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Subjunctive present
The subjunctive is the favourite mode to describe uncertainty that underlines
the possibility for an action to be achieved
and that also enhances the possibility for its unachievement.
It is composed of four tenses
Subjunctive form is used after the conjunction que
Qu’il ait réussi me réjouit beaucoup.
A) In classical sentences
It expresses feelings and impressions about actions.
It is used to express:
Order =>Qu’il vienne !
Desire =>Pourvu qu’il soit là !
Interdiction =>Qu’il ne fasse rien, surtout !
Disapproval and threat =>Qu’il vienne un peu !
It must be used after the following 'locutions conjonctives'(link words):
à condition à moins à supposer afin que avant que bien que de crainte que | de façon que de peur que en admettant encore que jusqu'à ce quemalgré quenon que | pour peu pour que pourvu que quoique sans que si tant soit que… soit que… |
B) The subjunctive form in subordinate sentences
It can be compulsory (grammar). It can also express just a mood:
C) In the conjunctive clauses, subject or object,
It follows a verb expressing
an order, a fear, a wish or various feelings
« J’en arrivais à souhaiter qu’il vînt le plus rapidement possible. »
It must be used after verbs or verbal locutions such as:
aimer approuver attendre avoir envie défendre demander déplorer désirer | douter s’étonner exiger faire attention falloir importer interdire ordonner | permettre préférer prendre garde refuser regretter souhaiter tenir à vouloir |
D) In circumstantial (adverbial) clauses,
-> aim
-> concession
-> consequence
-> sometimes the time (when using avant que).
Generally "Après que" is followed by the indicative form.
The use of the subjunctive is increasing after "après que" but you shouldn't use it. It is an error based on avant que.
Il est arrivé après qu’on l’a appelé. => après qu’on l’ait appelé.
E) In relative clauses
The subjunctive refers to a possibility or to an aim without really focussing on its factual achievement :
Il cherche une maison qui convienne à nous tous.
Comparisons depending on superlatives (le plus…, le moins…)
are mainly in the subjunctive form.
C'est le plus grand spécialiste que je connaisse.
Il nous a fait goûter le meilleur vin qu’il ait dans sa cave.
If the main sentence contains the following words you’ll find a subjunctive :
le seul, l’unique, le premier, le dernier.
C’est le seul ami que je lui connaisse.
Except with the verbs "avoir" and "être", all subjunctive verbs have the same endings as in the present tense for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd person singular and 3rd person plural.
For the 1st and 2nd persons plural, they are similar to those of the imperfect tense:
-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent
Generally,
the 3rd person of the plural gives the stem of the verb for the subjunctive:
Present : Ils écriv-ent
Subjunctive :
Il faut que j'écriv-e
Il faut que tu écriv-es
Il faut qu'il écriv-e
Il faut que nous écriv-ions
Il faut que vous écriv-iez
Il faut qu'ils écriv-ent
acheter
present : j'achète, nous achetons
subjunctive : que j'achète, que nous achetions
Use the following verbs in a subjunctive present form.
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