B1 · 중급 챕터 7

Common Irregular Verbs: Part 2

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Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the five 'power verbs' of the French subjunctive to express your deepest wishes and possibilities.

  • Conjugate five major irregular verbs in the subjunctive mood.
  • Identify stem changes in verbs like 'prendre' and 'venir'.
  • Express wishes, knowledge, and ability with natural native-like phrasing.
Unlock the emotional heart of French conversation.

배울 내용

Hey friend! Ready to make your French way more exciting? This chapter is a big step, but don't worry, it's easier than you think and will truly help you speak like a real French person! In this section, you'll get familiar with 5 of the most important irregular French verbs that are essential for expressing your wishes, possibilities, and desires. You'll learn how to use verbs like pouvoir (to be able to), savoir (to know), vouloir (to want), prendre (to take), and venir (to come) in the subjunctive mood – that 'mood of feelings and desires.' For example, imagine you want to tell your friend: 'I want him to come' or 'I hope you can do this.' These verbs are your saviors right here! You'll discover how the verb stems change (like prenne or vienne), which isn't complicated at all and will make you sound much more natural and fluent. After this chapter, you'll be able to express your desires and feelings much more precisely and confidently in various situations, whether you're planning something with a French friend or ordering at a cafe. Ready to take your French to the next level and shine? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to express possibilities using the irregular stem 'puiss-' for pouvoir.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to correctly use 'sache' and 'veuille' to express hopes and requirements regarding knowledge and will.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to manage the double-consonant stem changes in 'prendre' and 'venir' in the subjunctive.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Welcome back, future French fluency champion! You're diving into
Common Irregular Verbs: Part 2,
a crucial step in mastering French grammar B1. This chapter is designed to make your French sound incredibly natural and expressive, moving beyond basic communication to truly convey your feelings, wishes, and possibilities.
We're focusing on five powerhouse irregular French verbs: pouvoir (to be able to), savoir (to know), vouloir (to want), prendre (to take), and venir (to come). Understanding these verbs, especially in the French subjunctive mood, is a hallmark of B1 French proficiency and will significantly elevate your conversational skills.
The French subjunctive might seem intimidating at first, but it's essentially the
mood of feelings and desires.
It's what you use when you're not stating a fact, but rather expressing a wish, doubt, emotion, or necessity. By the end of this guide, you'll comfortably use phrases like
I want you to come
or
I hope she can do it
– expressions that are fundamental to everyday French. We'll explore how their unique stems (like prenne or vienne) make them irregular, but also predictable once you know the patterns.
Get ready to unlock a new level of nuance and confidence in your French!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of this chapter is the French subjunctive, a grammatical mood used to express subjectivity, emotion, doubt, desire, or obligation. It's often triggered by specific conjunctions (like que - that) or verbs expressing these sentiments. For the verbs we're covering, the stem often changes significantly from their infinitive form.
Let's break down the rules for each:
French Subjunctive: The 'Can-Do' Mood (pouvoir)
The subjunctive of pouvoir (to be able to/can) is essential for expressing possibilities or abilities, often with a nuance of desire or doubt. Its stem is puiss- for all forms except *nous* and *vous*, which use puissions and puissiez.
* que je puisse (that I can/may)
* que tu puisses (that you can/may)
* qu'il/elle/on puisse (that he/she/one can/may)
* que nous puissions (that we can/may)
* que vous puissiez (that you can/may)
* qu'ils/elles puissent (that they can/may)
* Example: Il faut que je puisse t'aider. (It is necessary that I can help you.)
French Irregular Subjunctive: To Know (savoir)
The subjunctive of savoir (to know a fact/how to do something) uses the stem sach-.
* que je sache (that I know)
* que tu saches (that you know)
* qu'il/elle/on sache (that he/she/one knows)
* que nous sachions (that we know)
* que vous sachiez (that you know)
* qu'ils/elles sachent (that they know)
* Example: Je doute qu'il sache la vérité. (I doubt that he knows the truth.)
French Wishes: The Irregular Subjunctive of 'Vouloir' (vouloir)
The subjunctive of vouloir (to want) is crucial for expressing desires. Its stem is veuill-.
* que je veuille (that I want)
* que tu veuilles (that you want)
* qu'il/elle/on veuille (that he/she/one wants)
* que nous voulions (that we want) (Note the change for *nous*/*vous*)
* que vous vouliez (that you want)
* qu'ils/elles veuillent (that they want)
* Example: Je veux que tu veuilles venir. (I want you to want to come.)
French Subjunctive: Irregular Stems (prendre)
For prendre (to take), the subjunctive stem is prenn- for *je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles*, but prenions and preniez for *nous* and *vous*.
* que je prenne (that I take)
* que tu prennes (that you take)
* qu'il/elle/on prenne (that he/she/one takes)
* que nous prenions (that we take)
* que vous preniez (that you take)
* qu'ils/elles prennent (that they take)
* Example: Il est important que nous prenions une décision. (It is important that we make a decision.)
French Coming & Going: The Subjunctive of 'Venir'
The subjunctive of venir (to come) uses the stem vienn- for *je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles*, but venions and veniez for *nous* and *vous*.
* que je vienne (that I come)
* que tu viennes (that you come)
* qu'il/elle/on vienne (that he/she/one comes)
* que nous venions (that we come)
* que vous veniez (that you come)
* qu'ils/elles viennent (that they come)
* Example: J'espère qu'elle vienne à la fête. (I hope that she comes to the party.)
These irregular stems are common, and with practice, you'll start to recognize their patterns. Notice how *nous* and *vous* forms often retain a more regular-looking stem, similar to their imperfect indicative forms.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Je veux qu'il veut venir."
✓ Correct: "Je veux qu'il veuille venir."
*Explanation:* After verbs expressing desire like vouloir + que, you *must* use the subjunctive in the second clause. The indicative veut is incorrect here.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Il est essentiel que nous prenons le temps.
✓ Correct:
Il est essentiel que nous prenions le temps.
*Explanation:* The phrase il est essentiel que triggers the subjunctive. The correct *nous* form for the subjunctive of prendre is prenions, not the indicative prenons.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Je ne crois pas qu'il sait la réponse."
✓ Correct: "Je ne crois pas qu'il sache la réponse."
*Explanation:* Expressions of doubt or disbelief (like ne pas croire que) require the subjunctive. The correct subjunctive form for il of savoir is sache, not the indicative sait.

