SUBJUNCTIVE
WITH
PERSONAL SUBJECTS

When dealing with personal subjects such as "I," "you," "he," "John," etc. (not "it")
and
After a clause or conjunction requiring the subjunctive:

I. If the subjects of the two verbs are the same, replace the subjunctive with the infinitive (when possible).

Examples:
Il souhaite partir.=He wishes to leave. ["He" is both wishing and leaving]
Nous doutons pouvoir finir l'examen.=We doubt we will be able to finish the exam.
Elle est furieuse de ne pas pouvoir venir.=She is furious that she cannot come.

NOTE 1: When the subjects are the same, English like French sometimes uses the infinitive (as in the first example), but it often uses two clauses (as in the second and third examples).

NOTE 2: After "être + adjective" use "de" before the infinitive.

II. If the subjects of the two verbs are different and if the first verb expresses will, preference, emotion, or doubt (including "penser" and "croire" in the negative or interrogative), use "que" plus the subjunctive.

Examples:
1. Vous voulez qu'il s'en aille=You want him to go.
2. Nous ne pensions (croyions) pas que tu boives.=We did not think (believe) that you drank/would drink.

NOTE 1: Whenever the subjects are different, French, unlike English, must always use "que."

NOTE 2: After verbs of preference (to want, to like, to desire, to prefer), English uses the infinitive when the subjects are the same or different (see web exercise on "vouloir").

Exercises: Translate:Click for vocabulary help
1. Do you think that you will be good in algebra?

2. You don't believe that he might want it very much?

3. Peter wants to go about it in the right way.


4. Jean-Jacques wants us to get out of the situation without problems.

5. I prefer (for) you to finish right away.


6. We are nervous that we cannot go away.


7. They are furious that he is complaining.


8. She doubts (that) Jack will tend to become bored.

III. If the subjects of the two verbs are different, and if the first verb expresses certainty or knowledge (including "espérer," "penser" or "croire" in the affirmative) use "que" plus the indicative.

Examples:
1. Elle est certaine qu'il vient.=She is certain (that) he is coming
2. J'espère qu'il viendra.=I hope (that) he will come)
3. Gaston et Jean-Paul pensent (croient) que Blaise est déjà arrivé.Gaston and Jean-Paul think (that) Blaise has already arrived.
4. Nous disons qu'elles vont nous suivre.=We say (that) they are going to follow us.

NOTE 1: English often leaves out "that" but French must always say "que."

NOTE 2: Verbs of indirect discourse (to say, to respond that) are followed by "que" + indicative, whether or not the subjects are the same or different. The indicative is sometimes replaced by the subjunctive when the main clause is negative or interrogative.

Exercises. Translate: Click for vocabulary help
9. We believe (that) he will faint.

10. We think we will be able to fly away.

11. I hope they will be in London when I arrive.

12. They are sure he will strive to win.

13. Did you say that the building is collapsing?

IV. The same rules in I-III follow for conjunctions. Many conjunctions use "de" before the infinitive ("avant de" or "à moins de" + infinitive, but "pour" or "après" + infinitive).

Some conjunctions that are followed by the subjunctive are: avant que, pour que, bien que, malgré que, sans que, jusqu'à ce que.

Some conjunctions that are followed by the indicative are: après que, pendant que, tandis que, tant que, dès que.

Résumé:

SUJETS PERSONNELS (JE, TU, IL("HE"), ELLE, JEAN, ETC.)

CONJUNCTION OR PREPOSITION?

Exercises. Infinitive? Subjunctive? or Indicative? Translate: Click for vocabulary help
14. We responded that we enjoyed walks.

15. They fear he will be mistaken.

16. You are certain you cannot remember his name?

17. She will telephone us before she leaves (before leaving).

18. They will talk until we remember who they are.

19. She likes him to be silent.

20. He hopes to get along with his brother.

21. We think that Gabon is found in Africa.

Vocabulary:
to be good in=être bon en
to want very much=tenir à qqch ou à qqn
to go about doing something well/badly=s'y prendre bien/mal
to get out of something=se tirer de qqch, s'en tirer
to mistrust=se méfier de
to tend to=tendre à
to go away=s'en aller
to complain=se plaindre de
to get bored=s'ennuyer de
to faint=s'évanouir
to fly away=s'envoler
to strive to=s'efforcer de
to collapse=s'écrouler
to enjoy=se plaire à + infinitive
to be silent=être silencieux
to be mistaken=se tromper de
to get along with=s'entendre avec
to be found, to be (situated)=se trouver
to be silent=se taire
to remember=se rappeler qqn ou qqch

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