5 things you need to know about french subjunctive
TRANSCRIPT
5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
THE FRENCHSUBJUNCTIVE
This learning guide is divided into differentparts with a quick recap after each topic.
1) WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?
2) ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART
3) WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT
4) HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?
5) THE IRREGULARS
1) WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?
2) ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART
3) WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT
4) HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?
5) THE IRREGULARS
1. WHAT IS THE FRENCH SUBJUNCTIVE?
MEANING
The subjunctive is a grammatical mood.
The subjunctive is used to express varied states of unreality or uncertaintylike some kind of judgment, wish, possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, orsomething that has not occurred yet.
A quick recap of the first topic:
1. Use this formula Subjectivity + Unreality2. No future tense usage of the subjunctive, only past and present. If it is
set to happen in the future, the present tense is being used.
MEANING
The subjunctive is a grammatical mood.
The subjunctive is used to express varied states of unreality or uncertaintylike some kind of judgment, wish, possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, orsomething that has not occurred yet.
A quick recap of the first topic:
1. Use this formula Subjectivity + Unreality2. No future tense usage of the subjunctive, only past and present. If it is
set to happen in the future, the present tense is being used.
2. ITS ENGLISH COUNTERPART
ENGLISH
English subjunctive is not as often used as in French, but we use it ineveryday modern English.
The subjunctive often appears in subordinate clauses especially that-clauses.
Examples:
• If I were you,• It is important that you stop to read the signs• Is it really necessary that we stop to read each and every sign?”• He suggested that you continue with your noble path.
ENGLISH
English subjunctive is not as often used as in French, but we use it ineveryday modern English.
The subjunctive often appears in subordinate clauses especially that-clauses.
Examples:
• If I were you,• It is important that you stop to read the signs• Is it really necessary that we stop to read each and every sign?”• He suggested that you continue with your noble path.
3. WHERE AND WHEN TO USE IT
FRENCH
In French, we use the subjunctive after certain words and conjunctions thathave two parts and two different subjects.
A quick recap of the first topic:
1. The subjunctives usually appear after the following verbs:• wishing something• fearing something• giving opinion• saying how you feel: regretter que (meaning to be sorry that) être content que (meaning to be pleased that) être surpris que (meaning to be surprised that) etc.
2. The subjunctives may also appear in some expressions that begin with il.
FRENCH
In French, we use the subjunctive after certain words and conjunctions thathave two parts and two different subjects.
A quick recap of the first topic:
1. The subjunctives usually appear after the following verbs:• wishing something• fearing something• giving opinion• saying how you feel: regretter que (meaning to be sorry that) être content que (meaning to be pleased that) être surpris que (meaning to be surprised that) etc.
2. The subjunctives may also appear in some expressions that begin with il.
4. HOW TO FORM THE SUBJUNCTIVE?
RULES
The most important rules for you to take note of are thefollowing:
1. Verbs that end with –er :infinitive less –er plus correct ending
2. Verbs that end with –ir :infinitive less –ir plus correct ending
3. Verbs that end with –re :infinitive less –re plus correct ending
RULES
The most important rules for you to take note of are thefollowing:
1. Verbs that end with –er :infinitive less –er plus correct ending
2. Verbs that end with –ir :infinitive less –ir plus correct ending
3. Verbs that end with –re :infinitive less –re plus correct ending
5. THE IRREGULARS IRREGULARS
Irregular verbs in the subjunctive:
VERB MEANING JE TU
aller to go aille ailles
avoir to have aie aies
devoir to have to, must doive doives
dire to say, to tell dise dises
IRREGULARS
dire to say, to tell dise dises
être to be sois sois
faire to do, to make fasse fasses
pouvoir to be able to, can puisse puisses
prendre to take prenne prennes
savoir to know sache saches
venir to come vienne viennes
vouloir to want to veuille veullles
IRREGULARS
Irregular verbs in the subjunctive (continued):
IL/ELLE/ON NOUS VOUS ILS/ELLES
aille allions alliez aillent
ait ayons ayez aient
doive devions deviez doivent
dise dlsions disiez disent
5. THE IRREGULARS (CONTINUED) IRREGULARS
dise dlsions disiez disent
soit soyons soyez soyent
fasse fassions fassiez fassent
puisse puissions puissiez puissent
prenne prenions preniez prennent
sache sachions sache sachent
vienne venions veniez viennent
veuille voulions voullez veuillent
SUMMARY
A quick recap of this topic:
1. The subjunctive is used to express varied states ofunreality or uncertainty like some kind of judgment, wish,possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, or something that hasnot occurred yet.
2. The subjunctive appears after certain words andconjunctions that have two parts and two differentsubjects. It is also found after expressions that start with il.
3. The verb stem for the subjunctive is the same as the stemfor present tense.
4. Verbs that end in -er and -ir have the same endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
5. Verbs that end in -ir have the following endings in thesubjunctive mood: -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent.
SUMMARY
A quick recap of this topic:
1. The subjunctive is used to express varied states ofunreality or uncertainty like some kind of judgment, wish,possibility, opinion, doubt, emotion, or something that hasnot occurred yet.
2. The subjunctive appears after certain words andconjunctions that have two parts and two differentsubjects. It is also found after expressions that start with il.
3. The verb stem for the subjunctive is the same as the stemfor present tense.
4. Verbs that end in -er and -ir have the same endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
5. Verbs that end in -ir have the following endings in thesubjunctive mood: -isse, -isses, -isse, -issions, -issiez, -issent.
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