French conjugation explanation
Forming the present subjunctive verb forms
<p>For the vast majority of French verbs, the stem for the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>
is derived from the <strong>third-person plural form (<span style="font-style: italic;">ils/elles</span>)</strong> of the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/25/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>
.</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Formation Rule</div>
<p>To find the subjunctive stem, take the <span style="font-style: italic;">ils/elles</span> form of the present indicative and <strong>remove the <span style="font-style: italic;">-ent</span> ending</strong>. The subjunctive endings (<span style="font-style: italic;">-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent</span>) are then added to this stem.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/trouver/" title="Click to see conjugations for trouver" target="_blank">TROUVER</a>
</strong> (regular -er)</div><div>Present Ind. P/3: <span style="font-style: italic;">ils trouv<span class="red_emphasis">ent</span></span> → Subjunctive stem: <strong>trouv-</strong></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il faut que je <span class="green_emphasis">trouve</span> mes clés. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I must find my keys.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/finir/" title="Click to see conjugations for finir" target="_blank">FINIR</a>
</strong> (regular -ir)</div><div>Present Ind. P/3: <span style="font-style: italic;">ils finiss<span class="red_emphasis">ent</span></span> → Subjunctive stem: <strong>finiss-</strong></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">J'aimerais qu'ils <span class="green_emphasis">finissent</span> leurs devoirs. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I would like them to finish their homework.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/dire/" title="Click to see conjugations for dire" target="_blank">DIRE</a>
</strong> (irreular -re)</div><div>Present Ind. P/3: <span style="font-style: italic;">ils dis<span class="red_emphasis">ent</span></span> → Subjunctive stem: <strong>dis-</strong></div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Je veux que tu <span class="green_emphasis">dises</span> la vérité. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I want you to tell the truth.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Here are the full present subjunctive conjugation tables for these patterns:</p>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que je
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">es</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ions</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">iez</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span>trouv<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ent</span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que je
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">es</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ions</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">iez</span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span>finiss<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ent</span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Verbs with Two Stems</div>
<p>Some verbs, such as
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/venir/" title="Click to see conjugations for venir" target="_blank">venir</a>
,<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/prendre/" title="Click to see conjugations for prendre" target="_blank">prendre</a>
, or<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/boire/" title="Click to see conjugations for boire" target="_blank">boire</a>
, have two different stems in the present indicative: one for <span style="font-style: italic;">nous/vous</span> and another for the rest. This dual-stem pattern is preserved in the subjunctive:</p><ul>
<li><strong>Je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles</strong> use the stem from <span style="font-style: italic;">ils</span> (indicative).</li>
<li><strong>Nous</strong> and <strong>vous</strong> use the stem from <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> (indicative).</li>
</ul>
<p>For
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/venir/" title="Click to see conjugations for venir" target="_blank">VENIR</a>
, the <span style="font-style: italic;">ils</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">viennent</span>, giving the stem <strong>vienn-</strong>. However, the <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">venons</span>, giving the stem <strong>ven-</strong>.</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que je
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vienn<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vienn<span style="text-decoration: underline;">es</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vienn<span style="text-decoration: underline;">e</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venio<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ns</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">venie<span style="text-decoration: underline;">z</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">vienn<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ent</span><span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Irregular Stems</div>
<p>There are two verbs that are completely irregular in both their stems and their endings:
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/%C3%AAtre/" title="Click to see conjugations for être" target="_blank">être</a>
and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/avoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for avoir" target="_blank">avoir</a>
. These are essential and must be memorized.</p><div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que je
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">sois<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">sois<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">soit<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">soyons<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">soyez<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">soient<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">
<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/29/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Présent du subjonctif</a>
<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun"><span>que j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">aie<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que tu
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">aies<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'il
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ait<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que nous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ayons<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
que vous
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">ayez<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">
<div class="conjugation_form">
<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">
qu'ils
</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">aient<span class="irregularity_circle">●</span></span></span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Other important verbs have irregular subjunctive stems but typically use the regular subjunctive endings. Note that
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/aller/" title="Click to see conjugations for aller" target="_blank">aller</a>
and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/vouloir/" title="Click to see conjugations for vouloir" target="_blank">vouloir</a>
follow the "two-stem" logic mentioned above (one stem for singular/3rd plural, another for <span style="font-style: italic;">nous/vous</span>).</p><ul>
<li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/faire/" title="Click to see conjugations for faire" target="_blank">faire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils font</span>) → stem: <strong>fass-</strong></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/savoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for savoir" target="_blank">savoir</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils savent</span>) → stem: <strong>sach-</strong></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/pouvoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for pouvoir" target="_blank">pouvoir</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils peuvent</span>) → stem: <strong>puiss-</strong></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/aller/" title="Click to see conjugations for aller" target="_blank">aller</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils vont</span>) → stem: <strong>aill-</strong> (but <span style="font-style: italic;">nous allions</span>)</div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/vouloir/" title="Click to see conjugations for vouloir" target="_blank">vouloir</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils veulent</span>) → stem: <strong>veuill-</strong> (but <span style="font-style: italic;">nous voulions</span>)</div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/valoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for valoir" target="_blank">valoir</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">ils valent</span>) → stem: <strong>vaill-</strong></div></li><li><div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/falloir/" title="Click to see conjugations for falloir" target="_blank">falloir</a>
(impersonal) → stem: <strong>faill-</strong> (qu'il faille)</div></li></ul>