The subjunctive: a quick guide to the hardest tense in french

THE TENSE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS LEARNING FRENCH. IL FAUT QUE VOUS COMPRENIEZ ! At some point in your French language learning journey, you will have to confront the

subjunctive tense. Your teacher will likely stress an equivalent does not really exist in English. Of course, this marks the first problem in our learning of the subjunctive as non-native

speakers. When there is not a direct comparison or translation, we often find it harder to get our heads around it. So, what is the subjunctive? Essentially it is a tense which is used in

certain situations: * when expressing doubt or something that is unlikely * when expressing personal desires or feelings * when using certain expressions to express something hypothetical,

vague, conditional or unknown In reality, the subjunctive, although difficult, is unlikely to cause you many problems in your everyday French practice. Often, the conjugation of the verb in

the present subjunctive is no different to the present simple conjugation. Of course, some of the irregular verbs have different conjugations but in spoken French people are unlikely to

notice if you don’t employ the subjunctive when you are supposed to. READ ALSO: TIPS ON HOW TO PRACTISE YOUR FRENCH CONVERSATION SKILLS IN FRANCE Saying that it is useful to be able to

identify the subjunctive to better understand context and implications. It is used: 1. WHEN EXPRESSING DOUBT OR SOMETHING THAT IS UNLIKELY We use the subjunctive with phrases including: *

_Ne pensez pas que_ + subjunctive * _Ne croyez pas que_ + subjunctive * _Il n’est pas certain que_ + subjunctive * _Il est possible que_ + subjunctive All of these expressions express doubt

or uncertainty and therefore would employ the use of the subjunctive. For example _Je ne crois pas que Lisa vienne_ - I do not think that Lisa will come 2. WHEN EXPRESSING PERSONAL DESIRE OR

FEELINGS We use the subjunctive with the phrases: * _regretter que_ + subjunctive (to be sorry that) * _être content que_ + subjunctive (to be pleased that) * _être surpris que_ +

subjunctive (to be surprised that) * _avoir peur que_ + subjunctive (to be scared that) * _vouloir que_ + subjunctive (to want that) * _desirer que_ + subjunctive (to desire/want that) Since

these phrases are used to express desire or emotions, we use them with the subjunctive. For example: * _J’ai peur qu’il me quitte_ - I am scared that I will leave me * _Je veux qu’il fasse

les courses cette semaine_ - I want him to do the shopping this week READ ALSO: TRY THESE EIGHT DAILY LIFE HACKS TO IMPROVE YOUR FRENCH 3. WHEN USING CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS TO EXPRESS SOMETHING

HYPOTHETICAL, VAGUE, CONDITIONAL OR UNKNOWN We use the subjunctive with phrases including: * _Bien que / quoique / quoi que / encore que / malgré le fait que_ + subjunctive (although) *

_Afin que / pour que_ + subjunctive (in order that) * _A moins que_ + subjunctive (unless) * _A condition que / pourvu que_ + subjunctive (on the condition that) * _Avant que_ + subjunctive

(before) * _Jusqu'à ce que_ + subjunctive (until) These phrases are used with the subjunctive because they express something vague, unknown, conditional or hypothetical. Regarding

“_avant que_” and “_jusqu’à ce que_”: these are used with the subjunctive when the time constraints render the outcome of events unknowable. For example: * _Bien que je sache que le

subjonctif est difficile, je veux mieux comprendre la grammaire française_ - Although I know that the subjunctive is difficult, I want to understand French grammar better * _Je veux bien

venir, à condition qu’on prenne le train_ - I really want to come, as long as we take the train * _Je vais rester ici jusqu'à ce qu’il soit prêt_ - I’m going to stay here until he is

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