The
subjonctif is a
verb tense (it's actually a mood) in French. Its English correspondant would be the
subjunctive. The
subjonctif has very strict rule in its usage and employment. It is always preceded by a relative pronoun (
pronom relatif).
Conjugation.
- Take the Plural of the 3rd person in the Present tense. (3e personne du pluriel au présent)
- Subtract the -ent termination.
- Add the subjonctif termination accordingly.
- -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
- Know your exceptions, le verbe avoir and être do not obey these rules.
For example:
Le verbe Finir (To finish), 3e personne du pluriel au Présent:
ils finissent
que je finisse
que tu finisses
qu'il finisse
que nous finissions
que vous finissiez
qu'ils finissent
It is usually¹ employed when the principal clause expresses:
émotion - emotion
Je suis très content que tu puisses venir avec moi.
I am very happy that you are able to come with me.
doute - doubt
Je doute qu'elle soit vierge.
I doubt that she's a virgin.
volonté - will
Je veux que tu sois contente.
I want you to be happy.
obligation - obligation
Marc, il faut que tu travailles plus fort.
Marc, you have to work harder.
There are certain verbs that when encountered preceding the relative pronoun, do NOT employ the subjonctif:
Penser que - To think that.
Je pense que tu es Néo.
I think you are Neo.
Croire que - To believe that.
Cypher, je crois qu'il est un traître.
Cypher, I think he's a traitor.
Espérer que - To hope that.
J'espère que tu as raison, Morpheus.
I hope that you're right, Morpheus.
Sur que - To be sure that.
Je suis sur qu'il est celui que je cherche.
I am sure that he's the one I'm looking for.
Évident que - Evident that.
Il est évident qu'il est celui qui nous sauvera.
It is evident that he's the on who will save us.
There is an exception to that last rule however. If you employ the negative sense of the above verbs, you will have to use the subjonctif.
e.g., Je ne crois pas qu'elle soit un agent. --> I do not think that she is an agent.
There are also certain relative pronouns that when encountered, must employ the subjcontif:
quoique although.
jusqu'à-ce-que until, till that.
à condition que given that.
à moins que unless that.
avant que before that.
afin que so that.
pour que for.
Conversely, there are relative pronouns that when encountered, do NOT employ the subjonctif:
certain que certain that
lorsque when.
parce que because.
tandis que whereas.
espérer que in hopes that.
pendant que while that.
¹ Depending on the context of the sentence, these rules may vary.