Le Subjonctif • It’s a verb Mood, along with the Imperative and the Indicative.
Mar 26, 2015
Le Subjonctif
• It’s a verb Mood, along with the Imperative and the Indicative.
Le Subjonctif
• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.
Most forms follow a regular pattern.
Le Subjonctif
• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.• It is used in certain
circumstances, in expressions of necessity, wanting, uncertainty, emotions.
Le Subjonctif
• It’s a mood.• It’s a new verb form.• It’s used in certain
circumstances.• Memorize the key
phrases or circumstances that trigger the subjunctive to follow.
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
AfterExpressions
ofNecessity
Il faut queIl est
nécessaireque
Avoir besoinque
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
After ExpressionsOf Volition
WillOr Preference
Vouloir que Désirer quePréférer que Aimer mieux que
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
After Expressions ofEmotions
Être content que Regretter que Etre faché que
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
A Moins Que(Unless)
Pourvu Que(provided that)
Bien Que(although)
Sans Que(without)
Afin Que(in order that)
Quoique(although)
Jusqu’à ce Que
(Until)
Pour Que(so that)
Avant Que(before)
After CertainConjunctions
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
After Expressions ofDoubt, Possibility,
or Uncertainty
Douter Que(to doubt that)
Il est possible queIl se peut que
(it’s possible that)
Craindre queAvoir peur que(to fear that)
Croire que or Penser que +
NEGATIVE
Il semble que(it seems that)
Nier que(to deny that)
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
After Ordering,Forbidding and
Requesting
Ordonner que(to order that)
Défendre que(to forbid that)
Demander que(to ask that)
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
After a Superlative
C’est le plus grandgarçon que je
voie.
C’est l’examen le plus difficile que
j’aie jamais passé.
C’est la seule façonque je connaisse.
Key Subjunctive “Trigger” Expressions
When there’s aNon-specific Antecedent or
Lacking specifics
Quelqu’un qui(someone who)
Chercher unHomme qui
(looking for a manwho…)
Attendre que(to wait until…)
Can You Recap?
• What is the Subjunctive?
Can You Recap?
• What is the Subjunctive?
It is a Mood like the Indicative and the Imperative.
It is a new verb form.
Can You Recap?
• When do you need the Subjunctive?
Can You Recap?
• When do you need the Subjunctive?
Expressing Necessity
Expressing Will
Expressing Doubt, Uncertainty
Expressing Emotions or Preference
After Certain Prepositional Phrases
After Superlatives
HOW do you use it?
• Look for the TRIGGER phrase.
• Put into the subjunctive the part that comes after the “QUE” in the TRIGGER phrase.
• If there’s no QUE, there’s not going to be subjunctive.
EXAMPLES
Je veux faire mes devoirs.
BUT
Je veux que tu fasses tes devoirs.
Je fais mes devoirs afin de recevoir de bonnes notes.
BUT
Je fais mes devoirs afin que le prof me donne de bonnes notes.
NOTES
When there is no change of subject in the first part of the sentence and the second part of the sentence, there’s often no need for the “que”, and therefore no need for the subjunctive.
What about that “NE” that seems to pop up without the “PAS”?
NOTES
There is a “NE” that is added after expressions of fear/uncertainty – it may or may not happen.
Example:
J’ai peur qu’ils ne m’arretent.
I’m afraid that they’ll arrest me.
Elle va être fachée à moins que nous ne le fassions tout de suite.
She’s going to be mad unless we do it right away.