How do you form the subjunctive in French?

To form the subjunctive, we must look at the third person plural conjugation of the verb (the 'they' form). You remove the -ent ending and replace it with new subjuntive endings (-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent).

Example: parler

Je parle, tu parles, il/elle parle, nous parlions, vous parliez, ils parlent

Example: finir

Je finisse, tu finisses, il/elle finisse, nous finissions, vous finissiez, ils finissent

Example: rendre

Je rende, tu rendes, il/elle rende, nous rendions, vous rendiez, ils rendent

As usual with French verbs, there are some irregulars which have to be memorised:

Example: faire

Je fasse, tu fasses, il/elle fasse, nous fassions, vous fassiez, ils fassent

Example: avoir

J'aie, tu aies, il/elle ait, nous ayons, vous ayez, ils aient

Example: être

Je sois, tu sois, il/elle soit, nous soyons, vous soyez, ils soient

Other commonly used irregulars are: aller, pouvoir, savoir, vouloir, venir

KW
Answered by Katherine W. French tutor

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