_ent” ; then adding the endings in the table.
The French Subjunctive Tense endings
English Persons
French Persons
Subjunctive Endings
I
Je
~e
You(informal)
Tu
~es
He/she
Il/elle
~e
We
Nous
~ions
You(informal)
Vous
~iez
They
Ils/elles
~ent
Example of a verb in the French Subjunctive Tense
Finir – to finish
Je finisse - I may finish
Tu finisses - You may finish (informal)
Il/elle finisse - He/she may finis
Nous finissons - We may finish
Vous finissez - You may finish (formal)
Ils/elles finissent - They may finish
Vous finissez de boire votre thé et nous travaillons – You may finish drinking your cup of tea and then we work.
Tu finis de ranger ta chambre – You may finish to tidying your room.
Exceptions in the French Subjunctive Tense
Aller – to go = j’aille, nous allions, ils aillent
Il faut que j’aille chez le dentiste – I may go to the dentist. Avoir – to have = j’aie, il ait, nous ayons, ils aient
Bien que nous ayons un jardin, nous ne mangeons jamais dehors - Although we have a garden, we never eat outside. Etre – to be = je sois, nous soyons, ils soient
Il faut qu’ils soient à 9h00 au train - It is necessary that they are at the train at 9h00. Faire – to make = je fasse…
Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs - It is necessary that you done your homework. Pouvoir – to be able to = je puisse…
Je ne pense pas que je puisse le voir – I don’t think I can see him. Savoir – to know = je sache…
Je doute que vous sachiez le faire – I doubt that you know how to do it. Vouloir – to want = je veuille, nous voulions, ils veuillent
Bien que nous voulions acheter cette maison, le banquier a refusé – Although we wanted to buy this house, the banker refused.
Constructions, which require the French Subjunctive Tense after them
Il faut que – it is necessary that
Il faut que je trouve du travail - It is necessary that I find work Bien que - although
Bien que je l’aime, son comportement m’énerve – Although I love him, his behaviour irritates me Quoique - although
Quoique tu pense, cela n’a pas d’importance - Although you think, this doesn’t matter Afin que – in order that
Afin que je puisse devenir une star, je prends des cours de chants – In order to become a star, I learn singing Avant que – before
Avant que tu partes, je veux te donner ceci – Before you leave, I want to give you something Jusqu’à ce que – until
Jusqu’à ce que tu sois majeur, tu m’obéis – Until you are adult, you obey me Vouloir que – to wish (want) that
Je veux que tu appelles ta grand-mère – I want that you call your grand mother Préférer que – to prefer that
Je préfère que tu fasses à manger – I prefer you cook Il est possible (impossible) que – it is possible (impossible) that
Il est possible qu’il se doute de quelque chose – It is possible that he has doubts Douter que – to doubt that
Je me doutais que tu allais faire ça – I doubted that you will do that
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