The subjunctive is a verb tense used to express an uncertain or wished action. It is usually used in subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions such as "that," "although," "so that," etc.
The Subjunctive in French
Definition
Formation of the Subjunctive
The subjunctive is formed from the root of the verb conjugated in the present indicative, with specific endings. For example, for first-group verbs, the endings are -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
However, there are some irregularities in the formation of the subjunctive for certain verbs. For example, the verb "to be" has an irregular form "that I be," "that you be," "that he be," etc.
Definition
Use of the Subjunctive
The subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as "that," "although," "so that," etc. It expresses an uncertain, doubtful, wished, or requested action.
It is often used to express emotions, wishes, opinions, suggestions, doubts, fears, orders, etc. For example: "I wish you were here."
Definition
Examples of Use
Here are some examples of the use of the subjunctive:
- You must come to the party.
- I doubt he will pass his exam.
- I wish you were happy.
- It is important that we learn new languages.
To Remember:
In summary, the subjunctive is a verb tense used to express uncertain, wished, or requested actions. It is formed from the root of the verb conjugated in the present indicative with specific endings. It is mainly used in subordinate clauses introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
