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Conjugation
Objective: Derive the subjonctif présent from the ils form of the present tense, apply the six endings, and recognise the mood's role in expressing subjectivity.
| Subject | Ending | Example with parler | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | -e | que je parle | that I speak |
| tu | -es | que tu parles | that you speak |
| il / elle / on | -e | qu'il parle | that he speaks |
| nous | -ions | que nous parlions | that we speak |
| vous | -iez | que vous parliez | that you speak |
| ils / elles | -ent | qu'ils parlent | that they speak |
The expression il faut que always triggers the subjunctive, so the verb takes the form vienne. The indicative viens would present the arrival as a fact rather than as a requirement.
Vouloir que triggers the subjunctive, and être has the irregular subjunctive stem soi-. The indicative es belongs to a factual statement, not to a wish.
Il faut que triggers the subjunctive, and the stem part- comes from ils partent. The ending -e marks the first-person singular.
Venir has two subjunctive stems: vienn- for the singular and the third-person plural, and ven- for the first and second persons plural.
The stem finiss- comes from ils finissent and keeps the -iss- insertion. The ending -ions marks the first-person plural.
Être has the irregular subjunctive stem soi-, which departs from the ils sont derivation.
An emotion in the main clause triggers the subjunctive. The stem réussiss- comes from ils réussissent.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
Aller follows the two-stem pattern. The singular and the third-person plural use aill-, as in que j'aille, while the first and second persons plural use all-, as in que nous allions.
A negated opinion verb such as ne pas penser que triggers the subjunctive, since the clause expresses doubt rather than certainty.
The negated opinion verb triggers the subjunctive, since the clause expresses doubt. Avoir has the irregular stem ay-.
Prendre has two subjunctive stems: prenn- for the singular, and pren- for the first and second persons plural.
Préférer que introduces a preference, which triggers the subjunctive. The stem part- comes from ils partent.