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 study the verbs of the second group in the present subjunctive. Just like the verbs of the first group, the verbs of the second group are called regular verbs because they all follow the same rule of conjugation. They all end in “ir”; however, there are many verbs that end in “ir”, but they don’t belong to the second group because their present participle doesn’t end in “issant”.
As a general rule, to conjugate the verbs of the second group into the present subjunctive, we remove the final “ir” from the verb in the infinitive and replace it with: “ isse, isses, isse, issions, issiez, issent ” depending on the subject that precedes it.
Notice what we did to the verb “finir”. We removed the final “ir” and replaced it with “ isse, isses, isse, issions, issiez, issent ”.
For example:
Il faut que je finisse mon travail tout de suite.
I must finish my work immediately
. Il faut que tu finisses ton travail tout de suite.
You must finish your work immediately
. Il faut qu’il finisse son travail tout de suite.
He must finish his work immediately.
Il faut qu’elle finisse son travail tout de suite.
She must finish her work immediately.
Il faut qu’on finisse notre travail tout de suite.
We must finish our work immediately.
Il faut que nous finissions notre travail tout de suite.
We must finish our work immediately.
Il faut que vous finissiez votre travail tout de suite.
You must finish your work immediately.
Il faut qu’ils finissent leur travail tout de suite.
They must finish their work immediately.
Il faut qu’elles finissent leur travail tout de suite.
They must finish their work immediately.
Remember: We always use the subjunctive with “il faut que”.
Let’s try another verb: obéir
Il veut que j’obéisse à ses ordres.
He wants me to obey his orders.
Je veux que tu obéisses à mes ordres.
I want you to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’il obéisse à mes ordres.
I want him to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’elle obéisse à mes ordres.
I want her to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’on obéisse à mes ordres.
I want people to obey my orders.
Vous voulez que nous obéissions à vos ordres.
You want us to obey your orders.
Je veux que vous obéissiez à mes ordres.
I want you to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’ils obéissent à mes ordres.
I want them to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’elles obéissent à mes ordres.
I want them to obey my orders.
Remember: The subjunctive is always used after the verb “vouloir”.
As we stated in the beginning of the lesson, not all the verbs ending in “ir” belong to the second group. To determine whether a verb is a verb of the second group we have to look at their present participle. Let’s take the example of “revenir” to come back. “revenir” does end in “ir”, but it doesn’t belong to the second group because its present participle doesn’t end in “issant”.
For example:
En revenant de l’école, j’ai rencontré Magalie.
Coming back from school, I met Magalie.
“revenant” which is a present participle doesn’t end in “ issant” so “revenir” is not a verb of the second group. It belongs to the third group.
Now let’s take the verb “applaudir”:
Je me suis fait mal aux mains en applaudissant très fort.
I hurt my hands by clapping too hard.
“applaudissant” which is a present participle ends in “issant” so “applaudir” is a verb of the second group and conjugates the same way as all the other verbs of the second group.
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 study the verbs of the second group in the present subjunctive. Just like the verbs of the first group, the verbs of the second group are called regular verbs because they all follow the same rule of conjugation. They all end in “ir”; however, there are many verbs that end in “ir”, but they don’t belong to the second group because their present participle doesn’t end in “issant”.
As a general rule, to conjugate the verbs of the second group into the present subjunctive, we remove the final “ir” from the verb in the infinitive and replace it with: “ isse, isses, isse, issions, issiez, issent ” depending on the subject that precedes it.
Conjugation of the verb “finir”:
| que je finisse que tu finisses qu’il/elle/on finisse que nous finissions que vous finissiez qu’ils/elles finissent |
Notice what we did to the verb “finir”. We removed the final “ir” and replaced it with “ isse, isses, isse, issions, issiez, issent ”.
For example:
Il faut que je finisse mon travail tout de suite.
I must finish my work immediately
. Il faut que tu finisses ton travail tout de suite.
You must finish your work immediately
. Il faut qu’il finisse son travail tout de suite.
He must finish his work immediately.
Il faut qu’elle finisse son travail tout de suite.
She must finish her work immediately.
Il faut qu’on finisse notre travail tout de suite.
We must finish our work immediately.
Il faut que nous finissions notre travail tout de suite.
We must finish our work immediately.
Il faut que vous finissiez votre travail tout de suite.
You must finish your work immediately.
Il faut qu’ils finissent leur travail tout de suite.
They must finish their work immediately.
Il faut qu’elles finissent leur travail tout de suite.
They must finish their work immediately.
Remember: We always use the subjunctive with “il faut que”.
Let’s try another verb: obéir
Il veut que j’obéisse à ses ordres.
He wants me to obey his orders.
Je veux que tu obéisses à mes ordres.
I want you to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’il obéisse à mes ordres.
I want him to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’elle obéisse à mes ordres.
I want her to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’on obéisse à mes ordres.
I want people to obey my orders.
Vous voulez que nous obéissions à vos ordres.
You want us to obey your orders.
Je veux que vous obéissiez à mes ordres.
I want you to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’ils obéissent à mes ordres.
I want them to obey my orders.
Je veux qu’elles obéissent à mes ordres.
I want them to obey my orders.
Remember: The subjunctive is always used after the verb “vouloir”.
As we stated in the beginning of the lesson, not all the verbs ending in “ir” belong to the second group. To determine whether a verb is a verb of the second group we have to look at their present participle. Let’s take the example of “revenir” to come back. “revenir” does end in “ir”, but it doesn’t belong to the second group because its present participle doesn’t end in “issant”.
For example:
En revenant de l’école, j’ai rencontré Magalie.
Coming back from school, I met Magalie.
“revenant” which is a present participle doesn’t end in “ issant” so “revenir” is not a verb of the second group. It belongs to the third group.
Now let’s take the verb “applaudir”:
Je me suis fait mal aux mains en applaudissant très fort.
I hurt my hands by clapping too hard.
“applaudissant” which is a present participle ends in “issant” so “applaudir” is a verb of the second group and conjugates the same way as all the other verbs of the second group.