Le subjonctif

1. Le subjonctif FREN230

2. What’s the deal with the subjunctive? • The subjunctive is very common in all Romance languages and is not considered a particularly formal or informal tense. • It is used less frequently in French than in Spanish, largely because the French use the conditionnel so frequently. • French speakers use the subjunctive with many phrases expressing opinion, doubts, wishes, states of mind (je suisheureux, j’aipeurque…) or ordering someone else to do something. • We don’t really use the subjunctive as much in English – it is used to express things that are imagined or wished – “If I were you”, “I recommend he face his fears”, “you should be aware” • English speakers avoid this tense in French and French people notice.

3. When do I use the subjonctif? • The subjonctif expresses the personal feelings of the speaker, such as doubt, emotion, opinion, and volition. • It often occurs in a dependent clause beginning with “que”. • The subjunctive generally goes with expressions in the affirmative. (Not negated. There are very specific cases for that. If it’s negated, it doesn’t take the subjunctive.) • There must be a change of subject. If you are expressing your own thoughts and opinions, there is no room for scrutiny. Only you reallyknow what you feel, right?

4. What the heck is a dependent clause? Main clause = Le professeurveut (set ‘em up) Dependent clause = queje finissemon devoir. (knock ‘em down) *When we talk about the verb in the subjunctive, we’re talking about the verb that appears in the dependent clause, AFTER “que”.

5. When do I use the subjonctif?: La volonté • The subjonctif is used with verbs of volition: aimer, désirer, exiger(to demand), préférer, souhaiter, vouloir • IMPORTANT: You must have a change of subject between clauses (after the “que”). In French, “que” is required! In English, it may or may not be used. • Mon père ne veut pas que je regardela télévision. • Il veutque je fassemes devoirs. • Je voudraisquemes parents puissentme comprendre.

6. When do I use the subjonctif? • Espérer (to hope) is an exception. It DOES NOT take the subjunctive IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. Instead, you can use the conditionnel. • J’espérequ’ils me donnerontplus de libertél’annéeprochaine.

7. When do I use the subjonctif?:L’émotion, l’opinion, le doute • As with verbs of volition, verbs and clauses expressing emotion also require the use of the subjunctive. • For example: • Content(e) -Je suiscontentequevouspuissiezvenir. • Triste -Elle esttristeque nous n’ayons pas de chat • Désolé(e) -Je suisdésoléequevoussoyezmalade. • Fâché • Furieux(se) • Étonné(e) • Surpris(e) • Ravi(e) • Déçu(e) • Regretterque • Avoirpeurque/craindreque

8. When do I use the subjonctif? • In French, general statements that indicate points of view are up for considered uncertain and subject to scrutiny. This is a good rule of thumb for all subjunctive statements (Ultimately, if it’s a feeling or a possibility of a feeling, it takes the subjunctive.) • General statements would be one that starts with “Il” or “Ce” • Il vautmieuxque.. • Il est bon/Il esttriste/Il estétonnantque… • C’estdommageque/Cen’est pas la peineque… • Il est important que…

9. When do I use the subjonctif? • Penser, croire and espérer use the subjunctive in the negative or when asking a question. • Why? Because if you don’t think it or believe, there is still room for doubt. • Pensez-vousque la télésoitune drogue? • Je ne pense pas quevousayezle temps.

10. When do I use the subjonctif? • To express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility, the following verbs and impersonal expressions may be used: • Douterque • Ne pas êtresûr(e)/certain(e) que • Il estdouteux / impossible / peu probable que • Il se peutque • Il est possible que • Il sembleque

11. When do I use the subjonctif?:La nécessité et l’obligation • Expressions for requesting or persuading someone to do something: • Demander que • Insister pour que • Empêcherque • Il faut (absolument) que • Il estnécessaireque • Il estessentielque • Il suffitque • Expressions of obligation: • Il estnécessaire • Il fautque

12. How do I avoid doing this? • Use the infinitive instead of “que”. • Moi, je veuxpartirbien en avance. • Mon maripréfère ne pas partirtroptard. • With impersonal expressions, use “être”+adjective+de: • Il est bon de se détendre • Je suis content de ne pas avoir grand-chose à faire.

13. How do I form the subjonctif? • Well, hang on. First, do you remember how to form the imparfait? • Start with the present “nous” form • Knock off the “-ons” ending • Add the imparfait ending commenconscommencait

14. How do I form the subjonctif? • To form the present subjunctive of all verbs (except avoir and être) is formed by: • Find the third person plural form of the present tense (ils/elles) • Knock off the “-ent” • Add the subjunctive ending

15. How do I form the subjonctif?

16. How do I form the subjonctif? FinirFinissonsFinissons

17. How do I form the subjonctif? • Some verbs have two subjunctive stems – one for the nous and vous forms and another for the remaining forms. • To form the nous and vous forms, drop the “-ons” ending from the first person plural of the present tense. • Verbs with two subjunctive stems: • Appeler (j’appelle, nous appelions) • Croire (je croie, nous croyions) • Devoir (je doive, nous devions) • Envoyer (j’envoie, nous envoyions) • Mourir (je meure, nous mourions) • Prendre (je prenne, nous prenions) • Recevoir (je reçoive, nous recevions) • Venir (je vienne, nous venions) • Voir (je voie, nous voyions)

18. How do I form the subjonctif? • Some verbs have irregular stems but regular subjunctive endings:

19. How do I form the subjonctif? • Avoir and être have totally different forms of the subjunctive and just have to be memorized.

20. Le passé du subjonctif • It looks just like the passé composé, but you conjugate “avoir” or “être” and form the past participle as usual. • Quej’aieregardé • Que je soisparti(e) • Que je me soisréveillé(e) • Elle estcontentequej’aievendu la voiture.