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The subjunctive: subjunctive or indicative
The mood after je pense que, j'espère que, je souhaite que and je veux que: indicative after an opinion or a hope, subjunctive after a negated opinion or a wish, and infinitive when both verbs share one subject (je veux partir / je veux que tu partes).
After an affirmative opinion, que is followed by the indicative; after a negative one, by the subjunctive.
- Je pense que la porte est fermée.I think the door is closed.
- Paul croit que nous avons assez d'argent.Paul thinks we have enough money.
- Je ne pense pas que la porte soit ouverte.I don't think the door is open.
- Paul ne croit pas que nous ayons assez d'argent.Paul doesn't think we have enough money.
Formation
- The indicative forms are those of the présent (present simple): est, avons, es.
- The subjunctive forms are soit, ayons, puisses, prenions, vienne, sache, doive, veuille.
Use
- After penser que, croire que and trouver que in the affirmative, the verb is in the indicative.
- After penser que, croire que and trouver que in the negative, the opinion becomes a doubt. The verb is then in the subjunctive.
- For the future too, the subjunctive is usual after a negative opinion. The futur simple (will) is also found: Je ne pense pas qu'il pleuvra. (“I don't think it will rain.”)
Common mistake
Je ne crois pas qu'elle est ici.→ Je ne crois pas qu'elle soit ici.English “I don't think she is here” has the present simple, but a negative opinion is followed by the subjunctive.
Show the answer Je pense que ton frère ___ (être) malade. estShow the answer
Show the answer Je ne pense pas que ton frère ___ (être) malade. soitShow the answer
Espérer que is followed by the indicative, and souhaiter que by the subjunctive.
- J'espère que le train arrivera à l'heure.I hope the train will arrive on time.
- J'espère que tu vas bien.I hope you are well.
- Je souhaite que tout aille bien.I hope everything goes well.
Formation
- After espérer que, the futur simple (will) forms are habiterons, viendra, viendras, pourront, gagneras.
- The présent (present simple) is also possible after espérer que: vient, peuvent, gagnes.
- After souhaiter que, the subjunctive forms are réussisses, soyez, fasse, aient.
Use
- Espérer que in the affirmative is followed by the indicative. The futur simple is the most frequent, since a hope is about the future.
- Souhaiter que expresses a wish and is followed by the subjunctive.
Common mistake
J'espère qu'il fasse beau.→ J'espère qu'il fera beau.Both verbs are translated as “hope”, but only souhaiter que is followed by the subjunctive.
Show the answer J'espère que nous ___ (habiter) à Paris dans deux ans. habiteronsShow the answer
Show the answer Je souhaite que tu ___ (réussir) ton examen. réussissesShow the answer
With one subject, the second verb is an infinitive; with a new subject, que and the subjunctive are used.
- Je veux sortir ce soir.I want to go out tonight.
- Nous préférons attendre.We prefer to wait.
- Je veux que tu sortes ce soir.I want you to go out tonight.
- Nous préférons que vous attendiez.We'd rather you waited.
- Je suis heureux que tu sois là.I'm happy you're here.
Formation
- The subjunctive forms practised here also include partions, preniez and boive.
Use
- After an adjective of feeling, the infinitive is introduced by de: Je suis heureux de te voir. (“I'm happy to see you.”)
- With il faut, the infinitive is used for a general rule: Il faut attendre (“We have to wait”). With a named subject, il faut que takes the subjunctive: Il faut que Paul attende (“Paul has to wait”).
Common mistake
Je veux toi aider.→ Je veux que tu m'aides.English “I want you to help me” has an infinitive. In French, a second subject is introduced by que, with the subjunctive.
Show the answer “I want you to listen.” Je veux ___ tu écoutes. queShow the answer
Show the answer partir / veux / je / tôt Je veux partir tôt.Show the answer
Opinion, hope, wish and feeling come together here with the infinitive constructions.
- Je trouve que ce restaurant est cher.I think this restaurant is expensive.
- Je ne pense pas qu'elle ait le temps.I don't think she has time.
- J'espère que tu finiras ton travail.I hope you'll finish your work.
- Nous voulons rester chez nous ce soir.We want to stay at home tonight.
Formation
- The indicative forms practised are es, est, conduis and finira.
- The subjunctive forms practised are sache, doive, fasse, ait and veuille.
Use
- After que, the mood is chosen from the verb before it: indicative or subjunctive.
- With a single subject, the infinitive is used.
Show the answer Je ne pense pas que Paul ___ (savoir) la réponse. sacheShow the answer
Show the answer Je trouve que tu ___ (conduire) bien. conduisShow the answer
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