When should you use the subjunctive in French?

  • You employ the subjunctive in French normally in subordinate clauses, triggered by an earlier signal in the sentence: a personal/impersonal verb, or a conjunction. The subjunctive is associated with emotion, doubt, desire and necessity: use the acronym WEIRDO to help remember the triggers: W ishing/ wanting - eg. je veux que tu fasses la vaisselle E motional expression - eg. je crains qu'il arrive trop tard / je suis triste qu'elle ne soit pas ici. I mpersonal expression - eg. il faut qu'on soit cautieux / il est important que nous repondions à toutes les questions. R equest, require, recommend - eg. je te conseille que tu ne manges pas trop de matières grasses   D oubt, deny, demand - eg. je doute qu'elle vienne / je ne pense pas que tu me dises la vérité. O pinion - eg. je ne crois pas qu'ils aient les qualités appropriées.

  • only use when there is a change of subject! eg. je veux faire qqch / je veux que tu fasses qqch. you can't say je veux que je fasse qqch.

Answered by Freya D. French tutor

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Could you clarify when to use the subjunctive? It seems to be used with the word "que", but not all the time? How do you identify when it is appropriate?


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