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 explore the conjugation of the verbs of the third group. As we already mentioned in other lessons, the verbs of the third group are called irregular verbs which means that they don’t follow the same rule when they conjugate. In this part we will group verbs according to their conjugation in the present subjunctive. We will notice that the ending and the root play a significant part in helping us conjugate into the present subjunctive.
In this lesson, we will study the verbs conjugating like cueillir, dire, écrire and faire.
Conjugation of the verb cueillir into the present subjunctive:
Example:
Il veut que nous accueillions son ami à l’aéroport alors que nous ne le connaissons même pas.
He wants us to welcome his friend at the airport though we don’t even know him.
Conjugation of the verb dire in the present subjunctive:
Example:
J’aimerais bien que tu dises la vérité au moins une fois dans ta vie.
I would love if you said the truth once in your life.
Conjugation of the verbe écrire in the present subjunctive:
Example:
Ils ne seront pas autorisés à aller à cette excursion jusqu’à ce qu’ils écrivent une lettre d’excuses à leur professeur.
They will not be allowed to go to that field trip unless they write a letter of apology to their teacher.
Conjugation of the verb faire to do in the present subjunctive:
Example:
Il faut que vous fassiez plus attention la prochaine fois que vous conduirez cette voiture. Elle n’est pas en très bon état.
You must be more careful next time you drive this car. It’s not in good condition.
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 explore the conjugation of the verbs of the third group. As we already mentioned in other lessons, the verbs of the third group are called irregular verbs which means that they don’t follow the same rule when they conjugate. In this part we will group verbs according to their conjugation in the present subjunctive. We will notice that the ending and the root play a significant part in helping us conjugate into the present subjunctive.
In this lesson, we will study the verbs conjugating like cueillir, dire, écrire and faire.
Verbs conjugating like cueillir
The following verbs conjugate into the present subjunctive like cueillir: accueillir, recueillir, se recueillir.Conjugation of the verb cueillir into the present subjunctive:
| que je cueille que tu cueilles qu’il/elle/on cueille que nous cueillions que vous cueilliez qu’ils/elles cueillent |
Il veut que nous accueillions son ami à l’aéroport alors que nous ne le connaissons même pas.
He wants us to welcome his friend at the airport though we don’t even know him.
Verbs conjugating like dire
The following verbs conjugate into the present subjunctive like dire: contredire, interdire, maudire, médire, prédire etc...Conjugation of the verb dire in the present subjunctive:
| que je dise que tu dises qu’il/elle/on dise que nous disions que vous disiez qu’ils/elles disent |
J’aimerais bien que tu dises la vérité au moins une fois dans ta vie.
I would love if you said the truth once in your life.
Verbs conjugating like écrire
The following verbs conjugate like écrire into the present subjunctive: circonscrire, décrire, inscrire, prescrire, proscrire, transcrire, souscrire.Conjugation of the verbe écrire in the present subjunctive:
| que j’écrive que tu écrives qu’il/elle/on écrive que nous écrivions que vous écriviez qu’ils écrivent |
Ils ne seront pas autorisés à aller à cette excursion jusqu’à ce qu’ils écrivent une lettre d’excuses à leur professeur.
They will not be allowed to go to that field trip unless they write a letter of apology to their teacher.
Verbs conjugating like faire
The following verbs conjugate like faire into the present subjunctive: contrefaire, défaire, refaire, satisfaire, parfaire etc..Conjugation of the verb faire to do in the present subjunctive:
| que je fasse que tu fasses qu’il/elle fasse que nous fassions que vous fassiez qu’ils/elles fassent |
Il faut que vous fassiez plus attention la prochaine fois que vous conduirez cette voiture. Elle n’est pas en très bon état.
You must be more careful next time you drive this car. It’s not in good condition.