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French grammar Part of Chapter 19

CEFR B1-B2

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Test yourself (29 questions)

French Present Subjunctive Conjugation Tables and Irregulars

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

The present subjunctive takes three moves: the form of the present, -ent, plus one set of endings. and match the imparfait. Eight common verbs are irregular. The forms usually follow , so they are learned with it: .

Quick check

Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

Tap the mistake.

the subjunctive endingthe nous steman irregular stemWhat do the colours mean?

At a glance

Verb typeRuleExample
Regular stem + ending
Two-stem and : the stem
Irregularlearn by heart

What triggers the subjunctive ( , ) is on the subjunctive after necessity and will.

The regular rule: ils form, drop -ent, add the ending

ils parlent (they speak) gives que je parle

The endings are the same for every verb except and :

Personparlerfinirvendre
  • . - You have to finish your work.
  • . - I want her to sell her car.

For -er verbs, four forms look and sound like the present: , . Only and give the mood away, and they match the imparfait:

  • . - We have to talk.
  • . - We were talking. (imparfait: the same form)

Two-stem verbs: nous and vous switch back

the ils stemthe nous stemthe subjunctive endingWhat do the colours mean?

Some verbs have two stems in the present: but . The subjunctive keeps both. , , and build on the stem; and build on the stem, which again gives the imparfait forms.

Personvenirprendreboire
  • . - I have to come tomorrow.
  • . - I want you to come with us.

The same split runs through many common verbs, including -er verbs with a spelling change:

Verbque jeque nous

and keep both the y of the stem and the i of the ending: (that we see).

The irregulars to learn by heart

an irregular stemthe nous stemthe subjunctive endingWhat do the colours mean?

Eight common verbs break the rule. Learn them as blocks.

Être and avoir

Irregular all the way through, with no i after the y in and .

Personêtreavoir
  • . - You have to be patient.
  • . - I want you to have the time.

sounds like but ends in a silent -e.

Aller and vouloir

An irregular stem in four persons, then the ordinary stem, exactly like the two-stem verbs:

Personallervouloir
  • . - I want him to go to the doctor.
  • . - It's better that we go together.

Faire, pouvoir, savoir and falloir

One irregular stem for all six persons, with the regular endings:

Personfairepouvoirsavoir
  • . - We have to be careful.
  • . - I need to know the truth.

(the verb behind ) has only one form: , as in (although we have to leave).

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
aillions switches back for
viennions takes the stem
is irregular
(avoir) the silent -e
prendes the stem is from
soyions no i after the y

French has no future subjunctive: a future idea still takes the present. . - I want him to come tomorrow.

What to do next

  1. Say the form first, every time: , .
  2. Learn the eight irregulars as blocks, out loud.
  3. Then learn what triggers the mood: necessity and will.

Practise: test yourself

Build the word

0/5

Build the subjunctive form from its pieces.

  1. que tu + finir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  2. que nous + venir

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  3. que je + prendre

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  4. que vous + boire

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

  5. que je + faire

    Accents optional

    Your word is empty.

Sort into groups

0/8

Indicative or subjunctive?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Tap the mistake.

Pick the right one

0/6

Choose the present subjunctive form.

  1. Il faut que nous (aller).

  2. Il faut qu'il (faire) attention.

  3. Il vaut mieux que j' (avoir) le temps.

  4. Je veux que vous (pouvoir) venir.

  5. Il faut que nous (venir) tôt.

  6. Il faut qu'elle (savoir) la vérité.

Fill in the blank

0/6

Put the verb in brackets into the present subjunctive.

  1. Il faut que tu ton travail. (finir) (ils finissent)

  2. Je veux que vous à l'heure. (venir) (nous venons)

  3. Il faut qu'elle patiente. (être) (irregular)

  4. Il faut que nous attention. (faire) (irregular stem fass-)

  5. Je veux qu'il chez le médecin. (aller) (irregular singular stem)

  6. Il faut que vous le temps. (avoir) (no i after the y)

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Frequently asked questions

How do you form the regular present subjunctive in French?
Take the form of the present indicative, drop the -ent and add -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. : gives , , , , , . gives and .
Why do and look like the imperfect in the subjunctive?
Because, outside the irregulars, they are the imparfait forms: , . For verbs with two stems in the present ( , ) this means and switch back to the stem: but ; but .
Which French subjunctives are irregular and must be memorised?
Eight common ones: ( ), ( ), ( , ), ( , ), ( ), ( ), ( ) and the impersonal ( ).
How do you conjugate and in the French subjunctive?
: , , , , , . : , , , , , . There is no i after the y: and , never soyions. ends in an -e you cannot hear.
Is the French present subjunctive the same as the present tense?
For -er verbs, four of the six forms are identical: and , and , and , and . Only and give it away. For -ir and -re verbs and the irregulars the forms differ more: but , but .