Nicolas:	Je pense que tu as entendu parler des « escape games », Catherine ?
Catherine:	Oui je crois qu’en français on appelle ça un jeu d’évasion grandeur nature.
Nicolas:	Oui, c’est trop cool et ça ressert les liens. L’équipe ne peut gagner à moins que tous les participants ne mettent la main à la pâte et ne s’investissent. C’est comme un jeu de société coopératif !
Catherine:	J’admets que le principe est très intéressant. En plus, certains jeux d’évasion se basent sur l’histoire de France. Cela permet d’apprendre beaucoup de choses !
Nicolas:	Oui ! Tu as déjà tenté l’expérience ?
Catherine:	Euh moi personnellement ? … Non… Je crains que ce genre de jeux ne soit pas fait pour moi.

The subjunctive tense is common in the French language. However, it can be challenging for non-native French speakers to determine in which situations to use it and with which phrases and verbs.

In this chapter, we will study the form of the present subjunctive as well as its use. First we will start with the form of the verbs then we’ll explore the use of this tense.

The subjunctive tense is ALWAYS preceded with “que”. So in all the conjugations of the verbs throughout this chapter, we will have “que” before the verb in the subjunctive.

In this part, we will try to answer a very common question that French learners often ask: When do we use the present subjunctive?

We use the subjunctive in subordinate clauses introduced by the relative pronoun “que”. But again, not all subordinate clauses require the subjunctive tense.

First, it is important to mention that the use of the present subjunctive depends more on the meaning expressed in the sentence than the verbs or the expressions that are used in the sentence. That’s why it is sometimes hard to determine whether we should use the subjunctive, the indicative or the conditional.

The subjunctive is generally used when we want to express probability, possibility, uncertainty, emotion, obligation, fear, judgment, necessity or wish.

In this lesson we will learn about the “ne explétif” and also about a few verbs that require the subjunctive in the negative form.

The “ne” explétif is the “ne” we add to the verb when it is preceded with certain verbs and expressions.

Let’s study the following example:

Je crains qu’il ne soit trop tard !
I am afraid it’s too late!

The “ne” used in the sentence above is not negative. It’s called the “ne explétif”; it doesn’t have any grammatical role in the sentence. Don’t confuse it with the negative “ne”.

The ne explétif is used with verbs expressing fear

craindre que/avoir peur que, redouter que, and appréhender que

For example:

Il a peur que je ne m’attache à ses enfants.
He is afraid that I get attached to his kids.

Nous craignons que vous ne soyez trop jeune pour prendre une telle responsabilité.
We’re afraid you are too young to take on such a responsibility.

Il redoute que nous ne créions plus de problèmes en venant le voir.
He is afraid that we would create more problems when we come to see him.

J’appréhende que la décision de licencier les employés n’incombe à mon mari.
I’m afraid that the decision to let go of the employees would fall to my husband.

Remember: When the verbs referring to fear are used in the negative form, the “ne explétif” is not used.

For example:

Elle ne craint pas que son mari la trompe. Elle craint qu’il ne lui mente.
She is not afraid that her husband cheats on her. She is afraid that he will lie to her.

Il n’a pas peur que sa famille sache qu’il a passé deux semaines en prison.
He is not afraid that his family would find out that he spent 2 weeks in jail.

The ne explétif is also used with the following phrases

Phrases	Examples
avant que	Avant que tu ne me répondes, je veux que tu lises la lettre que je t’ai envoyée. Before you answer me, I’d like you to read the letter I sent you.
de peur que/de crainte que	Il a pris soin d’enlever la robe de chambre de sa femme de peur que/de crainte que son voisin ne le prenne pour un fou. He made sure to take off his wife’s robe for fear that his neighbor would think he is crazy.
à moins que	Je vais y aller à vélo à moins que tu n’aies une meilleure idée. I will ride my bike unless you have a better idea.

Verbs that take the subjunctive in the negative form

There are some verbs that take the subjunctive tense when they are in the negative form. These are the following: penser, croire, admettre.

For example:

Je ne crois pas qu’il soit nécessaire de l’appeler.
I don’t think that it’s necessary to call him.

Il ne pense pas que nous ayons assez d’expérience pour ce genre de travail.
He doesn’t think we have enough experience for this kind of work.

Je n’admets pas qu’elle soit emprisonnée pour un crime qu’elle n’a pas commis.
I don’t accept that she be jailed for a crime that she didn’t commit.

The “ne” used in the examples above is not the “ne explétif”. It is the negative “ne”.