The present subjunctive (the forms): The present subjunctive (le subjonctif présent) is a special verb form French uses almost always after que.
What you need to know
- It is for things that are wished for, necessary, doubted, or emotional.
- In this micro you'll learn how to build it; the full list of triggers comes later.
The key trick: Most subjunctive forms are built from the present ils/elles stem. So if you know ils finissent you can build que je finisse.
- le subjonctif
- the subjunctive — the mood for wishes, necessity, doubt and emotion
- l'indicatif
- the indicative — the ordinary mood for stating facts (je finis, je prends)
- la forme ils/elles
- the present ils/elles form — the starting point for building the subjunctive
- le radical
- the stem — what's left after you drop the ending
- le déclencheur
- the trigger — the word or phrase before que that calls for the subjunctive
- irrégulier
- irregular — a few common verbs have their own subjunctive stem (être → soi-)
Why it matters: Using the subjunctive correctly is a clear marker of a higher-level French answer. Even getting one phrase right — il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs — lifts the sophistication of your speaking and writing. Master the forms here first; the triggers fall into place once the forms are automatic.
Free preview
Reading it is one thing — hearing it is another
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- Audio on every wordTap any vocabulary word or example to hear it read aloud in natural French.
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start Studying Free Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime
Ils-stem, drop -ent, add the endings: Build the present subjunctive in three steps, starting from the present ils/elles form.
Three steps
1
Take the ils form
Start from the present ils/elles form (ils finissent).
2
Drop the -ent
Remove the -ent (finiss-).
3
Add the endings
Add -e / -es / -e / -ions / -iez / -ent (que je finisse).
ils-stem, drop -ent, add the endings
Patterns to notice
- The je / tu / il / ils endings sound the same as the present indicative of an -er verb.
- nous / vous look exactly like the imperfect (-ions, -iez).
- Starting from ils means most stem changes carry over automatically (ils prennent → que je prenne).
| Personne | finir (ils finissent) | prendre (ils prennent) | parler (ils parlent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| que je | finisse | prenne | parle |
| que tu | finisses | prennes | parles |
| qu'il / elle / on | finisse | prenne | parle |
| que nous | finissions | prenions | parlions |
| que vous | finissiez | preniez | parliez |
| qu'ils / elles | finissent | prennent | parlent |
| Infinitif | Subjonctif (que je…) | Astuce |
|---|---|---|
| être | sois | completely irregular (sois, soyons, soyez) |
| avoir | aie | completely irregular (aie, ayons, ayez) |
| aller | aille | irregular stem aill- / all- (nous allions) |
| faire | fasse | irregular stem fass- (one stem everywhere) |
| pouvoir | puisse | irregular stem puiss- (one stem everywhere) |
| savoir | sache | irregular stem sach- (one stem everywhere) |
The ils-stem rule: Think ils-stem: drop the -ent from the present ils form and add -e / -es / -e / -ions / -iez / -ent. ils finissent → que je finisse. Six common verbs ignore the rule entirely — learn être (sois), avoir (aie), aller (aille), faire (fasse), pouvoir (puisse), savoir (sache) by heart.
See how examiners mark answers
Answer exam-style questions with model answers. Learn exactly what earns marks and what doesn't.
Try Exam Vault FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
Where you'll see it (a quick look): You'll meet the subjunctive most often in a second clause after que, when the first clause expresses a necessity, wish, or feeling.
Recognise the shape: For now, just recognise the shape: a trigger phrase + que + a verb in the subjunctive. The classic trigger is il faut que… (it is necessary that…).
La piste du que
- Necessity — Il faut que tu viennes. (You have to come.)
- Wish — Je veux que tu réussisses. (I want you to succeed.)
- Feeling — Je suis content que tu sois là. (I'm glad you're here.)
- Doubt — Je ne pense pas qu'il pleuve. (I don't think it will rain.)
Forms first, triggers next: Don't worry about memorising every trigger yet. Right now, focus on building the form correctly: ils form → drop -ent → add the endings. If you can produce finisse, prenne, parle without thinking, the usage rules will be easy. And remember the giant clue: after il faut que you always need the subjunctive.
Building the form, sentence by sentence: Here are short sentences that each show the present subjunctive after que.
How to read them
- The note in brackets reminds you which verb it came from and how it was built.
- Read each once, then tap Voir la traduction for the English or the audio button to hear it.
- Notice the ils-stem pattern at work.
Le subjonctif en action
Les formes, phrase par phrase
- Mes parents veulent que je finisse mes devoirs avant de sortir.
- Il faut que tu prennes le bus de huit heures.
- J'aimerais que nous partions en vacances ensemble.
- Il faut que vous soyez à l'heure et que vous ayez votre carte.
- Je veux qu'ils fassent un effort et qu'ils puissent réussir.
Drill the build, not the meaning: For each verb, say it out loud: ils form → drop -ent → add the ending. ils finissent → finiss- → finisse; ils prennent → prenn- → prenne. The irregulars (sois, aie, aille, fasse, puisse, sache) you just have to know — they appear constantly, so they're worth memorising first.
Study smarter, not longer
Most students waste 40% of study time on topics they already know. Our AI tracks your progress and optimizes every minute.
Try Smart Study FreeYour first topic is free to keep • No credit card required
The slips to watch for: Three mistakes dominate for English speakers. Compare the right version with the typical mistake and the fix becomes clear.
The three slips
- Leaving the indicative after a trigger (writing tu viens where you need tu viennes).
- Forgetting the irregular subjunctives (writing tu es instead of tu sois).
- Translating the English infinitive directly: English says I want you to come with no that, but French needs que tu viennes.
Correct
- Il faut que tu finisses tes devoirs.
- Je veux que tu viennes à la fête.
- Je suis content que tu sois là.
Erreur fréquente
- Il faut que tu finis tes devoirs.
- Je veux que tu venir / tu viens à la fête.
- Je suis content que tu es là.
Use que, switch to the ils-stem, learn the irregulars: After a trigger, keep the que and build the verb from the ils stem (+ -e/-es/-e/-ions/-iez/-ent). And keep the six irregulars at your fingertips — sois, aie, aille, fasse, puisse, sache — because they appear in almost every subjunctive sentence.