Infinitive or subjunctive: the same-subject rule

When one person does both things, French uses an infinitive: je veux partir, I want to leave. The subjunctive only comes in with a second subject: je veux que tu partes, I want you to leave. Many of the subjunctives learners write should have been infinitives.

The rule on one screen

• Je veux partir. - I want to leave. / Je veux que tu partes. - I want you to leave.
• Je suis content de venir. - I am glad to come. / Je suis content que tu viennes. - I am glad you are coming.
• Je travaille pour réussir. - I work to succeed. / Je travaille pour que tu réussisses. - I work so that you succeed.

The triggers themselves are on the subjunctive after necessity and will, doubt and emotion and conjunctions pages.

Verbs of will: a bare infinitive

Vouloir, préférer, aimer, souhaiter and désirer take the infinitive straight after them, with nothing in between.

Il faut and il vaut mieux also take a bare infinitive when they name nobody:

• Il faut partir. - We have to go. / Il faut que tu partes. - You have to go.
• Il vaut mieux attendre. - It is better to wait. / Il vaut mieux que tu attendes. - You had better wait.

Emotions and impersonals: de + infinitive

Feelings (content, triste, avoir peur, regretter) and most impersonal phrases (il est important, il est nécessaire) put de before the infinitive.

• Elle a peur de tomber. - She is afraid of falling. / Elle a peur que nous tombions. - She is afraid we will fall.
• Je regrette de partir. - I am sorry to be leaving. / Je regrette que tu partes. - I am sorry you are leaving.

The impersonal row names nobody at all: il est important d'arriver tôt is a rule for everyone. That is often what you mean, and it is always safer than a subjunctive you are unsure of.