The Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is mainly used after certain common conjunctions, such as:

Avant que-
before
Afin que-
in order to
Pour que-
only
A condition que-
on the condition that
Aussi bien que-
as well as
A cause de-
because of
Ainsi que-
as also, like
Tandis que-
whereas, whilst (=contrast)
Puisque-
seeing that, since (= because)

The subjunctive is used after expressions of doubt such as douter que, ne pas être sur que, ne pas penser que, and similar expressions.

To form the present subjunctive of most verbs, take the ILS form of the PRESENT tense and add the appropriate ending:

e
es
e
ions
iez
ent

Examples

que j'aime
(qu'ils aiment)
que je lise
(qu'ils lisent)
que je mette
(qu'ils mettent)

The subjunctive is also required after expressions of opinion or emotion:

regretter que
to regret
être content que
to be happy that
vouloir que
to want
ordonner que
to order
il faut que
It is necessary that
il est possible que
It is possible that
il est important que
It is important that
il est dommage que
It's a pity that
il est nécessaire que
It is necessary that
il est préférable que
It is preferable that

To view the irregular verbs in the subjunctive click here