CEFR B1
What you will learn
- Form the present subjunctive with one or two stems and recognise six common irregular forms.
- Choose the subjunctive, indicative or infinitive from the French construction and whether the subjects are the same.
Before you start
- Recognise the vocabulary and forms shown in this lesson’s key idea and paradigm.
The idea
You do not choose the mood by translating: first identify the expression introducing the subordinate clause, then check whether the two verbs share a subject.
The endings are “-e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent”. Many verbs use the present-tense “ils” stem: “ils finissent” gives “que je finisse”. Two-stem verbs keep the “nous/vous” present stem for those persons: “ils viennent” gives “que je vienne”, but “nous venons” gives “que nous venions”.
Necessity, will, emotion, evaluation and doubt often trigger it when the clauses have different subjects: “il faut que tu partes”, “je veux qu’elle vienne”, “je suis content que vous soyez là”. Conjunctions such as “bien que”, “pour que”, “avant que” and “sans que” also require it.
Several common affirmative constructions take the indicative: “j’espère qu’il viendra”, “je pense qu’elle a raison”, “il est probable qu’ils arriveront”. Negating or questioning “penser/croire” can favour the subjunctive, but context and degree of certainty matter: spelling alone is not an automatic switch.
When the subject stays the same, French normally prefers an infinitive: “je veux partir”, “je travaille pour réussir”. “Que + subjunctive” introduces a different subject: “je veux que tu partes”.
Working paradigm
| Person | parler | finir | venir |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | parle | finisse | vienne |
| tu | parles | finisses | viennes |
| il/elle/on | parle | finisse | vienne |
| nous | parlions | finissions | venions |
| vous | parliez | finissiez | veniez |
| ils/elles | parlent | finissent | viennent |
All forms follow “que”. “Venir” makes the stem change in nous/vous visible.
How it sounds
- Il faut que nous partions tôt.“Il faut que” requires the subjunctive. The subordinate subject is “nous”. “Partir” uses the stem “part-” and the ending “-ions”.
Check objective 1Another case
A proposed answer is “finissons” for this case: “Il faut que nous finissons ce dossier avant midi.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “finirons” for this case: “Il faut que nous finirons ce dossier avant midi.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: finissions — Il faut que requires the subjunctive; nous takes finiss- + -ions.
“Il faut que” requires the subjunctive; “nous” takes “finiss-” + “-ions”.
Answer: finissions — Il faut que requires the subjunctive; nous takes finiss- + -ions.
“Il faut que” requires the subjunctive; “nous” takes “finiss-” + “-ions”.
Check objective 2Another case
A proposed answer is “vienne” for this case: “J’espère qu’elle vienne demain matin.”. Choose the only valid form.
A proposed answer is “venait” for this case: “J’espère qu’elle venait demain matin.”. Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: viendra — Affirmative “espérer que” takes the indicative; “demain” places the event in the future.
Affirmative “espérer que” takes the indicative; “demain” places the event in the future.
Answer: viendra — Affirmative “espérer que” takes the indicative; “demain” places the event in the future.
Affirmative “espérer que” takes the indicative; “demain” places the event in the future.
When it doesn't hold
What breaks the rule, said out loud. Hiding it is what makes you feel cheated in the exam.
- Different subjectJe veux que tu viennes.
- Same subjectJe veux venir.
- Affirmative hopeJ’espère qu’il viendra.
What your own language pushes you to say
Wrong J’espère qu’elle vienne demain.
Right J’espère qu’elle viendra demain.
Romance-language learners may overuse a subjunctive after “espérer”; affirmative French normally uses the indicative. English speakers face the opposite risk and may fail to mark the subjunctive after “il faut que”.
Challenge: apply both rules
Solve both cases and justify each choice: 1) A proposed answer is “finissons” for this case: “Il faut que nous finissons ce dossier avant midi.” Choose the only valid form. 2) A proposed answer is “vienne” for this case: “J’espère qu’elle vienne demain matin.” Choose the only valid form.
Answer available without interaction
- Form the present subjunctive with one or two stems and recognise six common irregular forms.
- Choose the subjunctive, indicative or infinitive from the French construction and whether the subjects are the same.
Answer: finissions · viendra
“Il faut que” requires the subjunctive; “nous” takes “finiss-” + “-ions”. Affirmative “espérer que” takes the indicative; “demain” places the event in the future.
Curriculum alignment and sources
- CEFR B1 · understand the main points of clear messages on familiar matters, handle common situations and produce simple connected text. · Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Companion Volume
- French-specific reference descriptions used to cross-check B1 forms; they are not a universal school curriculum. · Reference Level Descriptions · French
- El MCER sirve de referencia, pero la norma estatal no asigna B1.1/B1.2 a cursos. La secuencia del catálogo es editorial. · Real Decreto 217/2022, currículo básico de ESO
- Las fuentes oficiales distinguen recorridos. Este paquete no publica una equivalencia universal B1→ano. · Organização curricular · Francês · iniciação e continuação
- La fuente reutilizada fija A1 al final del primer ciclo para esta materia y no acredita B1 en un curso italiano concreto. · Decreto 9 dicembre 2025, n. 221 · nuove Indicazioni nazionali
Continue along this corridor
Practise this: When French needs the subjunctive (and when it does not)Past participle agreement: auxiliary, object and positionReported speech: person, tense and viewpointSi clauses: real, imagined and past conditionsOn and the passive: choosing sentence focusSpoken and written French: adapting register