Real Conversations

A

A

J'aimerais que tu puisses venir à la réunion demain. (I would like you to be able to come to the meeting tomorrow.)
B

B

Je ne suis pas sûr que je puisse me libérer. (I'm not sure that I can free myself up.)
A

A

Il faut que nous prenions nos responsabilités. (It is necessary that we take our responsibilities.)
B

B

Oui, et je souhaite que tout le monde vienne avec des idées. (Yes, and I hope that everyone comes with ideas.)
A

A

Est-ce que tu penses qu'il veuille vraiment faire ça ? (Do you think that he really wants to do that?)
B

B

Je doute qu'il sache ce qu'il veut. (I doubt that he knows what he wants.)

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I *really* need to use the subjunctive in B1 French?

You primarily use the subjunctive after expressions of emotion (e.g., être content que, être triste que), doubt or opinion (e.g., douter que, ne pas croire que), desire or will (e.g., vouloir que, souhaiter que), necessity or obligation (e.g., il faut que, il est important que), and certain conjunctions (e.g., bien que, avant que).

Q

Are these the only irregular subjunctive verbs I need to know for B1 French grammar?

While these five (pouvoir, savoir, vouloir, prendre, venir) are among the most frequent and important for B1 French, there are other irregular subjunctive verbs (like faire, aller, être, avoir). Mastering these five gives you a fantastic foundation!

