The subjunctive (Subjonctif)

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🇫🇷 Master the French Subjunctive: From Expressing Subtle Emotions to Usage! 🇫🇷

The subjunctive (Subjonctif) is the flower of French! 🌸 Unlike the indicative, which conveys objective fac

ts, the subjunctive is a special verb form used to express the speaker's subjective attitudes or emotions. It represents wishes, doubts, uncertainties, and feelings, and plays an important role in expressing the subtle nuances of French.

 

1. When to use the subjunctive? 🤔

 

The subjunctive is mainly used in the following cases:

 

After specific verbs or expressions:

• Verbs expressing emotions: Je suis content que tu viennes à ma fête. (I'm glad you're coming to my party.)
• Verbs expressing obligation, necessity, possibility: Il est important que vous fassiez vos devoirs. (It's important that you do your homework.)
• Verbs expressing wishes, will, commands: Je veux que tu réussisses ton examen. (I want you to pass your exam.)
• Verbs expressing doubt, negation: Je doute qu'il dise la vérité. (I doubt he's telling the truth.)

After specific conjunctions:

• Time conjunctions: avant que (before), jusqu'à ce que (until) etc.
• Purpose conjunctions: pour que (so that), afin que (in order that) etc.
• Conditional conjunctions: à condition que (on condition that), pourvu que (provided that) etc.
• Concessive conjunctions: bien que (although), quoique (though) etc.

Idioms:

• Que je sache (as far as I know)
• Vive la France! (Long live France!)
• Ainsi soit-il (So be it)

2. How to conjugate the present subjunctive 📖

 

The present subjunctive is formed by removing the ending -ent from the third person plural of the present indicative and adding the subjunctive endings.

 

Subject	Ending	Example (aimer: to love)
Je	-e	que j'aime
Tu	-es	que tu aimes
Il/Elle	-e	qu'il/elle aime
Nous	-ions	que nous aimions
Vous	-iez	que vous aimiez
Ils	-ent	qu'ils aiment

Irregular verbs have irregular stems and endings, so you need to memorize each verb individually. (être, avoir, aller, faire, pouvoir, vouloir, savoir, etc.)

 

3. Expressing emotions with the subjunctive 💪

 

Let's express various emotions using the present subjunctive.

• Joy: Je suis heureux que tu sois là. (I'm happy you're here.)
• Sadness: Je suis triste que tu partes. (I'm sad that you're leaving.)
• Anger: Je suis en colère que tu ne m'aies pas écouté. (I'm angry that you didn't listen to me.)
• Fear: J'ai peur qu'il ne pleuve. (I'm afraid it might rain.)
• Hope: J'espère que tout ira bien. (I hope everything goes well.)

 

4. Wrapping up 🎁

 

The subjunctive is an essential grammatical element for expressing the delicate emotions and nuances of French. It may seem difficult at first, but with consistent practice and application, you can take your French skills to the next level. Practice creating various sentences based on what you learned today and immerse yourself in the charm of French! 😊