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 fuir to run away, inclure to include, lire to read and mettre to put.
Conjugating of the verb fuir into the present subjunctive:
Example:
Je ne veux pas que tu fuies tes responsabilités. Tes enfants ont besoin de toi.
I don’t want you to avoid your responsibilities. Your children need you.
Conjugation of the verb inclure:
Example:
Elle veut qu’on inclue le prix de notre voyage dans la facture.
She wants us to include the price of our trip in the invoice.
Conjugation of the verb lire into the present subjunctive:
Example:
J’aimerais que vous lisiez avec moi le paragraph 5 de la page 21.
I would like you to read with me paragraph 5 page 21.
Conjugation of the verb mettre in the present subjunctive:
Example:
Il est temps que nous mettions nos divergences de côté.
It’s time we put our differences aside.
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 fuir to run away, inclure to include, lire to read and mettre to put.
Verbs conjugating like fuir
There is only one verb that conjugates like “fuir”, it is “s’enfuir”. Don’t confuse “enfouir” with “s’enfuir”. Even though they sound the same they don’t have the same conjugation.Conjugating of the verb fuir into the present subjunctive:
| que je | fuie |
| que tu | fuies |
| qu’ il/elle | fuie |
| que nous | fuyions |
| que vous | fuyiez |
| qu’ils/elles | fuient |
Je ne veux pas que tu fuies tes responsabilités. Tes enfants ont besoin de toi.
I don’t want you to avoid your responsibilities. Your children need you.
Verbs conjugating like inclure
The following verbs conjugate into the present subjunctive like inclure: conclure and exclure.Conjugation of the verb inclure:
| que j’inclue |
| que tu inclues |
| qu’il/elle/on inclue |
| que nous incluions |
| que vous incluiez |
| qu’ils/elles incluent |
Elle veut qu’on inclue le prix de notre voyage dans la facture.
She wants us to include the price of our trip in the invoice.
Verbs conjugating like lire
The following verbs conjugate into the present subjunctive like lire: élire, relire, and réélire.Conjugation of the verb lire into the present subjunctive:
| que je lise |
| que tu lises |
| qu’il/elle/on lise |
| que nous lisions |
| que vous lisiez |
| qu’ils/elles lisent |
J’aimerais que vous lisiez avec moi le paragraph 5 de la page 21.
I would like you to read with me paragraph 5 page 21.
Verbs conjugating like mettre
The following verbs conjugate into the present subjunctive like mettre: admettre, commettre, démettre, émettre, s’entremettre, permettre, and remettre.Conjugation of the verb mettre in the present subjunctive:
| que je mette |
| que tu mettes |
| qu’il/elle mette |
| que nous mettions |
| que vous mettiez |
| qu’ils/elles mettent |
Example:
Il est temps que nous mettions nos divergences de côté.
It’s time we put our differences aside.