-er, -re, and -ir verbs
The subjunctive endings are the same for all verbs: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. For most verbs, the subjunctive mood is formed by dropping the -ent ending from the third person plural of the present indicative and adding the subjunctive endings. Note the similarities between the present indicative and the present subjunctive of -er verbs. This is due to the fact that the same stem is used for the subjunctive and the present indicative; the endings are also identical except for the nous and vous forms. This means that the 'boot' forms of the subjunctive of regular -er verbs look and sound exactly like the present indicative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Note that, for all conjugations, the third person plural of the present subjunctive always looks and sounds like the present indicative since the stem for the subjunctive comes from the third person plural.
 

 

present indicative present subjunctive

ils parlent ... qu'ils parlent

ils finissent ... qu'ils finissent

ils attendent ... qu'ils attendent

irregular verbs with regular subjunctive forms (dormir, etc.)
Many verbs that are irregular in the present indicative are regular in forming the subjunctive. In other words, the stem is formed by removing the -ent ending from the third person plural of the present indicative and then the endings -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent are added. Following are some irregular verbs, with the corresponding regular subjunctive forms.
 

 

dormir to sleep ... que je dorme

sortir to go out ... que je sorte

partir to leave ... que je parte

lire to read ... que je lise

sourire to smile ... que je sourie

dire to say ... que je dise

écrire to write ... que j'écrive

mettre to put ... que je mette

connaître to know ... que je connaisse

stem changing verbs
Some verbs with stem changes in the present indicative have one stem for the subjunctive of the 'nous' and 'vous' forms and another stem for the 'boot' forms. These verbs, such as acheter, appeler use the same two changes in the present subjunctive.
 

 

Tex: Il faut que j'appelle Paw-Paw ce soir. Tex: I have to call Paw-Paw tonight.

Tammy: D'accord. A quelle heure est-ce qu'il faut que nous appelions Paw-Paw? Tammy: Okay. What time do we have to call Paw-Paw?

 

 

Tex explique les règles à ses étudiants: Tex explains the rules to his students:

Il faut que vous parliez clairement; pas de chewing-gum! You must speak clearly; no chewing gum!

Bien sûr, il faut qu'on finisse avant midi. Le déjeuner, c'est sacré! Of course, we must end before meal times. Lunch is sacred!

Joe-Bob, il faut que tu attendes la fin du cours avant de dormir. Joe-Bob, you must wait until the end of class before sleeping.

Et il faut que nous sortions ensemble après le cours de révision pour prendre un verre. We must go out together after the review to have a drink.

 

Fill in the blank with the subjunctive of the verb in parentheses.

1.Tex : Il faut que j'__________ à Paw-Paw. (écrire)

 

2.Bette : Il faut que Tex m' ___________ mieux que Tammy! (aimer)

 

3.Tex : Il faut que nous ___________ en vacances. (partir)

 

4.Paw-Paw : Il faut que Tex m'___________ plus souvent. (appeler)

 

5.Tex : Il faut que vous ___________ davantage. (travailler)

 

6.Tammy : Il faut que Tex _________ moins. (sortir)

 

7.Fiona : Il faut que je ___________ un cours intéressant. (choisir)

 

8.Tammy : Tex préfère que je _________ le couvert. (mettre)

 

9.Tammy : Tex veut que nous _________ quelques années avant le mariage. (attendre)

 

10.Edouard : Il faut que nous ___________ dans un bon restaurant. (manger)

 

11.Tammy : Il ne faut pas que vous __________ en mangeant ('while eating')! (parler)

 

12.Tex : Il faut que Tammy __________ mes poèmes! (lire)