French/Lessons/Concept/Grammar

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Most of these lessons have been intoduced too early and will be kept here until they are needed.

[edit] The Subjunctive Mood - Le subjonctif

The subjunctive mood is rarely used in English. It is used in French, we conjugate the verb differently to express:

• doubt (Je doute que...)
• emotion (Je crois[believe] que...)
• desire (Je veux[want] que...)
• other 'subjective' expression. (Il faut que...)

An example expression that uses the subjunctive: Je veux que tu viennes. meaning "I want you to come" (literally: "I want that you come").

Another common example is the "Il faut que..." phrase, meaning "It is necessary that".

The conjugation of the present subjunctive (the present tense in the subjunctive mood) is not that difficult. Simply remove the 'ent' from the 'ils/elles' form of the verb and add the appropriate endings.

MANGER - Ils/Elles mangent - Stem mang

Que je mange
Que tu manges
Qu' il/elle/on mange
Que nous mangions
Que vous mangiez
Qu' ils/elles mangent

The ending are the same for most irregular verbs as well as 'ir' and 're' verbs.

FINIR - Ils/Elles finissent - Stem finiss'

Que je finisse
Que tu finisses
Qu' il/elle/on finisse
Que nous finissions
Que vous finissiez
Qu' ils/elles finissent

Unfortunately there are many verbs which are irregular in the subjunctive mood.

Our good friends être and avoir are irregular in the present subjunctive as well. These are important because in the past subjunctive (the passé composé in subjunctive) what is needed is the auxiliary verbs in the subjunctive.

ETRE

Que je sois
Que tu sois
Qu'il/elle/on soit
Que nous soyons
Que vous soyez
Qu'ils/elles soient

AVOIR

Que j'aie
Que tu aies
Qu'il/elle/on ait
Que nous ayons
Que vous ayez
Qu'ils/elles aient

[edit] Other irregular verbs in the subjunctive

ALLER

Que je aille
Que tu ailles
Qu'il/elle/on aille
Que nous allions
Que vous alliez
Qu'ils/elles aillent

FAIRE

Que je fasse
Que tu fasses
Qu'il/elle/on fasse
Que nous fassions
Que vous fassiez
Qu'ils/elles fassent

[edit] Phrases

Present

• Il faut que vous fassiez vos devoirs.
• Il faut que vous alliez à l'école.
• Il faut écouter la prof. - It's nesesary to listen to the teacher

-To make a general statement using "Il faut que..." that does not have a subject, you may use the infinive.

• Je crois que tu aies lu le livre. (I believe that you have read the book)

-This statement is in the Passé Subjonctif. Notice how the "helping verb" is conjugated in the subjonctif, but the Passé Composé participle is used for the verb. -Lu is the past participle for Lire, to read.

• Note: For more information see the topic.