French Subjunctive - Subjonctif

A number of French conjunctive phrases require the subjunctive:

à condition que   provided that

à moins que*   unless

à supposer que   assuming that

afin que   so that

avant que*   before

bien que   although

de crainte que*   for fear that

de façon que   so that, in order that, in such a way that

de manière que   so that

de peur que*   for fear that

de sorte que   so that

en admettant que   assuming that

en attendant que   while, until

encore que   even though

jusqu'à ce que   until

pour que   so that

pourvu que   provided that

quoique   even though

quoi que   whatever, no matter what

sans que*   without

*These conjunctions are followed by the ne explétif:

   Mangeons avant que nous ne partions.
   Let's eat before we leave.


On the other hand, the following conjunctions do not take the subjunctive, because they express facts which are considered certain:

ainsi que   just as, so as

alors que   while, whereas

après que**   after, when

aussitôt que**   as soon as

car   since, because

en même temps que   at the same time that

depuis que   since

dès que**   as soon as, immediately

lorsque** when

parce que   because

pendant que   while

plutôt que   instead of, rather than

puisque   since, as

quand** when

tandis que   while, whereas

une fois que**   once

**These conjunctions are followed by the future tense in French, even though in English we use the present tense.

   Mangeons quand il arrivera.
   Let's eat when he arrives.


Does ___ need the subjunctive? Find out with the Subjunctivator! | Subjunctive quiz

Previous

• Introducing the French Subjunctive
• French subjunctive: Expressions of will - orders, advice, desires
• French subjunctive: Emotions and feelings
• French subjunctive: Opinion, possibility, doubt
• French subjunctive: Affirmative vs negative statements
• French subjunctive with conjunctions
• French subjunctive with negative and indefinite pronouns
• French Subjunctive with Superlatives

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