GRAMMAIRE
Grammaire
Règles, exemples et pièges fréquents pour parler avec plus de précision.
Rules, examples and common traps for speaking more precisely.
The Present Subjunctive
Use the subjunctive after certain triggers of necessity, doubt, emotion, judgement and concession.
Fast rule
Use the subjunctive after expressions like il faut que, je doute que, je suis content que, il est possible que, bien que, avant que and pour que.
Key example
Il faut que tu fasses attention.
You need to pay attention.
Erreur fréquente
Avoid: Je veux que vous êtes plus attentifs.
Use: Je veux que vous soyez plus attentifs.
Règle la plus simple
Use the subjunctive after expressions like il faut que, je doute que, je suis content que, il est possible que, bien que, avant que and pour que.
When to use it
Use the subjunctive after certain triggers of necessity, doubt, emotion, judgement and concession.
Structure and explanation
The present subjunctive is not mainly about time; it marks the speaker's stance towards an action. It usually appears after que when the first clause expresses uncertainty, necessity, emotion, judgement or a set expression such as bien que. Many regular forms sound identical to the present indicative, so the high-value work is learning triggers and irregular forms.