1. What Is the Present Subjunctive?

The present subjunctive (le subjonctif présent) is a verb mood in French used to express
doubt, emotion, desire, necessity, or uncertainty. Unlike the indicative mood, which states facts, the subjunctive
expresses what someone feels, wants, or fears. It almost always appears in a dependent clause introduced by
que (that).

Think of it this way: when you say “I want him to come” or “I’m afraid she is late”, you are
expressing a feeling or a wish — not a simple fact. French uses the subjunctive in exactly those situations.

2. Simple Examples to Get Started

• Je veux que tu viennes. — I want you to come.
• Il faut que nous partions. — We need to leave.
• Elle est contente que tu sois là. — She is happy that you are here.
• Je doute qu’il ait raison. — I doubt he is right.

In each sentence, the subjunctive verb comes after que and expresses a personal feeling or judgment —
not a fact.

3. The Key Elements of the Present Subjunctive in French

To use the subjunctive correctly, you need to understand three key components: how to form it,
when to use it, and which irregular verbs to know.

3.1 How to Form the Present Subjunctive

For most verbs, take the third person plural (ils/elles) form of the present indicative,
remove the -ent ending, and add the subjunctive endings.