Q

How can I remember these irregular stems for the French subjunctive?

A great trick is to remember that the *je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles* forms of the subjunctive often (though not always) use the same stem as the *ils/elles* form of the present indicative. For nous and vous, the stem often resembles the imperfect indicative. Consistent practice and exposure are key!

Q

What's the difference between savoir and connaître in the subjunctive?

The distinction remains the same as in the indicative. Savoir (subjunctive: sache) means

to know a fact
or
to know how to do something.
Connaître (subjunctive: connaisse) means
to know a person, place, or to be familiar with something.
For example, Je doute qu'il sache la réponse. (I doubt he knows the answer.) vs. Je ne crois pas qu'elle connaisse mon ami. (I don't believe she knows my friend.)

Cultural Context

In real-life French conversations, the subjunctive, especially with these common verbs, adds a layer of politeness, nuance, and sophistication. Native speakers use it constantly to express desires, doubts, or requests in a less direct, more considerate way. While very informal spoken French might sometimes omit the subjunctive in certain contexts, mastering it is crucial for sounding educated and truly fluent.
It’s a core component of expressing complex thoughts and emotions, making your French much richer and more authentic.

팁과 요령 (4)

🎯

어간이 왕이에요!

복잡하게 생각하지 마세요. 어간 puiss-만 머릿속에 문신처럼 새겨두면 돼요. 접속법 현재에서는 모든 인칭이 이 어간을 쓴답니다.
Je suis content que vous puissiez venir.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 접속법: 가능과 소망의 표현 (pouvoir)
💡

어간 'sach-'는 접속법 신호!

'sach-'가 보이면 100% 'savoir' 동사의 접속법이에요. 아주 독특한 신호죠!
Je veux que tu saches.
(네가 알기를 원해.)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 불규칙 접속법: 알다 (savoir)
💡

'i'의 법칙

접속법의 'nous'와 'vous' 형태에는 항상 'i'가 들어간다는 걸 잊지 마세요. 이게 바로 접속법만의 비밀 양념이에요! Nous voulions
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어의 소망: 'Vouloir'의 불규칙 접속법
⚠️

더블 'N'의 함정

je와 tu 형태에서 'n'을 하나만 쓰면 안 돼요.
Il faut que je prenne...
처럼 두 개를 써야 정확한 철자랍니다.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 접속법: 어간 변화 동사 (prendre)

핵심 어휘 (6)

souhaiter to wish il faut que it is necessary that la décision the decision ensemble together le courage the courage le chemin the path/way

Real-World Preview

party-popper

Planning a Surprise Party

Review Summary

  • puiss + endings
  • sach + endings
  • veuill + endings (boot) / voul (nous/vous)
  • prenn + endings (boot) / pren (nous/vous)
  • vienn + endings (boot) / ven (nous/vous)

자주 하는 실수

After 'vouloir que', you must use the subjunctive, not the indicative 'peux'. The stem for 'pouvoir' is always 'puiss-'.

Wrong: Je veux que tu peux venir.
정답: Je veux que tu puisses venir.

Wait, this is actually a common mistake where students use 'sais' instead of 'sache'. Remember: 'savoir' is completely irregular in the subjunctive.

Wrong: Il faut que tu saches la réponse.
정답: Il faut que tu saches la réponse.

Don't forget the double 'n' in 'vienne' and 'prenne'. Without the second 'n', the pronunciation and spelling are incorrect.

Wrong: Je souhaite qu'il viene demain.
정답: Je souhaite qu'il vienne demain.

Next Steps

You've just conquered some of the most difficult stems in the French language. Your ability to express nuance and emotion has grown tremendously today. Keep it up!

Write 5 'I want...' sentences using each verb.

Record yourself saying 'Je souhaite que vous sachiez...' to practice the liaison.

Continue to: Expressing What Must Be Done

빠른 연습 (9)

다음 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Je veux que vous prenniez un taxi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je veux que vous preniez un taxi.
접속법 'vous' 형태의 어간은 n이 하나인 'pren-'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 접속법: 어간 변화 동사 (prendre)

빈칸에 prendre의 알맞은 접속법 형태를 채워 넣으세요.

Il faut que tu ___ ton parapluie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: prennes
'Il faut que' 뒤에는 접속법이 와야 해요. 'tu' 형태의 어간 'prenn-'에 어미 '-es'를 붙인 prennes가 정답입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 접속법: 어간 변화 동사 (prendre)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

'우리는 휴식이 필요해'를 올바르게 표현한 것은?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il faut que nous prenions une pause.
접속법 'nous' 형태에서는 n을 하나만 써야 합니다 (prenions).

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 접속법: 어간 변화 동사 (prendre)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 선택하세요.

Choose the correct expression of necessity:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il faut que je sache nager.
'Savoir' 동사는 접속법에서 불규칙이에요. 'je'에 대한 올바른 형태는 'sache'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 불규칙 접속법: 알다 (savoir)

'savoir' 동사를 올바른 접속법 형태로 채워 넣으세요.

Il faut que tu _______ la vérité.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: saches
'Il faut que' 뒤에는 접속법을 사용해야 해요. 접속법에서 'tu'에 해당하는 'savoir'의 형태는 'saches'입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 불규칙 접속법: 알다 (savoir)

이 문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il est nécessaire qu'elle veuille.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est nécessaire qu'elle veuille.
사실 이 문장은 이미 완벽해요! 'Il est nécessaire que' 뒤에 3인칭 단수 접속법 'veuille'가 잘 쓰였네요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어의 소망: 'Vouloir'의 불규칙 접속법

'vouloir'의 알맞은 접속법 형태를 빈칸에 채워보세요.

Il faut que tu _______ réussir. (vouloir)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: veuilles
'Il faut que' 뒤에는 접속법이 필요해요. 'tu' 형태는 'veuill-' 어간에 '-es'를 붙입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어의 소망: 'Vouloir'의 불규칙 접속법

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 수정하세요.

Je veux que nous sachons la réponse.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je veux que nous sachions la réponse.
접속법 'nous' 형태에서는 'i'를 포함해야 해요: 'sachions'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어 불규칙 접속법: 알다 (savoir)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 골라보세요.

'우리가 돕고 싶어 해서 기뻐요'를 프랑스어로 하면?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je suis content que nous voulions aider.
감정 표현은 접속법을 트리거합니다. 'nous' 형태는 'voul-' 어간에 '-ions'를 붙여야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 프랑스어의 소망: 'Vouloir'의 불규칙 접속법

Score: /9

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

프랑스어는 놀라움의 연속이죠! 'Pouvoir'는 매우 불규칙한 동사예요. 라틴어의 영향을 받은 옛 어간 puiss-를 접속법에서 사용한답니다.
아니요, 단순히 Je peux nager(난 수영할 수 있어)처럼 사실을 말할 때는 직설법을 써요. Il faut que 같은 특정 표현이 있을 때만 puisse를 씁니다.
'내가 안다는 것'이라는 뜻이에요. 'Il faut que' (필요하다) 같은 구문 뒤에서 사실보다는 필요성을 나타낼 때 사용돼요.
아니요, 프랑스어에는 접속법에서 불규칙적으로 변하는 동사가 많아요. 하지만 'savoir'는 초급 단계에서 만나는 가장 흔한 동사 중 하나랍니다.
네! 노래 가사나 영화, 일상 대화에서 간절한 소망이나 필요를 말할 때 정말 많이 들려요.
Il faut que je veuille.
라틴어에서 '아래에 결합됨'이라는 뜻이에요. 보통 'que'라는 단어로 주 문장에 연결되어 쓰이기 때문이죠. Je veux que...
이전 챕터
Common Irregular Verbs: Part 1
다음 챕터
Expressing What Must Be Done
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