French Subjunctive in Relative Clauses, with Examples

In a relative clause the subjunctive is not triggered by a word: it is a choice, and it says whether the thing exists. Je connais quelqu'un qui sait l'allemand. - I know someone who knows German (they exist). Je cherche quelqu'un qui sache l'allemand. - I am looking for someone who knows German (if there is anyone).

The glosses: I have found a hotel that is quiet. I am looking for a hotel that is quiet. There is no hotel that is quiet. My hotel, which is quiet, is full.

The clause starts with an ordinary relative pronoun, qui or que; only the verb's mood moves. For the forms of sache, puisse and veuille, see the present subjunctive conjugation.

Found or sought

An indicative relative clause states a fact about something that exists. A subjunctive one states a requirement for something you are still looking for. The main verb is the giveaway: chercher, vouloir, avoir besoin de, je voudrais.

• Je cherche un appartement qui soit calme. - I am looking for a flat that is quiet.
• Je voudrais une maison qui ait un jardin. - I would like a house that has a garden.
• Nous avons besoin d'un employé qui sache conduire. - We need an employee who can drive.

Find the thing and the mood flips back, because now there is something to state a fact about:

• J'ai trouvé un appartement qui est calme. - I have found a flat that is quiet.
• J'ai un employé qui sait conduire. - I have an employee who can drive.

On a scale from it exists to it does not, the mood follows the certainty:

One sentence, two meanings

After je cherche, both moods are correct French. English says them the same way; French does not.

In everyday speech the indicative is common in both senses; the subjunctive is what spells the doubt out. Getting it wrong rarely sounds broken: it makes a claim you did not mean.

A definite article settles it. Le guide qui connaît la région est arrivé. - The guide who knows the area has arrived. Le has already picked the guide out, so the clause is a fact about him: indicative. (After le seul, le premier or a superlative the subjunctive comes back; see below.)

Personne, rien, aucun: nothing to point at

When the antecedent has just been declared not to exist, there is nothing for the clause to state a fact about. Written French takes the subjunctive.

• Il n'y a personne qui puisse m'aider. - There is nobody who can help me.
• Il n'y a rien ici qui me plaise. - There is nothing here that I like.
• Je ne connais aucun livre qui dise cela. - I know of no book that says that.
• Il n'y a rien que je puisse faire. - There is nothing I can do. (que works like qui)

Speech often keeps the indicative: il n'y a personne qui peut m'aider is heard every day, but it is not the written standard. A weaker word such as peu de takes either mood, the subjunctive closer to hardly anyone: Il y a peu de gens qui savent le faire. or Il y a peu de gens qui sachent le faire. - Few people know how to do it.

Is there anyone who...? Questions

A question about whether something exists asserts nothing, so careful written French can use the subjunctive there too. It goes with the formal question; everyday questions keep the indicative.

All three mean Is there a train that leaves before noon?

• Connais-tu un médecin qui puisse venir ce soir ? - Do you know a doctor who could come this evening?
• Oui, il y a un train qui part à onze heures. - Yes, there is a train that leaves at eleven. (found: indicative)

Commas: the descriptive clause

A clause without commas narrows down which thing you mean, and can take either mood. A clause between commas adds a fact about a noun already identified, so it takes the indicative (or a conditional), never the subjunctive.

If the clause sits between commas, write the indicative and move on. The other fixed case, after le seul, le premier or a superlative (la seule chambre qui soit libre), has its own page.

Mistakes English speakers make

The opposite slip is just as common: once you know the rule, a subjunctive in every relative clause. The moment the thing exists, the indicative returns.

What to do next

1. Describe a flat you want with je cherche un appartement qui and two subjunctives.
2. Say what you found with j'ai trouvé un appartement qui and the indicative.
3. Then read the subjunctive after superlatives.