French Grammar
Subjunctive after Relative Clauses of Maximum Uncertainty
Activating the subjunctive when searching for non‑existent or highly improbable options (e.g., Je cherche quelqu’un qui sache...).
Start Interactive LessonLesson Summary
Activating the subjunctive when searching for non‑existent or highly improbable options (e.g., Je cherche quelqu’un qui sache...).
Grammar
Looking for Something That May Not Exist
The subjunctive has been studied after expressions of necessity, desire, emotion, concession, and condition (see advanced subjunctive triggers, subjunctive after bien que/quoique, and subjunctive after conditional conjunctions). It is also required in relative clauses when the person or object described is uncertain, hypothetical, or non‑existent. The indicative is used when the antecedent is known to be real.
Indicative vs. Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
| Meaning | Mood | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Known, specific referent | indicative | J’ai un collègue qui parle chinois. (I have a colleague who speaks Chinese – I know he exists.) |
| Unknown, hypothetical referent | subjunctive | Je cherche un collègue qui parle chinois. (I’m looking for a colleague who speaks Chinese – such a person may not exist.) |
| Superlative or restrictive + subjective appreciation | subjunctive | C’est le seul film qui me fasse peur. (It’s the only film that scares me – restrictive, subjective.) |
| Negative clause + existence | subjunctive | Il n’y a personne qui puisse nous aider. (There is no one who can help us – non‑existent.) |
Key Rules
The subjunctive is used in the relative clause in the following contexts:
1. After verbs of searching or desiring something not yet identified: chercher, vouloir, avoir besoin de, etc.
2. After the expressions le seul, l’unique, le premier, le dernier + noun when the statement expresses a subjective view.
3. After a negative main clause such as il n’y a personne qui…, je ne connais personne qui….
If the referent is concrete and known, the indicative remains:
- Voici le livre qui m’a aidé. (indicative, real)
- Je veux un livre qui soit facile à lire. (subjunctive, hypothetical)
For the formation of the present subjunctive, see subjonctif présent derivation. For relative pronouns, see relative pronouns: qui.
Examples
- Nous avons besoin d’un système financier qui soit plus transparent.The subjunctive soit indicates that such a system is hypothetical.
- Il n’existe aucune théorie philosophique qui puisse tout expliquer.The negative main clause triggers the subjunctive puisse.
Related searches
These are the main phrases this lesson covers: