B2 · Upper Intermediate Chapter 45

Advanced Subjunctive & Mood Choices

5 Total Rules
50 examples
1 min

What You'll Learn

Subjunctive in relative clauses, past subjunctive, and mood concordance.

Key Examples (8)

1

C'est le seul film que je sache apprécier.

It's the only movie I know how to appreciate.

Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)
2

Je cherche un appart qui soit près du métro.

I'm looking for an apartment that is near the metro.

Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)
3

Je suis trop content que tu viennes à ma soirée ce soir !

I'm so happy that you're coming to my party tonight!

French Subjunctive: Present vs. Past (Concordance des Temps)
4

C'est dommage qu'il ait supprimé son dernier post Instagram.

It's a shame he deleted his last Instagram post.

French Subjunctive: Present vs. Past (Concordance des Temps)
5

Je pense que ce film **est** génial.

I think this movie is great.

French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)
6

Je ne pense pas que ce **soit** une bonne idée.

I don't think that's a good idea.

French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)
7

Soit qu'il soit occupé, soit qu'il ait oublié, il n'a pas répondu à mon SMS.

Whether he's busy or he forgot, he hasn't replied to my text.

Formal Alternatives: Whether... or... (Soit que... soit que...)
8

Soit que tu fasses du télétravail, soit que tu ailles au bureau, le projet doit avancer.

Whether you work from home or go to the office, the project must move forward.

Formal Alternatives: Whether... or... (Soit que... soit que...)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

Check the existence

Ask yourself: does this thing exist? If no, use subjunctive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)
💡

Auxiliary Check

Always check if the verb uses 'être' or 'avoir' before adding the participle.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Subjunctive: Present vs. Past (Concordance des Temps)
💡

The Certainty Test

Ask yourself: 'Am I stating a fact?' If yes, use indicative. If you are doubting, use subjunctive.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)
💡

Symmetry

Always keep the two clauses balanced in length and structure.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Alternatives: Whether... or... (Soit que... soit que...)

Quick Practice (10)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'être'.

Je ne pense pas qu'il ___ (être) là.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: soit
Negation takes subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)

Correct the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Le fait qu'il fait froid est triste.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le fait qu'il fasse froid est triste.
Subjunctive of faire is fasse.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The Fact That... (Le fait que + Subjunctive)

Fill in the blank.

Je cherche un livre qui ___ (être) intéressant.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: soit
Hypothetical search.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)

Choose the correct form.

C'est le meilleur film que je ___ (connaître).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: connaisse
Superlative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)

Fill in the correct subjunctive form.

Soit qu'il (être) ___ , soit qu'il (avoir) ___ .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: soit / ait
Both verbs must be subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Formal Alternatives: Whether... or... (Soit que... soit que...)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Il n'y a personne qui peut m'aider.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il n'y a personne qui puisse m'aider.
Negation.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Subjunctive in Relative Clauses (Desires & Uniqueness)

Fill in the blank.

Je suis content que tu ___ (venir) hier.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: sois venu
Past subjunctive required.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Subjunctive: Present vs. Past (Concordance des Temps)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'venir'.

Je pense qu'il ___ (venir).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: vient
Affirmative opinion takes indicative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)

Correct the error in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Je ne crois pas qu'il a raison.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je ne crois pas qu'il ait raison.
Negation takes subjunctive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Opinions: Subjunctive vs. Indicative (Penser, Croire)

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Je veux qu'il a mangé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je veux qu'il ait mangé.
Need subjunctive auxiliary.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Subjunctive: Present vs. Past (Concordance des Temps)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

To show that the object is not a fact, but a possibility or a superlative.
No, if the object is a known fact, you must use the indicative.
To express subjectivity, emotion, or doubt.
Check if the action is finished.
It depends on the speaker's certainty. Affirmative = certainty (indicative). Negative/Question = doubt (subjunctive).
No, that is a common mistake. Use the indicative.